Bike Riding

The weather has been so nice lately, considering the rainy week we had before Christmas. So I have been encouraging the girls to get outside to ride their bikes. Now I say encourage because Cambree really doesn't like to be outside much.

I think today was actually the first day she peddled her tricycle. She was pretty happy about this.

Now, Kelci on the other hand is being encouraged to learn how to ride a two wheeler bike. She is one of those kids that you have to just let her figure it out because she gets VERY frustrated if you try to help, so everyday she practices for about 25 minutes...she's getting closer.

She spends more time fiddling with the peddles to make sure they are in the right position than actually moving, but she will get it.
Emery got a new bike for her birthday and has been patiently waiting to ride it. We had to go through two bad bike pumps to get the tires pumped up before she could ride, poor thing. (Unfortunately the back tire didn't look like it got pumped up very much, but will go get another pump soon). She enjoys it anyways and is hoping Kelci will be able to ride with her soon.

I thought since this is my last time being 7 months pregnant I would let Emery take a picture of me. I feel like I'm popped out a lot more, but that would make since, my insides are all stretched out...sorry maybe that is a little graphic. The kids in the nursery at church even asked me on Sunday if I had a ball in my shirt, that was cute.

Christmas Eve!!

It's a tradition in Bryan's family to dress the children up and have them reenact the story of the Savior's birth. I have to admit, it never goes as smoothly as we would like, really we end up laughing like crazy, because the younger kids are so funny to watch. This year, my sis Ang who is way talented at sewing, made the kids costumes. They turned out great and the kids loved dressing up in them. She made them with the ability for us to use them over and over again each year...thanks a bunch Ang.

Brody the shepherd.

This picture proves how lucky we were to get one picture with all the kids looking semi normal.

Joseph and Mary...Tyler really wanted to be Mary for awhile, but finally we convinced him it would be better to be Joseph...silly kids.

Merry Christmas

I just wanted to send a Merry Christmas out to everyone that might see this. I'm sad to this time of year coming to end so soon. We hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year.

A Special Day

Yesterday was such a special day for us, we had the chance to go to the Oakland Temple and be there for Jenna as she went through for the first time. My mom and dad offered to watch the kids, which we are so thankful for. The report was that they were pretty good. It has been awhile for both me and Bryan since we have been to the temple, so that just made it even more special. My only regret was not spending enough time just walking around the grounds and going to the visitors center, there was no fog in the sky and so the view of the city was great. Oh, I did have another regret...not bringing my camera, I don't know how I forgot that. Luckily Olivia had hers and was able to get a couple of pictures.

Here are a few of us at dinner after the temple session. It was a lot of fun, even Bryan said he had fun being the only brother that was able to make it and surrounded by girls the whole time.

Tyler Collins

I can finally post a few of these pictures I took of my nephew Tyler. It was a surprise for my sister-in-law. But now she has the pictures. I thought they turned out so cute, and for a kid she says never looks at the camera, I think he proved everyone wrong.

Oh how we love Costa Vida Tortillas

There are some perks to having Bryan working for Costa Vida....and that is the tortillas. Bryan brought a few home the other night for Family Home Evening and so we decided to make snowflakes with them. These are very yummy!! The kids have a lot of fun cutting them up and than of course eating them up after they have been fried and dipped in powder sugar.

Stockings DONE!!

For the last few years I have been wanting to either find some cute stockings that all match that won't cost me $50.00. I have checked the day after Christmas sales etc. but could never find enough of them to let everyone have a special stocking of there own.
So this year I decided I was going to try and make my own. I'm excited about the way they turned out. Not only did I make them for around $13.00, they all have meaning to them, I got some good use out of some of my grandmas buttons I have been storing, and I recycled some old unwanted mens sweaters (Go Green). I decided to put symbols of Christmas on the front that are all around us and remind us of the Saviors birth. It was fun to come up with the designs and even teach Emery and Kelci how to sew a little. They were able to sew the trees and bells on their stockings. It was a learning experience for me, because I really don't think I'm very good at coming up with patterns, designs, running a sewing machine or anything, but my sister Ang inspired me to try. She makes so many cute things and always tells me that I can do it to, it just takes practice. I'm excited to have to one less thing off the list of things I would like to accomplish, even if it isn't anything to big.

Emery the Birthday Girl turns 9!!

It's still hard to believe thay my first little baby girl just turned nine years old. She has changed so much in the last year, but still somethings remain the same. She still has her sense of humor, her desire to learn, and the desire to be helpful.

She wanted to have her first official slumber party ever with some close friends. (No the boy in this picture did not stay the night, I don't think he would have wanted to either, these girls were so silly).

Sunday night we had a lot of family over to celebrate, I call it more of an excuse to get everyone up to my house, otherwise some may never make it...ok that's not true for everyone. It was a lot of fun, and I love having a chance to spend time with everyone.


Thanks to my sister Stacey for coming and helping me get myself moving a little faster to get all the food ready on time...whew...I don't think I could have done it alone.

I'm glad that my parents were able to make it up for the gathering. My mom had come the Friday before and really helped me out with the kids and even spent the night. Plans were kind of changed for the weekend because my sister Ang flew out to come get one of her dogs to take home, and you would not believe all the drama that is involved in getting a dog to Hawaii...so Thanks Mema!!!! Now if you are keeping score, that leaves one dog here and he is looking for a new home, let me know if you are interested ;)

Thanksgiving

I thought I would take a moment and post a few things about our Thanksgiving day. It was nice to be able to spend the day with both families, that is a benefit of both families living in the same town. Although I have to admit sometimes that can make it difficult....but that's for another day.

We went to Suisun and had a nice turkey meal at my sisters new home. She was a little stressed out about the bird, but it really did turn out fine.



It was also my mom's birthday which always makes Thanksgiving a little more special. The kids love getting a chance to give their Mema gifts.

We headed over to Bryan's parents house for the second dinner. This was the first time in a long time that everyone in Bryan's family was together for Thanksgiving, so that was a nice treat. I let Olivia take charge of taking pictures, I was busy chasing kids, and helping fix dinner.

Jeannette and Olivia

Jeannette's daughter...so cute!

Time to clean up...always fun. But we needed to bed early so we would be ready for shopping Friday morning.

Tyler's Visit

Last Wednesday Tyler, my nephew was able to come and stay a couple of nights with us. It was a lot of fun, I enjoy getting to know him more and more. My kids just think he is the cutest thing, so they all have a blast. Here are a few snaps.



We even attempted a late Family Home Evening with an extra toddler, and actually it went really well. Afterwards Bryan and the kids watched Kung Fun Panda while I packed up all our bags for our Thanksgiving trip the next day.