Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas! Here are the kids with their new kindles!

Cookie Time

Every year we make cookies on Christmas Eve...however this year my girls will be with their dad on that day.  Because of that I decided we would make some of the batches last night...that way they don't miss out.
The girls had fun and the cookies were delicious! Cita and I will finish up making the rest of the goodies on Christmas Eve.  

Tank!!!

T is for Tenacious

A is for Annoying

N is for Naughty

K is for Krazy

But, we love him anyway!

Kami & Tank

Vegas!

T and I are heading back to California after spending a few days in Vegas! As usual, we had a ton of fun! I shopped and spent time with my best friend Gina...T spent the days in the sports bar watching football (and losing). We had a great dinner with Gina on Saturday night and then went out dancing with her and Mark (another high school friend of mine) Here are some photos from our fun time!

Gina, Me, T and Mark

Gina and Me being silly...

T & Me and our famous self portrait

Busy Times

Life has been busy since T and I got back from our Tahiti trip, I haven't even had time to post Tahiti pictures!

We celebrated Cita's 6th birthday on November 17th

Had a wonderful Thanksgiving on November 24th with family!  The food was amazing, T and I have become quite a good team when it comes to this feast (if I don't say so myself). 

We went to the famous Annual Pilmer Party on December 3rd

And we celebrated Jenna's 12th birthday on December 10th.  

In the midst of all this we are busy planning the wedding details, which we sometimes have to squeeze things in wherever we may be!  On Jenna's birthday we happened to be staying the weekend at a ranch house in Santa Ynez.  Cousin Jon & Ethan came to visit, as well as Shelly and Phil, and my daughter Jackie, her husband JP, and baby Hope.  We had to sneak out for a couple hours so Jon could do an engagement photo shoot!  He did a fantastic job!  Here are a couple of the favorites.  

Later that night we had an amazing BBQ and sat around the dining room table chatting, laughing, and having fun.  Let's just say the theme song of the wedding will be "Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats (you had to be there).

The next few weeks will be busy with Christmas shopping and getting ready to celebrate the birth of our King!  We wish you all a wonderful Christmas season filled with blessings, love, and happiness!  

Engagement in Tahiti

Okay, I know it is way past time to update the blog (my apologies for that).  I also need to update with all of the Tahiti details, however, everyone is wanting to hear this story, so here it is!

We flew to Tahiti and boarded the Paul Gauguin Ship on Saturday, November 5th.  After spending the day "acclimating", we got ready and went to our first ship dinner.  The wine guy brought us a bottle of wine to share that usually costs money, but he didn't charge us (alcohol was inclusive, except for nicer bottles of wine). So I was joking with T and saying, "Wow, they really like us".  Well, during dinner T told me, "Karla, I don't want you to be expecting a proposal on this cruise...it isn't going to happen here. It is too expected by everyone and I want to surprise you when least expected".  I was kind of bummed, but just decided to not let it "rain on my cruise" (so to speak) and deal with the disappointment. 

The next day, Sunday, November 6th we had a great day. T dragged me hiking up this huge mountain to a cell tower...it was about a 4 mile hike, in the heat, and I was dying.  I am somewhat of a girly girl, but kept up with him in my flip flops and all.  We went back to the ship to get ready for dinner, and let me just say, it felt so good to shower after that hike!  I asked him what dress I should wear, and he picked my favorite one which I called "the fun dress" that I borrowed it from a co-worker (thanks Suzy).  So I got ready and everything felt so perfect and fun. T put on a button shirt and didn't tuck it in...I even told him, "You need to tuck that shirt in"...and he said "no".  This seemed odd to me because he usually asks me if he should tuck or not tuck...but I didn't think much more about it and quickly forgot.  

So we went to this little show where you meet the Captain and take a picture with him, and then watch a live painting show about Paul Gauguin's art. Here is the picture with the Captain (notice the un-tucked shirt). 

It was kind of boring watching the show, so we decided to leave and go have a pre-dinner drink at the Piano Bar. We had made reservations  at the restaurant the night before and asked for a nice spot by the window, which we got. After our drink, we went in and sat down at our spot.  T ordered a very nice bottle of wine. A few minutes later the waiter shows up with an appetizer and puts it in front of me and says, madam, the chef prepared a special appetizer for you all this evening.  I remember thinking to myself, wow, special wine last night and now a special appetizer, they do really like us.  

He lifted the lid and this was inside! 

I was totally surprised! 

T had arranged for the photographer to be there and he was snapping pictures.  T got down on his knee and didn't take his eyes off me...the funny thing was he was just speechless! He just stared at me. 

We could hear people in the room making funny comments like "They are the ones with 7 kids between them and she is a Grandma"...one other guy said "Get a room" (we met him the next day and joked about it)...people were happy, clapping, and watching the whole thing.  Then we just started kissing...and T was still speechless so I finally said, "Yes Terance, I will marry you". 

We turned around and realized all eyes were on us and the ring was still sitting there in the box.

T put the ring on my finger, and we got some final claps and congratulations...

It was so sweet, romantic, and just perfect! Oh, and the reason he didn't tuck in the shirt...the ring box with the ring was in his back pocket.  He excused himself and took it to the restaurant while we were having drinks at the Piano Bar, where he also lined up the photographer.   


We are super excited to start this new chapter in our lives!  As of right now, the wedding plans are for the end of June or early July!

Or is it now plus 8?

Last Wednesday, my daughter Jackie gave birth to a healthy baby girl!
Hope Leticia Jimenez ~ 6lbs 10 oz ~ 19 1/2 inches ~ born at 9:43 a.m. on September 7th

I was talking with her off and on all day on Tuesday via chat, and I had a feeling the little pains and contractions she was feeling were the real thing.  However, since I had a 2 hour drive, I didn't want to make the trip unless I knew it was the real deal.  That evening, her contractions kept on coming...and finally around 8:30 or 9:00 she called and asked me if I thought she should go in and be checked...I told her it couldn't hurt.  At 10:30 she called me and said it was the real thing and she was being admitted.  I went next door and woke up T to tell him he was on kid duty with my girls until my mom got there, and off I went.

It took me 2 hours to get to the hospital in San Luis Obispo.  I arrived at 1:00 a.m. to find her in active labor.  Her husband JP was putting pressure on  her back and pretty much did that for the entire labor. I got to stay with them through the entire labor and watch my beautiful granddaughter come into this world.  She did the entire labor and delivery medication free...all natural!  I was so proud of her!  What an amazing experience! Words simply can't explain it.  

Here she is...baby Hope!  

A year ago today....

T walked into my life...
We were just talking last night about how quickly the time has flown by!  I'm so glad I went to the pool that day in September...

Here are several pictures of T and me from this first year...

Vegas Trip in September, kind of our first date...

Storyteller Event in October

Halloween Party at T's

First Thanksgiving together in November

The Pilmer Holiday Party in December

Hanging at the Palms in January

Hanging at the pool hall with Risa and her T in February

Wine tasting in March

Shooting pool in April 

1940's Fundraiser in April

Wine tasting again in April

Lotus Land in May

Eating out in June

St Thomas, Virgin Islands in June

A little wine tasting in July

Outdoor concert in August

Well, in case you can't tell, we enjoy each others company so very much, and we do find the time to escape and get away from the craziness of being around the kids!

I love you T, and again, I'm so glad I went to the pool that day!

Our Newest addition!

Welcoming Tank!  As if our lives weren't crazy and busy enough, we added this to the mix!  :)

Jackie's Baby Shower

Jackie had her baby shower on July 30th.  We had it at the church and it turned out wonderful! Can't believe I am going to be a grandma soon!  She is due on September 8th, but I think baby Hope will be coming sooner.  :)  Here are some pictures from the shower.

The Keiki Paddle

Here are some pictures from the Keiki Paddle.  TJ and Charlie participated in the paddle, which raises funds for a child with cancer.  They were so proud of themselves and we were so proud of them!