Thursday, January 29, 2009

Celebrating Birthdays...

January is a big month for birthdays in our family - we have seven family birthdays in January! Gina, Adia, Paul & Kenyon, Jill, Brent, & Rochelle. So we've been celebrating all month...as a matter of fact, as large as our family is, we celebrate someone's birthday EVERY MONTH of the year except March! But no worries - we may not have any birthdays in March but we (Paul & I) have an anniversary to celebrate!



Kenyon & G'pa Paul are "birthday buddies" - they share the same birthday. This year Kenyon wanted to have a "dirt bike" birthday party so he helped G'pa Paul make a couple of "jumps."



Kyle & Adison helped, too.



Kenyon got in a couple of practice runs before his friends got there...





Even Kayden got in on the action...



One of the Disney boys caught some "big air!"



It was a great day for a party...70+ degrees! I LOVE California winters!



Speaking of Disney...Disneyland is letting you get in "free" on your birthday this year - so we went with the Petersens to help celebrate Uncle Brent's birthday (which was Da Boyz's Christmas present, too.)



Brent was a good sport & wore his "birthday button" all day long! (This is so out of character for Brent!)



The last time Rochelle went to Disneyland she was pregnant & couldn't ride any rides. I think she had more fun than Da Boyz!



Trevor & Ethan were chosen to participate in The Jedi Training Camp where they were taught how to use a lightsaber properly & fight against the "Dark Side."



Trevor used great form fighting Darth Maul...



But Ethan stole the show, taking on Darth Vadar & two storm troopers at the same time. His Jedi Master told the audience that "the Force is strong with this one."



Cade was "fearless!" He rode EVERY ride without hesitation! His 41" height barely met the 40" height requirement to go on all the "good rides." Here he is on Space Mountain - loving it!



Cade took turns riding with G'pa Paul, then G'ma Jenny...



This picture is to prove that G'ma Jenny was actually there, it's the only picture she was in ...



G'ma Jenny enjoyed most of the day playing with Carson on his 1st visit to the "happiest place on earth."



(Thanks for letting us crash at your place, Gina! It was fun to see you guys AND it made the trip more affordable!) Happy birthday to all you January birthdays...coming up in February? Happy Birthday G'ma Jenny & Unka Ty...

Saturday, January 3, 2009

A Little Bit of Christmas Cheer...

Christmas has come & gone & we have already rung in the new year - 2009, the year of the OX, to be exact. Our holidays were crazy busy & filled with tons of family fun & excitement. Here are some highlights...

...visiting a friend's rabbit farm...



...making ornaments...



...the annual Polar Express Party...



...lots of goodies to make...



...UMMMMMMMM - COOKIES!



...decorating cookies...



...playing the dreidle game...



...FHE Talent Share/Karaoke night



...Luke is a "Rock Star!"



...we did the Hokey Pokey & we turned ourselves around...



...a surprise visit from Santa...



...reassuring Santa that they were good girls this year...



...lots of service projects - like clearing out G'ma's garden...



...planting spring bulbs...



...picking up trash in Coloma...



...making bird feeders...



...& hanging them so the birds can get to them...



...shepherds & wisemen...



...the best gifts of 2008 - 6 new grandchildren & their beautiful mothers...



...grandchildren make the holidays happier - all 19 of them!



...an after Christmas Baptism...



We hope you were surrounded by those you love this Christmas season as you celebrated the birth of our Savior.

What can I give Him, small as I am? If I were a shepherd, I'd bring him a lamb. If I were a wise man, I'd do my part. What can I give Him? I'll give Him my heart!