Beginning of school & family time

Keala's first day of kindergarten at Creekside Oaks in Lincoln, CA.












As a family we like to pull out the legos and create all sorts of things. For Kellan, it's airplanes, for Kristine it's cars, the girls create all sorts of things, but then we have Darren. He amazes me with what he comes up with! It is truly amazing to me how intricate and detailed his creations are even though he shows me how "easy" it is. There is a price unfortunately for this detail! This night in particular, he started on a project and couldn't put it down even after I got the kids in bed and was ready for bed myself. Finally at 5am I get a kiss on my cheek which is our routine of him saying goodbye to me when he leaves in the morning for work. I shot up and said as I realized, "You never went to bed!" He sheepishly told me he couldn't put it down until he got it just right and that wasn't until 4:30am and by then he figured he ought to just get ready and go to work!! Is this an obsession where I should get rid of all legos in the house or is he a genius needing an outlet? Now you know what you can get him for Christmas!!! :)

Family Field Trip to Donner Nat. Park

I had never been to the site where the Donner/Reed party were stuck during the winter in the Sierra Nevadas so we went on a family field trip. Keala was actually on a field trip with her class, so the rest of us took off into the mountains. It was an adventure just getting there, but we won't get into that. It was a beautiful day with a little wind going through the trees and a few white clouds overhead while we walked in the woods and saw the sites of long ago cabin sites and the exact places that the members of those wagon trains walked and lived. It hit me hard that there were families with babies and young children the same ages as my children and the hardship and sorrow they went through, all to find a new beginning in a new land. It was very touching for me. I think the kids enjoyed walking across the log over the river and throwing berries to the fish and hoping they would come up and eat them. The boys fell asleep the minute their heads touched a soft surface so our ride home was VERY pleasant!

Vacation to OR & WA

We just returned from a wonderful trip to the Oregon coast and back to our friends in Washington! It was a lot of fun and a little bit crazy! We drove from here to there to make sure we saw everybody we knew and loved and still we didn't get to visit with EVERYBODY!!! Thank you to everyone who helped make our trip so wonderful! We love you all!

Pony rides

Our neighbor had a petting zoo and pony ride birthday party and my girls and Kellan dominated the pony rides. They would get off and ask immediately if they could go again. Eventually, the other kids lost interest, so Keala and Mara just kept going around and around. It was great because it was right in front of our house! So I sat and watched and helped out and listened on the monitor for Rayce. Life is good!
Love ya

Superman starring Kellan Boy

Superman must save the girl! Where is she? OH, LUR! Two fitty and a blonde!

Translation: Where is she? Oh, there you are! To infinity and beyond!

Daddy Daughter backpacking trip

Darren took Mara and Keala on their annual overnight backpacking trip. This was Keala's first time so she carried he own fannypack with her water, chapstick and barbie in it! Darren keeps it light for them for their first few trips so that they don't tire out too quickly and end up enjoying their hikes! Mara however, carried her own sleeping bag and clothes on her back! They hiked four miles in and set up camp right by the lake and they didn't see a soul the entire time! On Lanea's first hike, they only hiked 1 1/2 miles, so this was quite a bit more but she did it! Apparently there were many breaks along the way. Mara was a trouper and plugged right along and was a great big sister!

Darren will be going out again with all three girls next month! I love that Darren does this! The girls can't wait to to go out with him and count down the days each year and immediately ask when their next backpacking trip is. Kellan gets to go on a day trip with Daddy all by himself next week! Boy, that will be fun! He's our little climber!

A Party for Fun

We had a party with a bunch of Lanea's new friends on Friday and what a great group of girls we've found. A few are from past wards we been in but most of them are from our Lincoln 3rd Ward. I was so impressed with how well they all got along and included each girl, even the ones they didn't all know!

It seems that we don't have parties anymore just for fun! Almost all the moms asked if it was for a birthday or something. We decided to just simply have a get together and it so much fun, I think we'll continue to have more! Why not? Does there always have to be a reason to get together and be silly and laugh? I DON'T THINK SO!!!