Christmas Morning

Here are pictures of the kids opening presents.

Drew with some of his matchbox cars.

(sorry for the grainy picture- bad lighting)

Natalie being Natalie.

Natalie with her favorite toy- a pirate girl from Aunt Katy!

Alona opening emptying her stocking.

Ashley with her books (tons and tons of books) from us!

Alona got a CD player with quite a few CDs from us.  She was so happy!

Natalie got a 24 pack of playdough from us.

Drew checking out a card from grandma and grandpa.

The scene in our living room this morning.

Alona with her gifts and eating her slim jim.

Natalie's haul.

Ashley with the majority of her gifts.

SNOW!!!!

In Las Vegas. Can you believe it?

Ok, so it was just imported.  Thanks to our wonderful friends for making it a white Christmas!

I hope you all enjoyed your day and were able to spend it with loved ones.

What we did today...

The kids all got something to ride from Santa.  Alona and Ashley got bicycles.  Natalie got a big wheel tricycle.  Drew got a little toy he can push or ride on (he can't quite get on and off of it himself yet but he loves to push it around).  So we took the pedals off the two bikes and went out to teach the girls to ride.  Now I know they might seem a little old to be learning to ride without training wheels, but we lived in Oregon- where it was almost always raining. 
I searched YouTube for videos on teaching kids to ride.  What I found- take the pedals off and let them learn to balance on the bike without them interfering.  So we did just that.  We made sure the seats were low enough that they could put their feet firmly on the ground with their knees slightly bent when sitting on the seat.  Then they started just scooting along with their feet on the ground.  They got used to the feel of the bike and then started lifting their feet to coast.  It started out with about a half second of their feet off the ground.  Eventually Alona got up to 24 seconds of coasting and Ashley got up to about 7 seconds.  Ashley got bored and went in while Alona kept at it- that's why Alona has progressed more than her.  Then we set up a little course (using old water bottles because we didn't have cones) for them to practice turning.  That is as far as we got today.  Once they are comfortable with turning and coasting we can put the pedals back on and get to really riding them!  It is very exciting for them.

Don't be fooled by the snow in the background, it wasn't very cold out (57) and the snow was imported (a Christmas surprise by some friends).

Cruising down our street.

I'm too cool for this. (not really, but it comes across as this)

Queen of the snow mountain.

Queen of the road.

Not sure how to do this. 

The snowman, and yes it is really tiny (maybe a foot and a half).

Merry Christmas!

This year things are very different for us.  It is strange to have sunshine and 60 degree weather (not that I mind in the least!!!!).  This is the first Christmas we will be spending without any extended family (and hopefully the last).  Jeff is working a short contract job, so there isn't time for travel.  Things are far different than I ever imagined they would be.
Despite all of the changes that have occurred this year I have to say that I am extremely grateful.  I am so grateful that Jesus Christ was born.  I am so grateful that he gave his life for us.  I am grateful that I am able to feel the love of our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ, especially at this time of year.  As we receive love, prayers, support, and even gifts from our friends and family I can see just how blessed we really are.
I hope you all can feel the joy of this glorious season. 
Merry Christmas!

Halloween 2010

This Halloween was our first real time trick-or-treating.  In Oregon, it was always cold and rainy.  There also weren't very great neighborhoods to go out in where we lived- not without driving.  So we always stuck to the church Trunk-or-Treat night.  We did the church Trunk-or-Treat here on Saturday night.  On Halloween night we headed to Alona's friend's house to go out as a group.  They live over in the other side of our development.  It was so much fun.  The kids had a great time going around the neighborhood.  They had a blast playing with the other kids after trick-or-treating.  I am so grateful for all of the new friends we have been making here in our new home.

Alona and Natalie wanted to be pirates.  They are obsessed with pirates since riding the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland last Christmas.  Ashley has been barreling through the Percy Jackson books and is obsessed with Greek mythology, so she chose to be Medusa.  Those are snakes in her hair (but not real ones).  I ran out of steam and didn't make a costume for Drew.  He is too young to understand anyway.

Andrew in his stroller, ready to go out for his first Halloween.

Arizona

We headed down south for the 4th of July weekend.  It seemed everyone was escaping the heat and heading north, but we didn't mind- less traffic for us!  We visited my sister Rebecca and her family.  While in Arizona, we headed up to Sedona.  It is beautiful up there!  It is also much cooler at that elevation.  We found some water to play in and had a barbeque.  It was a great visit!

Kids getting wet!

Drew loves the water

the rocks under water were very slippery- we had to help the kids get across

you'd think they owned the place

my girls

proof that I was there

Rebecca and her boys (her daughter was off somewhere else)

just chillin'

my boys

too cute!

my sis

her daughter

 being shy

teenagers!

Cathedral Rock

windblown

For the 4th of July, I made the kids patriotic outfits.

Hope you enjoyed the 4th of July!  I am so grateful for this country and all of our freedoms.  Let's do our part to keep it great!