Merry Christmas!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!

This past week we decided to drive down to Santa Clarita to be with our daughter Brittany Ellis and her family as well as with Sister Cawley's sister Hilary and her family.  The trip was a surprise to our grandchildren Ryder (12) and Elisabeth (10).  We drove on Tuesday straight to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants in Newhall called Dario's.  No less than 5 minutes after we were seated Brittany and her family walked in.  Ryder said he suspected but Elisabeth had no idea.  It was so fun to surprise them!

Despite heavy rain the whole time we were there, we had a wonderful time together going to restaurants, shopping, going to the movies and just being together.  We love Santa Clarita and feel at home there.  It is where we both grew up and raised our family.  While there, we kept running into friends while we were out and about.  We feel at home in Santa Clarita as well as Alpine. We are very blessed to have family and friends in both places.

We had a wonderful time on Christmas Eve at the home of the Ally's - one of our daughter's friends home.  They served their annual traditional grinch dinner consisting of roast beast and Who hash with green sprite. It was fun to celebrate with them.  On Christmas morning we opened presents at the Ellis home.  We loved experiencing Christmas morning with Brittany, Cardon, Ryder and Elisabeth.  Watching our grandchildren open their presents was pure joy! Later that day we went to the movies to see "David", then ended with a great meal at Yamatos.  The halibut was delicious and a great way to end our Christmas festivities.

We left Santa Clarita on Saturday with the weather cooperating - the rain had given way to blue skies. 

We wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2026!!

Ryder & Elisabeth

We gave them each a sourdough turtle from Boudin's in Santa Rosa

Elder Cawley meeting his Grand Niece Lucia for the first time 

(Niece Camille and Dylan Reay's baby)

Christmas dinner at Yamato's - a Chinese restaurant where they cook in front of you

Ryder & Elisabeth at the Valencia Mall

The Ellis family gave Elder Cawley a Harley Davidson jacket for Christmas 

so he had to take a ride on his son-in-law's (Cardon) Harley.  

Now he just needs his own bike to go with his jacket

Beautiful scenery driving home through the Central Valley

Almost back in Santa Rosa - the Golden Gate Bridge across San Fransisco Bay