Tyler caught his first "real" FISH over the weekend! He has caught smaller ones before but, usually not one big enough to keep! He was so excited and proud! It was a 27 inch stripier. Daryle came home empty handed as usual! Poor guy! We cooked Tyler's fish that night for dinner.
I don't think anyone cared for it all that much, it was a tougher fish meat.
Tyler will be bridging to Boy Scouts on February 26! We went last week and had his picture taken in his Webelos uniform before he tranforms into a BOY SCOUT! Seems like he was just a Tiger cub scout. Now he is going on to a whole new adventure! And it will be neat to see him grow with it! Tyler has tried many different activites.....soccer, baseball, basketball, Karate, Takewondo,,,,but, Scouts has always stuck with him. He loves it and we have been so fortunate to have such an incredible Scout family for the last 5 years! When I took him in for these pictures I was set that I was just going to get the $7.99 package! For most of you, who know my love of pictures the package was plenty. But, all these portrait places have gone digital now and they can do so much! They get you big time! So, my $7.99 package turned into $60.00. Oh well, I only have one boy-right?!?! I can always justify it in my head!
Valentine's Day eve.....
I love these special times with these little people
in our life! I just wish they'd stay little. They are
growing up too fast!
Our Valentine's was a very busy day so, we
celebrated the night before with a nice dinner
& a small little something for each other.
O.K. This is my 3rd attempt to add these
pictures to my blog. I am having one heck
of a time since switching to the "new blog"
to add stuff. Anyways, I hope they make it
on here now or I'm going to SCREAM!
We were walking home from playing at the
playground and they were holding hands so,
I hurried to snap a picture!
Sadie enjoys to lay under the pillow
rather than on top of it like a dog is
supposed too! Our little old lady! She
will be 13 years old in May this year!
She does look pretty comfty though!
We went to the Monster truck show in Sacramento
over the weekend...Tyler had a blast....the girls said
they liked it but, I think they were glad when it was over.
It was very LOUD!
Afterwards, you could stay and get autographs!
I could tell Tyler really wanted to stay and the line
was so long....he got big tears in his eyes so, we
stayed....it only took about 45 mins but, the smile
on his face was priceless! He was so excited!
Barrett, Tyler, Cayden, Natalie, Payten, Lindsey, Ryley and Davin! They are always so good about posing for a picture for me! They know how I am and figure its probably better just to suffer for a few seconds and get it over with!
We got to meet up with our cousins this past weekend in Sacramento and see Cousin Barrett play soccer for a Tournment he was in. His team WON so, they are on to next round(weekend)to play again. What a great game it was...the score was only 1-0 so, it was very nail biting. My kids just loved being with their cousins and hanging out for a few hours.
We had a great New Year's dinner with our family. The kids enjoyed toasting and drinking to the new year with Sparkling Apple Cider-(I think they just enjoyed us letting them drink from wine glasses!)
Waiting for midnight with a nice, tasty milkshake!
The kids loved firing off the little poppers and guns. We did them inside~just too cold outside. We had a nice mess afterwards but,they had fun!
We actually all made it to midnight! I wasn't sure if we would all make it or not and we did! Lindsey tried to fall asleep about 10 mins before midnight but, I got her to stay awake. We usually play a few games or watch movies but, this year we shared our wedding video with our kids.It was the first time I had watched it in over 3 years. It was fun watching it with them because they were a good distraction to the sad heart I felt with seeing all the loved ones we have lost, friends we don't hardly get to see and friends that have moved away. I really enjoyed watching it after so long..seeing my Dad, hearing him talk, Seeing my grandpa's, old friends~it was great.
My girls and I had a scrapbook night last week for a few hours. We went to the Mom and me scrap night at one of the stores here. I think they had a good time and loved spending some of their birthday money on stickers and other fun stuff. I hope we can keep doing this together. Natalie really has the scrapping down but, Lindsey still gets really frustrated but, she really does do a good job, she just doesn't think so.
Christmas morning is always an anixous, fun, exciting time! Tyler woke up in the early hours of 5am and I said to him,"Is it still dark outside?" and he said,"yes!" and I said, "then go back to bed!" We ended up getting up a little before 7:00 and the kids were climbing the walls to see what Santa had brought them...Daryle and I like to torcher them by talking to them while they wait down in our bedroom, we like to make sure Santa remembered to stop at our house...it is fun to tease them and hear them moaning in the bedroom....we get the camera and video camera all set up....yell for them to come.....& they come RUNNING! They are always so cute. I never want it to end!!!
The kids once again were spoiled rotten at Christmas! They made out! And here I had even told them they were not getting as much this year because we had just gone on a big vacation...oops, I was wrong. I can't help myself! We actually stopped opening presents at one point because the girls kept having melt downs with who was getting what etc,,etc,,Daddy went and had a talk with all 3 of them and told them we were not going to open any more gifts until they were in good Christmas spirit. They came out looking like the Polar Express and singing Christmas songs. It was pretty cute.
The kids and I frosted 135 cookies! I just love to make sugar cookies and I go
a little bit crazy when I bake...hey its the time of year~right?!!? 
Sometimes they really do love each other...Tyler is usually a good sport!
I just love Christmas eve... I guess I just always loved it as a child because we always spent it with family friends-our best friends. It's such a good beginning to Christmas day...Time to eat more, drink more and be extra merry! I love these times with my own family more than anything.
The kids love to be with Uncle Greg and Uncle Chris & Auntie Lisa... 
The kids love their Nana Gwen, Pops Bruce and Grandma Dixie
Yes, the Raiders suck!! Wait actually they REALLY suck....But besides that, we always have a great time tailgating before the game and we even saw Santa!!-ooh I mean, we saw a few Santa's dressed in their Raider suits...I think the Raiders record this year is 2-13 ugh! I told Daryle not to worry....only one more game and the misery is over until next season.
We went to a Christmas Breakfast at the Counrty Club with my Mom last Sunday. They had Santa there and the kids got the chance to sit on his lap and tell him again what they would like for Christmas. He was a great Santa and very funny. He had the best HOHOHO and CHESSE I ever heard...Afterwards, Lindsey says to Grandma,"He is not the real Santa, I could see his black wiskers through the beard, he must be an elf!" I thought that was so cute. I'm so glad they know that Santa can't be everywhere so his elves have to help out. My Tyler is at the age where you know the day is going to come when they don't believe anymore and it makes me so sad to think about but, he hasn't asked and if he does ask I don't want the girls to be around-(espically Lindsey). So, I thought I would ask him and see what he knows. I was kind of feeling him out the other night, we were just talking and I asked him if he had any questions about anything, and he says,"where do babies come from?" I said, "not that question!" He laughed. And then I said, " Do you have any questions about Christmas, Santa, etc..etc..." and he said,"NOPE!" So, I dropped it. So, honestly I don't know what he thinks. I'm sure he has his doubts but, I think he is not really going to ask or say because we have always told them once you stop believing in Santa he doesn't bring you presents anymore...
Lindsey checking him out and figuring out he is an elf and not the real guy. You can't put much past her. Someone told her not too long ago, that there was no Santa and that parents just buy the gifts and put them there. UGH! Made me so mad! So, I had to convice her that, that was not the case....Natalie said she told this person, "then why did I hear the reindeers on the roof??",,,I guess this other person didn't have an answer for that. When the day comes that I know my kids really know about Santa, they better know not to ruin it for another child. I think that is so cruel. Santa is the spirit of Christmas....heck I still believe...
We had Breakfast with Santa hosted at the Jelly Belly factory this past Saturday and we had a great time. The food isn't the best so, you definetly are going for the atmosphere. They make up goodie bags & treats for eveyone..Santa and all his helpers(Rudolph, Frosty, Mrs. Claus) walk around to greet you while you are eating your breakfast. I hate to think about my kids getting too old for this. It is just such a fun time for them~(and us to watch their faces!)
