Ten Christmas'

I ran across this picture that was taken in Urey Colorado ten years ago...and it brought back so many memories. But more important than even the memories, is the reminder of how far we have come in this life together. No matter the struggles we have come up against (and still do), we make great teammates in marriage and parenthood.
Since Rich is admittedly addicted to looking at our blog, I wanted to say..."Thanks babe, for another great Christmas. Let's get ready to ride!"

Have a safe and Happy New Year! Until next time...

Christmas Eve

All the gifts are wrapped and under the tree...just having some fun in the sun while we wait for Santa. Last time we checked he was in Madagascar. You too can track him at Northpole.com!Until next time....

"Shutter Bug"

There is a new photographer in the house. Yes, Brennen got a digital camera with money sent from his Grandma. He is having so much fun taking pictures of everything....and I must say, the kid's got a great eye! Here are just a few examples of his recent work.

Brycee Boy

Our Christmas Tree
Self Portrait
His friend Paris' Bear
He is sure to have more great photos for your viewing pleasure. Right now he is setting up props near the tree to photograph.

Only 2 more days til Christmas!!

Until next time...

Brennen's Turn

Brennen and his friend Peyson had a great time singing with our Church choir this past Sunday. They all gave us chills as they sang their little hearts out! These two have become fast friends and will celebrate their 7th birthdays just a few days apart. I'm still trying to process the fact that Brennen has asked for a laptop and an ipod that plays movies for Christmas. whats next?! Last night Brennen's school put on an amazing performance of the story of Jesus' birth. Each child did such an incredible job as they honored our Lord and Savior. The tissue definitely came in handy as they sang without even a hiccup.
Of course we thought Brennen was exceptional. He is always so serious about these kinds of things, and was up yesterday morning before 5:30 to make sure his lines were perfect! He sure does make a cute little Shepard doesn't he?
So...as we are finishing up all of our last minute shopping, gift wrapping, meal prepping and all that falls in between...take time to remember the ultimate gift being given to us already...that of eternal life and the love of Jesus Christ. And as we were reminded of last night...a gift is only a gift if it is received! We are truly blessed!
Happy Birthday Jesus!! Until next time...

Tonight is your night bro!

This was a great night for Brycee, and the first time he was excited about singing in any sort of school program. The first thing he wanted to do was make sure his hair was blow dried. I tried not to laugh because he was very serious while getting ready for his big night! Here he is posed in front of the Christmas tree. He really is posing. Once he was dressed, he asked if I would take a picture of him in front of the tree. We got several great shots :)
We have arrived at the Phillips home where the big event is just moments away! Still...I am just taking in the fact that he is so excited to show off is singing abilities. Last year he came and sat with Rich and I for every performance he was supposed to be in.

Here he is...showing his moves. He was very graceful as he sang Jingle Bells, Little Baby Jesus and We Wish You A Merry Christmas! As you can see, there were hand movements involved.
Both the boys and their friend Peyson, couldn't wait to get home because they knew that we were planning on decorating the ginger bread house. But when I mentioned it would take a few minutes to make the icing, the two older boys took off while Bryce anxiously awaited instructions for what to do next. Gotta love the feet Jammie's. I will miss this age!
I think they ate bit more than they should have, as the ginger bread house looked a little naked in the end.
But a great night was had by all. I loved watching the boys have so much fun. My mom made the Christmas season so magical for us kids, yet we never forgot the true meaning of the celebration. I love creating that joy for my own kids...and reminding them that our Lord and Saviour is the reason for the season!
The time is flying by so quickly...Let us relish these moments as mommy's of kids in feet Jammie's. May the memories last a lifetime...and the experience live within our children for years to come. Until next time....

Tis the season...

What's better than watching Christmas specials in mom and dad's bed...past your bedtime? Wearing a Santa had while you do it!! Until next time...

December in the desert!

It is a beautiful morning here in the desert! I couldn't resist snapping a couple photos after taking the kids to school. Some of you have done posts on your first snow...well, this is ours :) It has actually rained two weekends in a row (which may be some sort of record) and the temps have been down right freezing (65 degrees)! Time to break out the hoodies and put on my cold weather flip flops. We'll need them as we stroll through Cane Cane Lane to see all the palm trees decorated in lights. Merry Christmas to you wherever you are! Until next time...

Buggy and the Bee

Brennen was in an all school spelling bee this week. Rich and I were able to go watch as children from each class took part. I'm not sure who was more nervous, Rich or Brennen...and I actually wish I had a couple shots of Rich so you could see his face when someone misspelled a word. I'm not sure if he (meaning Rich) can handle another spelling bee! If you look closely at this picture, you will see that the other kids are clapping as Brennen sits red faced in the winners chair!! On February 1st, Brennen will travel to Riverside with the other class winners and participate in an ACSI spelling bee where Christian schools from all over Southern California will attend. He will compete with other kids his own age....Brennen is so excited...and as you can imagine...we are too! He really is a great little speller and plans on practicing quite a bit in the coming months. He's up for the challenge, so feel free to give him some new words to spell!
Until next time....

Ocotillo Weekend

We pulled into Ocotillo Wells on Friday evening around 5:30pm, in the pouring rain. We decided to camp pretty close to the road for the night, as we definitely didn't want to get our 5th wheels stuck in the mud. The rain stopped sometime during the night just to be followed up by some crazy wind. When we woke up the guys decided to move us to a new spot. When my friend Stephanie and I walked out of her 5th wheel, we noticed that the hill right behind us had this huge cross planted on top. We knew that it was the perfect place to be...especially since most of Saturday was spent playing games, watching movies, sipping on hot tea and just catching up.This shot is of Rich just above our camp. It made us both think of Jim (Uncle Jim) and how much we would love it if he and his family would join us out there. Lord knows we have the room in our "house" on wheels!
I love how this photo captures the way Brycee idolizes his daddy. Bryce wants to be wherever Rich is and do whatever Rich does. We thought is was pretty funny that Bryce doesn't want the training wheels on his motorcycle anymore because his dads doesn't have them....even though he can't ride a two wheeler yet!
The guys are so gracious with their time. They come out there with bikes and gear and surely with big plans of tearing up the dirt, but most of their time is spent making sure everyone is set up and taken care of before themselves. Leaves little time to do their thing, but you never hear them complain. Steve was especially helpful to all of us on this trip, and we look forward to camping with them again!
It was great to hook up with the Merrill's. Here are Greg and Rich after they cleaned up. The poor guys had about a pound of sand in their hair after Saturday's sand storm. Luckily for the girls...we just watched the drama through the windows and kept the kids entertained while the guys held down camp. We were so glad to be "stuck" with them, and ended up having a blast regardless.
Sunday proved to be an awesome day...and well worth all the chaos of the previous. The riding was perfect and I had so much fun on my bike. We were able to take a couple of family rides where everyone had a bike, a quad or the Rhino to ride in. I was so caught up in taking advantage of the great conditions that I missed out on some nice pictures. Thank goodness for great memories. So another camping experience down, and many more to come. Until next time....

Thanksgiving Campout 2007

If you click on the pictures you can view them a bit larger.

We had such an amazing time on our week long camping trip as you can see. The kids were in heaven from sun up to bed time...where they pretty much passed out. They played in the dirt, rode bikes, climbed trees, fished and so much more. I think one of the coolest things was that my cousin Cameron set up a movie outside each night. He brought a screen and set it up in the grass, and with his technical abilities was able to have the kids watch movies like Shrek The 3rd and Elf to name a couple. Camping sure has come a long way since I was a kid. I made sure to tell my parents "thank you" on this trip...for instilling the love for camping in me. So much hard work goes into a week like that...and as a child, you don't see that part of it. Because of all the incredible memories I have....I want to make sure to give the same to my children. So far, I think we are accomplishing just that! Fortunately Rich has learned to love it too...so much that we are going again this coming weekend. Back to the mound of laundry awaiting me. The whole wash room smells like a fire pit! Until next time....

Have a good one!

Just want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! We pray that you travel safely wherever you may be headed and enjoy spending time with all of your families. We are heading out this afternoon on our annual camping trip, and look forward to a week of relaxing and getting away from the monotony of the routine. The kids can't wait to get out there. So, to some of you...we'll see you in a few days...LET'S EAT!!

The boys and I had this taken at the movie theatre the other day. They can be so silly sometimes...they must get it from their father!:)

Brennen's 1st day of swim team

Brennen really worked hard for his cheeseburger tonight...and boy did he scarf it down. He was also fast asleep by 7:30 pm. He had his first day of swim team this afternoon, and he did so good! I couldnt' believe what a natural he was. I spent a little time going over the freestyle stroke during the summer, but not much. His technique really surprised me today. The coach was very impressed for his 1st day and thinks that he needs to be moved up with the bigger kids, but for a few weeks this will be good to build his endurance...and his confidence.



He really did have a blast and felt this his "fast pants" really made a difference in his speed compared to regular swim trunks. I agreed :) It was really great to see him be the "bigger" kid today...with more skill than the others. He's always the little guy, and while he keeps his head high and tries his best at all times...he was pretty excited to be the fastest at practice. Until next time....

Happy 44th Anniversary!!

This post is dedicated to my amazing parents who celebrated their 44 year wedding anniversary this weekend. They are an awesome example of what a marriage should be. They have taught me how to compromise, work together, be patient, forgiving, to apologize, be thankful, selfless, thoughtful and loving. I know that they have struggled at times through the years...dealing with one brothers accident and an others cancer, and my dad's heart problems. These are things that can tear people apart because the pain is just too great to endure while also focusing on being a good spouse. I pray that I will always be reminded of their strength and courage throughout the course of my marriage. Rich and I are so blessed by the example before us. If you asked my parents how they made it this far...I know that they would give all the glory to the Lord. I don't think marriage's like theirs exist without HIM! So, happy anniversary mom and dad. We loved having you over for dinner last night to honor you and the commitment you made 44 years ago. Thank you for loving each other so deeply, so much for so long!!

Fall Treats

Here are a couple of "sweet eats" for the Thanksgiving holiday. Both of these recipes are so yummy...and a great addition to your dessert table (or mouth)!

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread:

3 1/2 C. sifted flour

1 1/2 tsp. of table salt
1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. of nutmeg (freshly grated works best)

1 tsp. cinnamon (freshly grated works best)

4 eggs

2/3 C. water

2 C. pumpkin (fresh or canned)

3 C. sugar

1 C. oil
1 C. chocolate chips

Sift all dry ingredients together. Beat eggs, add water, oil pumpkin and mix. Add dry ingredients to wet mixture and mix. Fold in chocolate chips. Grease and flour 2 loaf pans. Bake at 350. Check after one hour. You don't want it to jiggle in the pan, but you want it to be nice and moist to where it actually looks a bit wet. Don't over bake!!

Apple Brickle Dip: Oh, so good!

1 8 oz. package cream cheese softened

1/2 C. packed brown sugar

1/4 C. granulated sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 package Heath toffee bits (7 1/2 oz.)
tart apples slices for dipping

tip: soak the apple slices in lemon-lime soda so they don't turn brown

Enjoy! Until next time...

Trial Run

Rich took the kids and I to Ocatillo Wells this weekend to test out our new 5th wheel and dust off our dirt bikes! Turns out I need a new battery in my bike, so I did't get much riding in. But I really enjoyed watching the kids accomplish a few new things. The tradgedy of the weekend (besides forgetting to pack towels for showers) was that I left the CF card for my camera in the computer...and the only one I had held 3 pictures. So here they are!
Here is our little moto man with no training wheels!! He has been riding a two wheel bike for a while now, but was nervous to take the trainers of his dirt bike. I can totally relate, as I have dumped mine in the thick sand way more than I would like to admit! But Rich started it up for him and he took off...and I could here him singing songs from High school Musical while he was riding!
And little Brycee got geared up for the first time to ride the bike Brennen used to ride (with the trainers of course). We thought about letting him go by himself, but after Rich's test ride with him, discovered that he is completely out of control and pretty much rides full throttle the whole time. For now...dad will accompany him to ensure the safety of Bryce, and anyone or thing that may be near Bryce!

So, back to the forgotten towels....and yes we did shower after our day in the dirt. We had a couple dish towels and some paper towels. Not super funny, but not the end of the world. you can bet it won't happen again! We really enjoyed the time together and look forward to getting more trips on the calendar with family and friends! Until next time....

Happy Harvest

The boys had a blast at the Harvest Festival at our church. Here they are with the Phillips boys. I had surprised the boys with costumes that I had ordered on line. They had each been talking about the Star Wars characters they wanted to be since the Summer time. So Brennen was "Jengo Fet" and Bryce was supposed to be a Storm Trooper, but at the last minute he decided to add a little pre drama to the evening...he just had to wear his "surfer Indian" costume instead. Money well spent!



The most important part of the night for Bryce was this slide and the potential candy he was going to get. When someone would hand him a piece he would say, "I don't like that kind, I want sumping else." I guess you can't fault the kid for being honest. I try to remind myself sometimes that if I never say what I desire...chances are, I won't get it.

Brennen really was more excited than he looks in this picture. They were so busy and on the go, I had to chase them down just to snap a few phots. He was much more into the games and his friends...not so much the sweet stuff.

Okay, I had to come up with something! Rich was supposed to come with me in a school uniform costume, but he got tied up with work (Good one babe). So, I guess I looked more like Britney Spears (nice) than the image I was trying to achieve...but the boys thought it was pretty cool that mom dressed up. Bryce loved the pig tails!! Unfortunately the photo is out of focus, but the only we were able to get of Mia and I in costume.

Hope you all had a fun and safe night. Until next time....

My Little Indians

Here are my wide eyed boys at 6:00 am. Bryce usually comes in first to tell us that it's "morning time guys", and then he rips the curtains back to show us that the sun is yes...JUST coming up! But they are ready to start their day...orange juice in hand...sitting side by side...watching their favorite cartoons. They have been limited to weekend mornings only on the t.v., so they are taking full advantage of the air time:)The boys finally got some outdoor time today. Although the fires weren't near us, we certainly received our dose of smoke over the weekend. We actually had Brennen stay home from his soccer game on Saturday...but today was much better and perfect for Indian costumes. You gotta love Bryce's "surfer Indian" look.

Here we have Brennen practicing his fire starting skills (thank God he doesn't really have any).
I'm not sure what Bryce was trying to accomplish with this little stare he was giving me, but he couldn't wait to see what it turned out like on the camera. As soon as I snapped the photo he wanted to see it...
so I snapped another one before I showed him his "best shots". So, another weekend down. They go by so fast. Hope you have a wonderful week! Until next time....

P.S. Thank you to everyone who was praying for our family and friends last week during the horrific fires here in California. They have since been able to return home to clean up and get things back to normal. I know they feel blessed to do so, as several people they know lost their homes.