Winter Break Cont...

We got to get out of town for a couple of days over our winter break and we headed to Lake Tahoe.  We stayed in Truckee and went skiing at Squaw Valley.  The week before they had huge snow storms up there but we got lucky and had sunny skies but the benefit of all the snow from the previous week.  Perfect!  We had a great couple of days skiing.

Here we are at the top of a run - Lake Tahoe in the background.

 I'm not sure of the significance of this big chair up there but Becky (my sister) has taken pictures on it (most of you have seen in on her Facebook) so we figured we'd better as well - it is pretty cool after all.

 The kiddos and the dog.

 Roxy loves the snow.  She can play in it as long as you'll let her.  It is adorable watching her run around in it - she chases the boys around happy as can be.  After all she's just a kid herself!

 Cooper playing at the skate park in town.

 The top of Squaw with the tram in the background.  A little snack stop while skiing.

 Cooper decided to give snowboarding a try.  We hunted him down in his lesson and got some pictures and video.  He loves it!  Says he is never skiing again.

 Cameron in the village.

 We took a tram over to find Cooper's lesson and his class got on as we were headed back to the village.  I got this adorable shot of him loading.

 Cameron and Roxy sledding at the skate park.

 OK...so I said it was sunny, I didn't say it was warm.  This was as we were pulling into ski on the first morning.  Thank goodness we had our hand warmers!

We love Tahoe.  It was a great mini-vacation.  We hope to be able to head up one more time this season.  Let it snow!

Winter Break Fun

The kids & I have been off since December 20th!  We've had so much fun.  I love just being home and hanging out with them.  We always find something to keep us busy.  

Like drive around and look for flooded roads during a storm

 This is one huge bag of kettle corn.  We went to 6 Flags with my sister Amy and the boys cousin Caitlyn  - can't ever go there without getting kettle corn...

 Us with Amy & Caitlyn @ 6 Flags

 We made a trip to the beach to let Roxy run around it was beautiful out there

 I love this picture of Eddie & Roxy

 Roxy is still ready to play.  She can play & play on the sand it's amazing

 Cute picture of Cameron!

 YUM, rootbeer floats with Caitlyn & Kenzie during their sleepover

 more sleepover fun - the girls look so excited - having a great time.

We had a great time hanging out.  We even snuck out of town for a couple of days!  It's back to the grind tomorrow....how many days till Spring Break??

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you!

Hope you had a Merry Christmas.  We did over here.  Everyone came over on Christmas day.  We had such a fun day.  Ate great food, laughed and enjoyed seeing all the kids play together (even if they were stuck inside because it rained all day).

Eddie and I did a little champagne tasting at Korbel Winery on Christmas Eve.  We got a bottle to share  - here is Eddie getting ready for....

 ....the toast

 the girls

 ready for some great food...the grown-ups

 Amy not wanting to give up her white elephant gift Sylvia stole

 a little game of fibber

 Billy-he's 21 now he got to have a beer

 the kiddos waiting for their food

 Eddie & Roxy chilling

Merry (late) Christmas everyone.  It's New Year's Eve today - looking forward to 2013!

Billy's 21

Billy turned 21!  Woo Hoo...

We celebrated at one of our favorite happy hour spots in Santa Rosa.  We had a great group of people who came to celebrate with him.  It was a great time full of food laughter and of course alcohol!

 My first drink ever with him!  Cheers

 Uncle Pete showed up

 Billy & his girlfriend Corinne

 The gang - this guy in the bottom left has been his buddy since 1st grade

 Eddie, Pete, Cheryl & Kathy having a laugh

 Billy & my Aunt Kathy

 He was STOKED on his gift to say the least - (Thanks Clay & Sylvia for for helping out with this - it made is day and every day since)

 Awesome "Billy" beer from Uncle Pete - gulp gulp

Those Jimmy Carter fans probably remember it.

Happy 21st Birthday Billy.  We are very proud of you!  Can't believe you are 21.

Winter Concert

All the 5th graders at Cameron's school are required to play in the band.  That is actually a pretty awesome thing for a school to offer these days with all the budget cuts.  They all picked an instrument at the beginning of the year (he plays the clarinet) and have practice twice a week.  Amazingly in just these few months they were able to play a winter concert for everyone.  They played 7 songs.  On the second song "Au Claire de La Lune" Cameron had a duet with another girl.  He was so nervous he was going to squeak - I told him if he did to blame it on her hehe - They played it perfectly.  It was so sweet watching him play and amazing how well the band played together in such short time.

This picture shows him doing his duet.  He is in the second row sort-of dead center.

Awesome job Apple Blossom 5th grade band!

Thankful

It doesn't get much sweeter than that.  Cooper made that at school, it's gotta be the sweetest thing I've ever read. 

We are feeling so thankful over here.  As most of you know I had a breast cancer scare.  After my surgery & biopsy - all is good.  Healing now from my surgery then back to normal.  Thank God!

Feeling SO lucky and thankful!!!! Gives a new meaning to Thanksgiving.  

Cameron is 11

Happy 11th Birthday Cameron

Cameron's birthday fell on a school day so he had a few friends come over after school.  I could hear them hooting & hollering as I pulled into the parking lot.  Oh know...what'd I get myself into.

Turned out to be a great little party.  They played outside (thank you for not raining) - decorated gingerbread cookies, ate pizza & cake.  It was short and sweet - they all had a great time .

 After we took everyone home we went out to dinner in town then came home to open presents.  Cameron loved his bow&arrow set and the huge truck Cooper got him.

Wow, these kids grow up so fast.  Trying to appreciate every minute!!