Pumpkins on the Porch

The best part of this lovely picture of the kids is Brahm's sweet Wolverine outfit. Though he thinks it's something from Star Wars. Anyone know of a character from Star Wars in fluorescent yellow and blue??

Halloween 2009

Here are just a few pix of our pumpkin carving, and one from a fun Halloween party next door with our awesome neighbors, the Owens.

Rock Climbing in Seattle

Brandon, my bro in law, and his brother on belay.

My neice, Taylor, giving it a try.

My neice Sadie. She did pretty good.

My sister Sarah almost made it to the top. This photo was taken from a bridge above. It was a beautiful place.

Me at the top.

Me on the climb.

Emerson gearing up.

My sister, Angie, on the climb. Her husband, Brandon, is the climber in the family so she's had lots of experience. She went all the way up and did awesome!

Sarah on her first try. Look at those hot cross buns!

Rick...his first time and he made it to the top. You go honey!

Taylor holding Brahm, who loved all the attention!

Angie and her son, Cavin.

Sarah and my baby, Miles.

Some super hot guy with my son, Brahm.

It's all about wheels...

Brahm happily inherits McKay's hand me down bike and some training wheels.











One of many trips to the nearby skate park.











Check out Emerson's skill as he sits on his bike at the top of this bump. Yep, they're rolling with the big boys.

I'm Whooped!

Like I say...I'm whooped!

Visit to Pumpkin Patch

In October we (me and Miles) joined Emerson's class for a visit to the pumpkin patch. It was actually really fun!











See Emerson on the far left, middle row, sucking on his camo coat?

Don & Shelly go "ROCK"

These are our next door neighbors..the best in the west..Don and Shelley. California is having a huge drought, so they are going all rock, save a few plants and shrubs. Step 1: Don removes all the grass and plants from the yard. It was lots more work than you might think. I suppose Shelley did some, too. :)

Step 2: Unload huge crates of rock onto the driveway and begin covering ground. I forgot to mention that there was LOTS of other preparatory work involved. Don worked on this yard for a couple months straight every day, all day.

Step 3 (or really like 24): Awesome neighborhood volunteers begin showing up to help unload and disperse rocks. It was actually a really fun day. We really did have such a fabulous neighborhood! Such wonderful people.

We had to make sure to get them all even...as in spread out evenly by height because Don is a little...should we say...OCD? Okay, so he's really just very professional. I'd pay him to do my yard any day...that is if I actually owned one.

Neighborhood Farewell BBQ

Yes! We had the awesomest neighborhood in the world in Santee. Here is "grandpa Don" holding Miles for me so I can eat. He and his lovely wife, Shelley, had a neighborhood farewell BBQ for us when we moved. We just love them so much! Thanks guys!

Our wonderful friends and neighbors, Sandy and Allen . Sandy was so kind to help me out one day when I hit my head and was gushing blood. It really wasn't that bad after all, but it sure looked like it from how much it was bleeding. She also makes wonderful soup!

Here she is...the one and only cooker, baker and preparer of all the food for this event....my favorite next door neighbor Shelley Weber! I took some pix but couldn't get them all to download, but she really went the extra mile. It was fabulous! THANK YOU SHELLEY!

Here's our wonderful and very spiritual friend, Stephanie, who lives across the street. She was my "monitor sitter." Whenever I had to pick up the boys from school and Miles was asleep, she'd come over and listen for him or I would take the monitor to her house. She is such a sweetie. Thanks , Stephanie!

Last events in San Diego

In June Rick graduated from Internship. I was the brave little toaster that I always am for such occasions, and I brought all 4 children to a military special event. It was a bit wild, but could definitely have been worse. We're so proud of Rick! Love you, Hon.









On Sundays we have a tradition of going on walks. This afternoon we went on a walk right along the coast of this inlet/bay on Coronodo Island. It was beautiful and we're so happy we got to live in this beautiful place by the beach for a year. We will miss it so much! Sorry Miles, you were sleepin' so you didn't get to be in this lovely picture.

LEGOLAND, CA

McKay and Emerson....This is a pirate ride and we are all pirates, as you can see! This ride is awesome because not only can you soak passersby, but they can soak you. There are water soakers on the boat, and outside the enclosure for viewers to enjoy as well. The kids wanted to go on this over and over. We were all soaked!
Rick and Brahm soaking me.
A cute picture of Daddy and Brahm. Brahm has this new thing when we ask him to smile for pix, he gives us this strange look.
I admit, I had lots of fun soaking people on this ride. The kid in me just came right out at Legoland. I highly recommend it...that is, the ride, and Legoland, too.