HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Grandma and the grandkids (and 2 great grandkids: Deihan & Aleila). Not pictured: Lu and Joy

Every Thanksgiving we take family pictures with Mama's photo studio. Here are SOME of this year's silly pics

Happy Birthday Jacob!

This past weekend Jacob and I drove out to Vegas (in our Prius)! We filled up our car and left on Friday. We made it out there in one tank and STILL had lots of gas left to drive around for the weekend :) It was great! We stayed at the new Grand Chateau Marriott Hotel. It was nice to getaway for a while. We went to watch The Blind Side (with Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw), great movie by the way! We went to the Luxor Hotel to see the Bodies Exhibition. No other words can explain that exhibition but "fascinating". I know some people may find it disgusting and disturbing, but I think it is VERY interesting and I learned a whole lot just walking thru and reading the different descriptions. Anyway, Jacob and I didn't do a whole lot, wish was GREAT! I mean, vacations are meant for RELAXING, not plans and agendas and junk! I'm glad we were able to come out here for Jacob's birthday. His birthday was yesterday (11/23). He is 26! Happy Birthday my Love!

Our New Ride...

We both have our own cars. I drive a green Nissan Maxima (1997) and Jacob drives a black 2001 Jeep Wrangler. Since we will be moving out to the Inland Empire in a few months, we came to the conclusion that neither one of our current cars would be "well enough" to drive us back and forth on a daily basis (from home to work and back home). That, and my car is pretty old and needs lots of fixins, and Jacob's jeep goes about 16 mpgs on a good day. I used to HATE the Toyota Prius. I used to laugh to myself as I drove past prius drivers on the road. But it grew on me after I took several lunch trips with my friend Shaundra, who drives a prius. I LOVE the car! It's pretty roomy inside and it's got that sleek look. So what if it's only 4 cylinders? I get 50 mpgs! Anyway, here it is!

Whiting Ranch

Last weekend, Jacob and I met up with my cousins Troy and Ceng (they're married) and their friends at a parking lot in Foothill Ranch. We all brought our bikes! They invited Jacob and me to go mountain biking with them in Whiting Ranch. Jacob and I have NEVER gone mountain biking! I do remember a while back, Jacob telling me how we should go mountain biking, and I would always be against it because of the stories of mountain lion attacks I'd hear. Luckily, I had the courage to go-- we'd be in a big group and stick close together... plus it's in the morning when EVERYone is hiking or biking :) It literally kicked my a** going up that mountain. It's about 3 miles to the top and maybe 5 miles or more going down? It's pretty steep going down and since I don't have disc brakes, I walked the steep part! But hey, it's my first time! Cut me some slack! Then when we reached the bottom of the steep part, that's when I got back on my bike and caught up with everyone. It's pretty hardcore and crazy difficult, but I LOVED it!!! I wanna go again!

Getting ready to ride!

Troy, Ceng, me, and Jacob at the top of the mountain!

Tijeras Creek with The Grunkemeyers

Liza and I drove in our cart and relaxed while our husbands Tom and Jacob played golf :) What a great afternoon!!! Hehe

Following behind the guys. Liza's first time driving a golf cart!

Hahahah we got bored! These are little cone cups (for water) that the golf course has at random spots.

Jacob at tee, while the other guys look on. The sun was directly in their faces!

lol, Mrs. G-runk posing in the cart!

Mr. Grunkemeyer and Mr. Nielsen. Great Husbands!

I tried taking this picture while Liza was driving! Not very easy to do! haha