California McMillans

After four years, the lemon tree has finally produced!  It produced five lemons that we cut up for lemonade.  They were tasty.  We were all happy.  I'll be a little sad when we move to leave behind our trees that I worked to grow.  Oh well. 

2019 has been a great year! I feel so incredibly blessed as I reflect on our lives and the year. 2018 was really hard with Blake having such a difficult year.  He was angry all the time, couldn't function and really enjoy being a kid.  In many ways, it was one of the hardest things to go through as a parent.  Definitely harder in many ways than the health issues we have faced with Tyler. 2018 was my year to focus on Blake and giving him my time and attention which he didn't get for so many years because my attention and energy was so focused and drained from my parents being sick and dying.  2019 was being able to see the time, energy, love and atonement heal him.  He will always be my serious, sensitive soul but he is happy again for the most part.  He has friends and is functioning.  I am grateful for the lessons learned that always make me a better person with more perspective and empathy but so glad that we are no longer in the trenches with that.  Probably the greatest b

Last year we went to Fresno with the Drew's for New Years which was really fun.  The kids wanted to do it again and make it a tradition but all the Drew kids were doing something except Mara so we decided to stay here.  We went to the Isaacs party for younger kids party with the Olsons and some of their friends from Krey and went to Cindy's party around 9:30 until 11ish when our kids were partied out.  Bummed I didn't take pictures.  The first party I pretty much played with Parker and Hanna the entire time because all of the kids kept having issues with each other.  Also ate some really good jalapeno poppers wrapped in bacon.  YUM!  I have been into making churros lately and they have been a hit but the ones I brought to the party with YUCK! I think I put saran wrap over them when they were hot which made them soggy.  They were definitely not the best.   Anyway, I ended up hanging out with the kids the entire time because  everyone kept tattling on each other.  My k