Sunday, January 25, 2009

Lynch Canyon

Lynch Canyon is a couple miles from where we live. One of the Scout leaders takes people on tours at least once a month here. Even though there weren't any boys that showed up for the hike Andy said that they had fun and he really enjoyed it.

A grove of Eucalyptus Trees
It is hard to see, but there is an old foundation for a two story wood house that burned down in the 1970's during a wild fire. (The small white line in the valley between the hills, not the close up of the rocks on the hill.)




There are quite a few large rocks that the Indians used to grind acorns on. This is one of the holes that was ground into the rock.

There were several healthy looking steaks roaming the hills.

This a wild mustard plant. The leaves taste like spicy mustard.

Catching Up

It has been a while since I posted about the family so I thought I would try to catch up a little. Andy is still working on Base and enjoys it most of the time. Occasionally he has a long hard day, but for the most part everything is good. He is still the 11 year old scout leader. They have several hikes planned. One was this weekend, but none of the boys showed up. The leaders that came went on the hike even though there were no boys. He really enjoyed the hike and got some great pictures of the scenery.

I was recently called to be the Primary Chorister. I am still a little bit nervous, but I think I will adjust pretty quickly. Most of the songs we are learning for the Primary program this year I already know. It is also fun to see Bradley in opening exercises and singing time.

Bradley is a sunbeam now! He loves going to primary. After his first week of sunbeams I asked him what his new teachers name is. He replied with big eyes, "She is so beautiful!" Sister Faumuina is a very beautiful 18 or 19 years old Samoan. She does an excellent job with them!

Daniel is loving nursery! The last few weeks he has gone straight in without any coxing or prodding. He is now officially out of the crib. I took the side off so he could use it as a toddler bed, but he has only slept on it once in the last 2-3 weeks. He prefers to sleep on Bradley's bed with him. True be told, Bradley cries if Daniel doesn't sleep by him. Bradley does a great job of being quiet after Daniel goes to sleep, so as not to wake him. They have become great buddies.

The other night the boys started hugging and Bradley said, "Mom, get the camera!" I love their brotherly bonding!


I can't remember what this was after, but we were all tired!

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In this video Daniel was pretending to be an airplane. He likes us to say, "Ready, set, go!" and then he takes off running. Bradley's new thing is to run out of the bathroom after using if and saying, "How do I look?" He usually has only pulled up his underwear and sticks which ever hip is closest to me out. I was hoping he would do it in this video, but he didn't.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Kids Gone Wild...

For Martin Luther King Day we went to Kids Gone Wild with our cousins. We had a lot of fun! The boys ran until they were exhausted. Here are some pictures of all the fun we had.

Anna
Jake

Dad, Bradley, Daniel & Mom
Anna, Ben & Mom

Seth, Jake & Dad head first. These boys are crazy!!

Daniel couldn't get enough of the slides. He ran no stop for about 40 minutes!
Ben liked crawling around, but didn't like the sliding so much.
Daniel tried and tried to climb the stairs on this one but his pants were too slick and his legs were too short. Here he is peeking over the top!
Another example of brotherly love!
Jake


Here are a couple of short clips of all the sliding action!

Friday, January 16, 2009

A Birthday & Christmas PJ's

Since we were traveling out of town Christmas Day we celebrate Christmas early. Andy's birthday was also crammed in there. We didn't want to have a lot of cake left over so we just did a frozen pie. I love frozen pie!

We also ran out of candles so we had to use matches.
Bradley with the Birthday-Boy!

He was very excited about the camp stove.
The boys learned very quickly how to set up the stove.

Daniel and Bradley in some of their new PJ's. They got some matching dump truck PJ's from Grandma and Grandpa Shirley too.

Brotherly love!!
Merry Christmas!!!
Dec. 23-24, 2008

Monday, December 22, 2008

Santa Clause came to town!

The Dental Core had their annual Christmas party at the clinic. Andy was asked to be Santa! They got him a new suite and everything. He had to punch a new hole in the belt so that it would fit him. I think he looks pretty cute in the Santa outfit. After we got home I made him listen to the "Santa Baby" song. He just round his eyes.

Teased him and said that you have to wonder about a thin Santa!
Bradley loved him! He kept trying to sneak up and see him before it was his turn. After Andy changed back into his uniform Bradley said, "Dad, you was Santa!" He only asked once about Andy being Santa and now he just talks about the candy he got from Santa.

Daniel didn't want anything to do with Santa. He cried and wouldn't go near him. Even when Andy tried saying things to him that only Daddy says.

Even when I held Daniel he wasn't sure about being so close to Santa. I think the picture of me turned out pretty good though!

Daniel couldn't believe that he saw Mommy kissing Santa Clause...even without the mistletoe!
Dec. 19, 2008





Oakland Temple Lights

On the 18th of Dec. we went to see the Christmas Lights with a friend at the Oakland, CA Temple. The lights were beautiful and we were able to enjoy the company of CJ and her son Aiden.

Bradley and Daniel at the visitor center.
Bradley loved running up and down the sidewalks lined with bushes full of lights!

Daniel is also a big fan of Christmas lights.

Daniel and Aiden taking a breather.

I love the cheesy smile! Bradley is starting to do them more and more.

Daniel finally has some teeth you can see when he smiles.


I know the picture is kind of dark, but you get the idea of what it looks like.








Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Lighting Ceremony & Gingerbread House

On December 1st the Air Force Base held a Tree and Menorah Lighting ceremony. It was fun to eat cookies and drink hot chocolate while listening to the live Air Force Band play Christmas Carols. Then they talked a little bit about history or meaning of the Christmas tree and the Menorah. They did a count down and then lit all the trees by the gate. It was really fun and the boys love watching the whole block light up!

This is the Christmas Card the Dental Squadron made. You can't see it very well in the picture, but some of the rein deer have braces. They are so cute!Santa made an appearance in one of the AFB firetrucks! We were on the side walk next to the street so the boys got to see him really well. We didn't stay long enough for the boys to sit on Santa's lap, but we plan to see him sometime before Christmas.
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I found this foam Gingerbread House kit at Michael's and had to get it. It was harder to put up than I thought it would be. We put it together with our cousins. Who knew that three 3 year olds would be so entertained by a foam gingerbread house. I think Bradley, Jake and Seth did a great job...with a little help from their mom, Angie.



A Christmas Wreath

A talented lady in my ward offered to teach anyone interested how to make a wreath. She gave us ideas of what kinds of things to get to decorate the wreaths. I went to the Dollar store and to Michael's to get everything I needed for my wreath. Luckily for me Michael's was having a sale on their Christmas stuff and I got 40-50% off each item! I love sales.
Some of the items for my wreath wrapped with floral tape and ready to attach to the wreath.

I could never have made this wreath without the creative tips and suggestions!
First I attached all my very favorite pieces.


Then I had to decide on the bow.

Once all my favorite things were in place with the bow I started to add all the little fillers.

It is still missing something.


This is the final product!
I had so much fun buying all the frills to put on the wreath, and even more fun assembling them. I could never have done it with out the help of Sheri B. and Brenda T. Thanks ladies for giving me helpful tips and the much needed second opinion. Thanks again Sheri for opening up your home and helping me so much with the wreath. I am excited to start on the next ones!