Merry Christmas!

Didn't seem like we did much this year, but looking back I guess we did… or at least we took a bunch of pictures.

     January – Took a drive around Lake Tahoe. Sure didn’t look much like winter. Don and Josh looked for and found a car to tinker on. The two of them cleaned the car up, fixed the stereo, and Josh started to learn to drive it.

     February – The family returned to Trinidad (California) for a couple nights. It was a nice little trip. We did enjoy some good eats, but missed out on getting a fresh crab like last time to cook. Don received an IT Leadership award from work.

     March – Joshua’s Calculus math class was assigned a fun task for 3/14… they had to make a pie for Pi day. While he was at it, he made one for us – Yummy. Then there was lunch with our friend Todd (just had to include this for the picture of the two “Buttheads”.)

     April – Junior Prom and Joshua’s first tuxedo event. Mary saw on an episode of The Pioneer Woman show a recipe for meatloaf. The whole meatloaf gets wrapped in bacon, and was it good. You just can’t go wrong with anything wrapped in bacon. Don is getting better at brining & barbecuing a turkey. This seems to be a year of food pictures; neighbor’s caramel pecan ice cream cake, Mary made chipotle chili, Easter cupcakes, bacon wrapped chicken kabobs, lumpia.

     May – This is the 3rd year now that Joshua has received the Academic Excellence Award from his high school. He puts in a lot of time and effort on his school work, and has very proud parents. Class of 2014 – Nephew Michael Perez graduated from Christian Brothers High School. Family friend Todd’s daughter Summer Brewer graduated from Granite Bay High. Congratulations on such a big accomplishment. While Don was out on a walk he took this picture of some ominous looking weather.

     June – Spent another day driving around Lake Tahoe and enjoyed a picnic lunch on the lake. Joshua worked as a volunteer at Don’s work, and he and Don saw NASCAR haulers parade through downtown Sacramento. The Camry was due for its 90,000 mile maintenance requiring a new timing belt, water pump, and thermostat. Don and Josh got-r-done in a weekend. Josh is getting some hands experience working on cars. Pictures helped with the re-assembly.

     July – What’s becoming an Annual Neighborhood 4th of July gathering was here at our house this year. It was a great turnout, lots of food, and we all had a BLAST.

     August – We managed to get away for a couple days in Downieville before Josh started his Senior Year at El Camino. Time sure does go by fast. Enjoy the time with your little ones, because they won’t be little for long. More automotive work - this time it was the Civic needing shocks and brakes, and something melted on the exhaust pipe making a nasty smell that had to be scrapped off. What next?

     September – Had a couple of days taking care of Grandpa Perez. Sometimes he can be a handful, but he is just acting his age of 96. Mary and Don went to a 20 year CHP Accounting Reunion at Colusa Casino Resort. Got to have a great prime rib dinner and see many of Mary’s previous co-workers. So many attend and we all had a great time. Josh’s computer died so he and Don put together a new one.

     November – Thanksgiving – yep, you guessed it, another brined and barbecued turkey. We had Grandpa Perez and Noel over for dinner, then a couple days later went to Linda and Larry’s for a second feast. Too much food.

May you and your family have a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

- Don, Mary, Joshua, and Sargent.