Good Bye 2011

A gift from Canada!

Jane & family rolled away today. They left a little part of their family here with us for a couple of months. Chyo, the 6  year old, 9 lb,  Chihuahua will be staying with us while Mom finishing her treatment. He is a great dog & loves Mom.

Thank you Thank you Thank you to the Flint family for letting us borrow this camper!

 This year we decided that Mom needed to stay in her own bedroom while Jane and family visited. We were so fortunate that our good friend THE FLINTS let us borrow their camper so that 3 of the Eskuri clan could stay in the camper. The other 4 Eskuri (1 human and 3 Chihuahua) stayed in the house with us! It worked out well and we were thankful!

Sweet Harper

Today we celebrated Harper's upcoming 16th birthday! Mom made her famous chocolate buttermilk sheet cake!

Today was a crash day for mom but she had enough energy to bake her delicious cake and  enjoy a great steak (gotta keep those red blood cells up) dinner with the family. Tomorrow Jane & crew leave, heading back to Canada. So we tonight savored the meal and our fine company.

Harper's gift to Mom was learning 'the way we were' on the piano. This is Mom's favorite song and Harper plays it so beautifully. I can't remember another gift more precious. When I grow up, I want to be like Harper:)

New Work out Clothes

The boys showing off Gma's new work out clothes as she heads to a training session!

More celebrations

Girls night out to celebrate Harper's upcoming sweet 16 birthday!

On our way to Cafe Le Stella for a French dinner!

It helps when Mom's steroid buzz kicks in--she feels like doing MORE things! She had a good buzz tonight!

Another cycle done

Frozen Yogurt with the boys

Sunshine feels good!

We celebrated that Mom/Gma completed another cycle of Chemo. 4 down, 2 to go.

Games

Good times!

Tomorrow is a chemo day!

GIfts of music, cards and movies

Harper & Neil fill the house with beautiful piano music!

A fun game of Hearts!

We watch a LOT of movies when Jane & Neil are here! Fun times!

Merry Christmas

Jonas was sooo excited that Gma gave him the 3 books he was missing of the Magic Tree House series. Mom and Jonas read this series almost every night!

Mom and her gift of 'work out' clothes!

Gifts on Christmas Eve

Pete brought back English Crackers from her recent trip to London

Harper and Mom pulling on a cracker

The gifts inside of the crackers included crowns and masks and puzzles

This was crash day #2 for Mom and boy was she crashed!

Here's hoping that tomorrow is a better day for her and Merry Christmas to all of you!

Gifts of sunsets with family on the harbor

Sunset on the harbor in Santa Barbara

We have found a predictable pattern in this chemo routine. As usual, today being the Friday after a Wednesday chemo treatment, is Mom's crash day. She was fatigued but did manage to join us at the harbor for  sunset. Neil, Pete, Harper, Cooper and Jack went sailing all day and we met them as they sailed back into the harbor.

Neil, Harper, Cooper, Pete & Jack

Gifts of extended Family

Harper & Mom

Enjoying the sunshine with Neil's Mom & Nephew from Santa Maria CA

Gifts from Canada!

A very cute foot warmer!

Neil & Jane with Mom!

Gift of lunch with the girls!

Ladies who lunch!

Jane and family rolled into town last night! Julie, Zeb, Jane & Harper (almost 16) at Tupelo Junction today for lunch!

Gift of 2 WINS today!

Lions WIN!

The photo above shows the moment that the Lions WON! The scene looked the same when hours earlier the Chiefs WON against the undefeated Packers! 2/2 in our house today makes today a GOOD day!

Gift of cheese burgers, fries and milk shakes

In and Out burger!

It could be said that Zeb is constantly surrounded by a gang of young shirtless males!
Basketball season has started! Mom logged over 2 hours of cheering at Jonas' and Jack's games today!

Gift of a Grinchy Story

Perfect bedtime story in December!

The gift of sweet company

Jeremy & Mom at lunch

This morning Mom had a positive conversation with the  Dr. during the appointment (blood work is looking better) and then her regular chemo treatment.
We were escorted to lunch by this handsome young boy who is more kissable than one can imagine!

Fun with the maze!

After lunch we happened upon this fellow in the red, he and Jeremy had a nice visit.

Gift of decorations!

Trimming the tree!

Mom is holding a stocking of mine from 1973, made by Nancy Wilson, our nieghbor and my babysitter in St. Louis.

 2 Red Birds sit a top the tree, neither of them are named Albert:)

The gift of bed time stories

Christmas stories and a cozy bed with Gma

Gift of small concerns

This morning news broke that St Louis Player, Albert Pujols, decided to go for bigger $$ and sign with a LA team. $200 mil to stay in St. Louis lost to the $250 mil in L.A..

It's a sad day for St. Louis fans and Mom is disappointed!

It is also worth pointing out that when that is one of your biggest concerns of the day---you have a good life.

The gift of shopping with a girlfriend

Dorothy & Mom are back in Santa Barbara

Mom & Dorothy arrived in Santa Barbara today. Mom was sporting a new hat,  that they had found when they were shopping together over the last few days.

Everyone is happy to have Mom/Grandma back in the house.

The gift of coffee with old friends

Coffee with the girls after school in Merced

Mom is in Merced for a few days, enjoying her own cozy house and coffee with old friends.

The gift of a road trip!

Mom's BFF (best friend forever) , Dorothy, came to Santa Barbara yesterday so she could drive Mom to Merced today. Mom hasn't been back to her house since we rushed away from Merced in August, at the very start of this adventure. Mom is feeling better and is ready to stay in Merced for a few days during her week off from chemo.

The boys love to have Dorothy in the house and they compete for whose book she will read or who gets to chat with her.

Jonas was double teamed for his daily reading time and the brothers joined in too.

Some gifts can't be wrapped!

Thelma and Louise minus the cliff suicide scene!

On the Road Again!

Thankful for the Santa Barbara Visiting Nurses & Equipment Closet

Mom & her RN from the VNA!

Mom LOVES to purge the house of items that no longer serve us. It felt wonderful today to return equipment that is no longer needed! I was able to return the walker, shower bench and commode (& a wheelchair which she never did use) to the VNA loan closet. 
We are thankful to the Santa Barbara Visiting Nurses Association which has provided mom with a FABULOUS P.T.,  important equipment (for free from the loan closet) and R.N.s who have taken care of Mom weekly & taken her blood before each chemo treatment, it has been extremely helpful to have them come to the house.

We are THANKFUL for generous local resources & skilled professionals!

Thankful for Grandma's Christmas village!

Mom & Jack enjoy an afternoon walk in between Football games.

It's a gorgeous 75 degree SUNNY day here in Santa Barbara!

A fun Holiday tradition is helping Grandma set up this sweet village.

Giving THANKS!

Mom and the turkey!

During the Lions game---this was early in the game:)

Love the heart shape!

Giving THANKS!

home made whipped cream, pies and Jonas' place mat

a lovely walk after the meal

THANK YOU!