November review

November was a very busy but exciting month for our family. I try to keep my blog postings short due to the simple fact everyone is busy these days. Let's face it we know you care but who has time to read the novels written by so many bloggers. Now with ALL that said... this entry is an exception... and with a New Year comes a promise of just trying to blog more often keeping it short and sweet.

Jeff earned a long awaited promotion to Staff Sergeant, which now puts him in a retirement category. This means that in about 8 years he can have a full retirement from the Marine Corps (serving his 20 years total). I don't know about you but I think he looks much to young for the word retirement. I am so proud of him. He is truly one of the few and the proud.

The Marine Corps celebrates their birthday November 10th and my Dad's (Joe Rickard) birthday is on the 27th. So, this year Jeff and I took him to the Marine Corps Birthday Ball as his birthday gift and as a Thank you for his love and support. Looking good Dad -- you clean up nice.

The guest speaker at the Ball was "The Gunny", most of you know him as the Drill Instructor in Full Mental Jacket. My dad is a big fan and especially enjoys his show, MAIL CALL. We didn't tell my dad about him until we got there. Surprise!!
Our family took a little road trip up to Knot's Berry Farm. The weather was perfect and there were no long lines. Yes -- we were the orange family as we are always referred to when we choose to wear our family color. Hey it works.

Brandon and Jeff tackled all of the roller coasters.However, Joey braved his first roller coaster and it was a big one. Joey was such a good brother to his sister, Kalea as he waited in lines with her to ride the rides. He held her hand and gave her lots of reassurance that the ride would be fun not scary. Kalea played into this role well but as you can see when it was time to ride she no doubt enjoyed it! We all had so much fun!!




The next day we went to "The Block", which is a huge out door mall. It is so big it has a bowling alley and a VANS Skate park. The boys (yes including Jeff) spent their time skate boarding while Kalea and I shopped and had our nails done. FUN for all!!

I keep a gratitude journal... that's where I write 5 things that I am grateful for each and everyday. It keeps me focused on the abundance of blessings in my life.
1.I am grateful for good health (especially for Kalea).
2.I am grateful for my loving husband.
3.I am grateful for my smart and beautiful children.
4.I am grateful for my Dad & my sister, Becky Jo and for their unconditional love.
5.I am grateful for the re-connections I have made this year with old friends (hip hip horray for face book).

Hope each of you had a Thankful Thanksgiving and are enjoying the Christmas season. We love and miss you all.

YES on PROP 8

Proposition 8: The California Marriage Protection Amendment

The entire text of Proposition 8 is as follows:
"Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California."

Proposition 8 places into the California Constitution the same language that voters already passed by 61% of the vote in 2000. This is necessary to overturn an outrageous California Supreme Court decision that overturned Proposition 22.

My dad has always taught me... "to stand for something or you will fall for anything". I am standing up and saying YES to Prop 8.

What will you stand for?

Please visit www.protectmarriage.com to learn more about how this decision can and will effect us and our children.

"Say it ain't so, Joe"

Regardless of WHERE you might stand and HOW you choose to express yourselves on the political issues of our time... REMEMBER that many people past, present and future will ensure that you keep that right and privilege... so as a THANK YOU to those very ones that have, are and will defend the country in which you live (including my husband) please VOTE! -- Jeni Brasfield

"This is a critical time for America. We must each be more involved in how this country is being run. Regardless of how you vote it is imperative that each of us take that privilege and freedom very seriously. You can tell by the title and the picture where I'm putting my support. Hope many of you will join me." -- Joe Rickard (Jeni's Dad)

Sissy's wedding

Kalea and I took a road trip with my good friend, Susan Scharpf. We went to Vegas baby! Julene Cox, who will always be known to me as "sissy", got married!! She is now Mrs. Chris Bateman. It was a beautiful wedding in the Las Vegas Temple.

I was the Dippin' Dots server girl. It was so fun! The Dippin' Dots stand came complete with little cups which I served to the guests. At the end of the night Susan and I decided to fill our goblets full (forget those little cups) Yummy!! Not to mention lots of fun when you stick them to your tongue (as we have demonstrated for you above).

Top: Jeni and Sydney outside the temple.

Right: Kalea and Jacob. Kalea says she is going to grow up and marry Jacob.

Left: Kalea and Sissy. Kalea had so much fun with all the wedding festivities. She has been "playing wedding" with her flowers (the ones in the pictures) ever since we left Vegas.

Dani Cox, Sissy, Jeni, Susan Scharpf

Silly? Who? Us?

Oh yeah... sissy wouldn't have it any other way. :)

First day of school

First day of school... Brandon-5th grade, Joseph-2nd grade and Kalea Sue is in Kindergarten @ North Terrace Elementary in Oceanside, California. Everyone was excited and came home talking non-stop about their day. I hope the excitements continues.

Kalea had a choice from a gazillion backpacks and decided on a "Hello Kitty" bag from the dollar spot at Target. Yes $1.00... love that girl!!

She wasted no time finding a seat and giving me a quick goodbye as she reminds that she is a BIG girl now. She was very anxious to begin her school career. Well... that is my last time taking my kids to their first day of Kindergarten... yeah... I am okay with that.

Pretty in Pink

Every time I would polish Kalea's toe nails she would inevitably start begging me to polish her finger nails. It was always the same discussion... I would tell her "When you stop biting your nails I will polish them." She would agree with "OK Mom I will." --- with no stopping -- until her cousin Paige came for a visit this summer. She thought Paige's nails were so pretty. Paige told her that she too use to bite her nails until one day she got tired of ugly nails and stopped biting. That's all it took.

She did it!! Kalea STOPPED biting her nails. I took her to Walmart and let her choose her polish. Pink! I am proud of her! She is pretty in pink!

Amber squared

What do you get when you put an Amber and Amber together? Yeap. Amber squared. We just hung out making each other laugh... especially when Amber (V) and I wanted to go to our favorite place (Barnes and Noble) and Amber (L) said... "What do we do when we get there? Read?"

Amber -- Jeni -- Amber

Could this be a Jeni sandwich?

My "Tennessee" cups were NOT good enough for Miss Vandy

so she made her own. Thanks for coming to visit! It was fun!

Love you both!

Grandaddy Rickard

Grandaddy Rickard came up from San Deigo to spend the day with us. Kalea is in love with her Grandad. She says when she grows up she will move in with him and take care of him.

After lunch we went to the skate park so the boys (and that includes Jeffrey) could show off their skating skills.

We finished off the afternoon with a walk on the Oceanside Peir and some ice cream -- because it just wouldn't be a visit with Grandaddy Rickard without ice cream -- Yummy!

Neighbors, friends & goodbyes

Keelin (Keels) and Joseph.


Cassidy and Kalea.


Morrie, Kalea and Cass.


Nami and Wyatt.


Jessie and Jeni -see I can have fun!!

Our Neighbors -The Van Wagenen's- instantly become our good friends. Their oldest girl, Keelin, is Joey's best friend, classmate and neighbor. Cassidy is Kalea's age and Morrie is the the cutest 3 year old. Jessie's from Texas and I think we connected through our southern roots. Adam just makes me laugh.We had a summer that we will not soon forget. There was lots of fun in the sun (including ice water fights), laughing, Phase Ten, desserts, Starbucks, snacks, pizza, movies and sleep overs.

So saying goodbye to them (as they head back to Texas for their next phase in the Marine Corps)was.... tough. We will keep in touch but our new neighbors will have big shoes to fill.

We love and miss you guys -- California won't be the same without you!

The world of blogging?

The Brasfield's have joined the world of blogging? Yes. It's true. Honestly it's the quickest way to update you on our family events and share family photos (no one told me that my children would grow so fast).

We are living in Oceanside, California. We have a great house, school is 2 blocks away, and the kids finally got a puppy (something they have wanted for quite sometime). And of course we love being across the street from the beach!!

My neice and nephew (Paige & Zach Garrett) came down from Boise, Idaho for a summer visit. We had a great time... we went on a Harbor Cruise (shown below with Grandaddy Rickard), Seaworld, Wild Animal Park, The Zoo, Seal Beach (shown to the right) and Point Loma lighthouse. We played at the beach and spent several days at the pool.
We love and miss you guys!!