4.01.2009

How many ways can you read a book?

I thought this was hilarious! I seriously walked into the kitchen and found Lindsey in this position reading her book! How can this be comfortable Lindsey?
Loren's buddies on the basketball team.

Loren loved being on a basketball team so much that she is dying to do it again...so we signed her up again ...and this time I'll coach :)

Here is my wrist...all healed up. A nice little slit. About an inch long. It's still a little numb from my thumb to my wrist but the feeling is coming back...thank goodness! We've been great. busy as ever and super excited for spring break. This weekend is Jake's 6th birthday! Just a few random pictures this time but hopefully I'll get back into a blog groove again and post a little more often. Love you all!





2.18.2009

I have a good excuse!

So it's been FOREVER since I have blogged but I have a really good excuse. Jan. 16th I had surgery on my wrist. I've had a nice bump there for years and finally had it looked at. When the Dr. couldn't find any fluid to remove, and realized it was tissue he said it had to come out..."lumps and bumps belong in the bottle, not the body", he said. So, something that really never bothered me now really was going to! I had a quick outpatient surgery which I cannot remember. I remember asking the anesthesiologist that I wouldn't mind watching the procedure...he just laughed and that was the last thing I remember until they woke me back up! Life was very different one handed for two-three weeks. I was very sore! The Dr. had to cut into my thumb tendon and move a nerve out of the way to get to the lump (which the biopsy came back as fine...scar tissue of some sort), so my thumb to my wrist has been numb for over a month and barely this week I've been able to attempt the piano. It really has only been the past two weeks that I could actually type and put my hair in a pony tail! With that said, I have a picture or two in a sling I'll post. But, since I could now do things with both hands I decided to get crafty and make some pillows! It really is fun to create something. I found some fabric to brighten up my family room and recovered two pillows and made a throw pillow...then had a little extra to make a square for my kitchen table! Anyone who knows me knows that sewing is only something I've attempted in the past few years...still trying to figure it out most of the time! A proud moment and I'm so glad to have two hands again!



So, since it's been so long I'll just post some highlights since Christmas. Jake's favorite present was his own basketball and shoes. He LOVES basketball.

Loren loves fashion. She was thrilled to have some "skinny" jeans from Grandma and some new shirts and leggings from a store we can only afford when it's 50% off!

We had some homemade presents from the kids this year. Jake made an Indian boy for Daddy.

Lindsey made a family picture for me...and you can see her favorite present in her hand. Handball is her FAVORITE thing to do on any wall in the house! Ah Christmas morning robe and hair!

Allison's favorite was a Dora doll and a "princess" nightgown. Very easy to please!

Right after Christmas Grandma H., Aunt Shelley and the cousins came down to visit. Of course we had to make cookies! I think Allie loves chocolate cookies as much as her Mom.

Here is Jake in action!

Cousin Matthew and Michael and Jake. They really are best friends!

Funny story--the night before my surgery I was chatting on Facebook to my brother Aaron teasing him that it had been 80 degrees this past week and that he should come visit. He and Amy couldn't stand it and rearranged everything to come to the sun and visit us. They arrived the next evening. It was SO fun to have them. I love how spontaneous they are! We can't wait for them to come back!

We all went to the Getty's Villa together and on the way found an injured butterly that let us get up close.

Here is a pic of the sling. Nice. Couldn't get the arm wet for a week! That was interesting!

The Getty's Villa was cool. They had a kids room where the kids could dress up and pretend they were part of a vase design. Here is Lindsey.

Loren.


Jake of course!

and little Allison!

The kids could make paint on their own designs on vases throughout the room.

A beautiful place...just a few too many "bare" artwork & statues for kids under 9 to see! We didn't stay very long!

We made it out to the beach too of course. Lindsey found a way to do the splits.

always beautiful, always fun.


This was taken the weekend after my surgery. Loren has been playing on a city league basketball team and BJ is the coach. She has been having great time. She is awesome at defense and is so fast!



Here is Loren and some of the players on her team.

Jake has been playing in a basketball class as well and he's been heaven. It just ended a few weeks ago. His shot is "money".

I have a feeling that we'll be watching basketball for a while! Very fun!

Just a few weekends ago we drove up to N. California to attend BJ's 15th reunion (actually 16th) in Livermore. It really was a fun night catching up with old friends. So many of BJ's closest friends were there. I really loved meeting everyone. I think we shocked them all with how may kids we have. Many were single, engaged, just married or had one maybe two kids max. Here are a few pictures of people there. Thanks to Grandma H. and the cousins for watching the kids for us!


12.23.2008

Fun visits & Merry Christmas!!!

We have been very spoiled in the past few weeks with visitors! My little sister Natalie ( just 5 1/2 years younger) flew out at the beginning of the month with her sweet little Ellie (who is 1 yrs old). We had so much fun! It doesn't matter what we do...we just always have a blast. I love her so much! I didn't want them to go. It made me want even more to be closer. Thank you Natalie for coming!!!

Oh I miss her!

Allie & Ellie in their matching pink sweaters. So cute!


Loves pictures!

Jake got his first award at school for academics. He is SUCH a good reader!

Last Monday we got to go to Disneyland! Grandma & Grandpa came to visit & gave us a trip to Disneyland for Christmas. We are spoiled! This was Allison's first time seeing Tinkerbell & all the Princesses...she was in shock and very happy!


Loren & Lindsey up, up & away!

Sleeping Beauty's castle was open this year. Disneyland looks amazing with all the Christmas decorations. We've gone to Disneyland at Christmas time before & it was hard--1 1/2 hours to wait for It's a Small World for example. That is basically all we could wait for with really little kids so we watched the parade and left. This trip was just the opposite because of the drizzling weather in the morning. We were prepared with ponchos and didn't let the weather change our plans. We got on all the rides we wanted & had such a wonderful time!

Allie & I.

Grandma & Grandpa with Loren, Lindsey & Jake. We are so blessed to have such giving & fun grandparents!

Allie's favorite of course, Small World, & all lit up for the holidays!

All of us...a little cold but happy! Thank you again Grandma & Grandpa! We miss you!


Merry Christmas to all of you!!! We love you all & are so grateful to have you in our lives. It has been so fun to be in better touch through blogging. Even though I don't blog as frequently as I'd like, I love being able to share our family doings & reading about all of yours. This is one of the first Christmas holidays that we aren't going to drive to family...and it's hard...but it will be nice too ;) I love spending holidays with ALL the family we have! We just couldn't do it this year. We felt very blessed to have my parents & sister come out & we will have BJ's Mom & sister with our best friend cousins come out after Christmas. Thank you to all our family & friends for all the support & love you continue to show us! Have a wonderful holiday. Love you!

11.25.2008

State!


This past weekend we had our first little road trip in our new 2005 minivan--complete with DVD player. Nice. Allison was thrilled to be in the car on our way to Bakersfield for the State gymnastics meet for Lindsey! Lindsey did so well. She competed against other 7 year olds. She got a personal best on 3 of her events. On vault, she got a 9.1 which earned her a 7th place medal and got her in the coveted "9 club" at her gym. The first place on vault was a 9.3. It is amazing how close it always is! On bars she got a 8.8, her best ever. This time the bar was set to the right height and she wasn't wearing those large grips. :) On beam she tied her sectionals score with an 8.3 and on floor she got an 8.35, a personal best even with a little fall on her landing. Her all around score was 34.55. She did amazing & we are very proud her. She has worked very hard & it has been so fun to see her grow & improve at each meet. Thanks Grandpa H. for making the 4 hour trip to come watch! I've uploaded videos of her events. Enjoy!


Lindsey on floor.


Awards...she is 3rd from the right. Pretty awesome!

Lindsey with her coach Ola and her teammates Carolina & Bella.