Thirteen

On Saturday, Ryan turned 13. We officially have a teenager. He was 6 1/2 in this picture. Half way to becoming the sweet young man that he is today. Thanks Ryan for all that you are and all that you have become. We are so proud of you and love you so much!

On his birthday eve, he went on a "Cold Weather" campout to Mt. Laguna. I took this picture before he left. We sent Krispie Kreme doughnuts up with him for breakfast. The leaders also shared their eggs and bacon and helped make his morning great!

These are the two pictures that he took, he said that his fingers were too cold to take any more, hey, I was happy to get any! The tents were quite a challenge to pitch in the snow.

Here is one of the night

and here is one of the morning. . .

The boys had fun playing in the snow and found a shallow frozen area of water that they were sliding near, (and on).

When he got home, he opened a few presents. He got a scrapbook of 2009, some new clothes and a bigger bike! The kids all made him cards and helped decorate to welcome him home. He wasn't home long before we headed off to Temecula for the day for Alison's State Cup Tournament.

They had one of Ryan's favorite things there - Banana Shave Ice! After the tournament, we went to Old Town Temecula for some good grub at Sweet Lumpy's BBQ. So yummy and so fun. Mimi, Papa, and girls met us there.

Chocolate + mint = Ry's favorite kind of brownie

My boys

We walked around the wooden planked streets of the Old town as the sun went down. Papa treated us to Hot Cocoa and sweets from the Candy Shoppe.

On Monday, he used his birthday money to buy Oscar. He is a fat-tailed leopard gecko, and a very mellow little guy. Jack is very curious, to say the least.

Happy Birthday Ryan!!

A Change in the Weather

Lightning, flooding, gray skies, dense rain, high wind, and even a tornado watch have been extreme weather for us. It has been different, which is exciting! The creek near our house carries the sound of rushing water. Justin said he could see a waterfall from his preschool playground. The creek runs along the back bank of the school and through many parts of our surrounding community. Justin is happy that the crocodiles will have much more water to swim in.

We love this movie. The kids request it over and over. (I see you smiling Grandpa.)

Our latest love is homemade ice cream. This was the best batch yet - "Strawberry, Blackberry, Raspberry." After marinating the berries in lemon juice and sugar for two hours, you mix in more sugar, cream, and milk, and vanilla. It is amazing. We can't get enough, even in this cold weather. Lindsay's next endeavor is Pineapple Sorbet. The ice cream maker was my favorite Christmas gift. It will be the "gift that keeps giving". I now buy heavy whipping cream in bulk at Costco.

I haven't been blogging, because I have discovered digital scrapbooking. Little bits of time here and there have been devoted to that. Here are pics I pulled off my camera from the last couple of weeks. These two girls have had a few days off from their regular activities because of the weather, and made some extreme sports of their own. . .

Frisbee. Alie would giggle and say to the clouds,

"Just hold it a little longer."

nice "move" Linds

(Sorry to interrupt your game for this picture, girls:) They love to play four square. They like to make up new rules to make it more fun. Lately, they have both been working on their "volleyball" hits.

This guy does not like to have his picture taken. Can you tell? He does, however, enjoy drawing one. I usually find some sort of sign on his door. This is his latest one . .

It replaced, "Justin and Ryan's Room. Manliness required to enter."

His newest endeavor is to cure the "non-flushers" in our family. I will not mention names, but there are several members of this family who just can not remember to pull that little lever. He has taken it upon himself to gently remind those people by putting signs on each of the bathroom doors in our house. Here is one of the five.

Another one said, Drafty smell? Toilets' clogged?

visit www.justflush.com or call 1-800-its-tnks.

He recently helped Justin make his "monster" truck for a primary activity.

My bathroom has become a hair salon.

but, Doesn't she look loverly?

I love when they all play together, it is my #1 favorite mom thing.

We recently got the girls each their own desks. Lindsay has made over a dozen new baby chicks, while Alie has been practicing over a dozen Taylor Swift songs while she doodles away.

Rain = puddles.

"Putting their heads together"

Today it is Wednesday. The sky is beautiful. The clouds are "holding it" and the blue is shining through. What a sight!

The sand is so great when it is damp.

I love my new calling. These little boys are so much fun!

Last Sunday they were asked to finish this sentence in sharing time, "I know" . . .

My class said things like " I love my dad." or "I can pray.", Justin piped up with, " I know that I can read the scriptures every day, but what I really want to say is that Jesus can guide us out of the darkness. When it is really dark, he can help us find our way out with his rod, he just pulls us out, he doesn't let us slip into the water" I am thinking that this statement is related to his strong love of Star Wars, "darkness, dark side", I don't know, and a bit of love for the scriptures, he really wants his own set.

The search is Over . . .

Welcome Home Squirrely!!!

Sweet Slumber

Tuesday night, after a long day of school, homework, and scouts, Alan found Ryan curled up in Nana's bed fast asleep. In his cheek, the lollipop from the Barber shop. In his arms, Charles Dickens. As Alan and I walked this sweet kid up to his room, pried the lolly off his teeth, and tucked him in, I couldn't help but smile as I layed myself down in my own bed.

The Puzzler

In the words of Dr. Seuss, "He puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. When he was done, he puzzled some more."

This week as we were driving in the car, Justin's puzzler was humming.

J - "Mom, when I am 20, I will go on a mission."

"You will probably go when you are 19."

J- "No, it will be when I am 20."

J - ". . . and, um, mom, I am not going to the same place that Scotty is (Boise, Idaho), cause it will be closed. I am going somewhere that is open. I will be like a secret agent there and I will go hiking in the mountains and teach people about Jesus.

J - " Do you know what else? When I am 25, I will be a daddy, just like our daddy, and our daddy will be a grandpa."

"You will be such a good Daddy."

(a moment of silence . . .)

J - "When Ryan is on his mission, Lindsay will be 16, Alie will be 14, I will be eleven, and McCartney(cousin) will be 7.

"How did you figure that out?"

J- "Alie told me. She tells me a lot of things."

This particular day, I do not think that I wanted a glimpse into the future, but I got one anyway. I guess they do need to grow up and leave at some point. As sweet as it was, I did not enjoy the reminder. As I look into the eyes of this little guy, I want to hold onto every moment. So, for now, let's stick to jigsaws, playing in the yard, and snuggly nights.

The New Year!

Back up the mountain we went . . .

Same Snow, but Mimi's Cabin

Same Silliness, but different cousins

Same digging team, but New Cave

Same desire to jump, but New launching pad

Same as above, but in Teenage form

Same group on the slopes, New year

Same Team, New aches and pains. . .

Same desire to capture sunsets, but First one this Year

2009, We bid you farewell. Welcome, 2010.

White Christmas

Christmas in Big Bear.

Santa's gifts - Ryan got a little video recorder and spent some of the day recording snow play and sledding. The rest of the time he spent reading his new book and finished it.

Lindsay got her first glue gun. She glued away and made the cutest little pom pom pets.

Alison got an American Girl doll and was thrilled! She spent an equal amount of time with this little doll.

Justin got a Space Shuttle and lots of "aliens" and "guys". He spent the day burying them and then digging them up again. We only lost one.

Nana and Hoho had a photo shoot with the grandkids in their pajamas that morning.

The girls

The boys

. . . and then headed off for a long winter's nap. (This picture was NOT posed.)

Snow fun in the back yard.

Ice sculptures

"We wish our side yard would get snow!"

Christmas Eve we headed out for the slopes. Justin stayed with Nana and cousins.

We had a great day together!

Ryan and Alison on the lift

Ry

Me and My Ry.

I love the view of the lake below. It is beautiful!

December 26th . . . Just because we hadn't quite had enough sugar.

I love this candy shop. It has barrels and barrels of Salt Water Taffy.

Their first purchases from their "Mimi Money".

Horse Whisperers

Couldn't resist this artsy photo. We had a lovely time.

Traditions

Saturday . . . Our annual trip to "A Christmas Carol", or as we refer to it, "Scrooge". We spend the day traveling to the Glendale Centre Theatre and back, meeting many family members there. It is a great time to get together with family, enjoying the spirit of Christmas through song and the beautiful written words of Charles Dickens. It is a tradition that we look forward to every year.

Christmas Sunday

Hark! The Sabbath bells are ringing, hear the echoes all around. List! The merry children singing, what a pleasing, joyful sound! Welcome, Welcome Sabbath Morning, now we rest from every care. Welcome, Welcome, is thy dawning, Holy Sabbath day of prayer.

Alison and Justin's song - Baby in a manger, 'ere the break of day. Baby in a manger, sleeping on the hay. Hear the angels singing, joyful at thy birth. Gloria, Gloria. Peace on Earth.

Lindsay's - Peace, peace, peace on earth and good will to all. This is the time for joy. This is the time for love. Now let us all sing together of peace, peace, peace on earth.

My babiest girl with her baby blues.