Back in the saddle...

So sad...just waiting at the front door. Will she ever ride me again?

I'm embarrassed to say that I had to get er' down from the bike hanger in the garage. She was up there mostly for fear that she...yes she, would get stolen when someone at my house (won't mention any names) leaves the garage open. Oh, and that that same person might sell her if I didn't get my butt back in the saddle. Hey, business is slow people. You never know what might go missing around here. Thank goodness the kids have started to help with some light house work which means we will keep them! So...yesterday was the first ride of 2009. Oddly enough, I think pumping the tires up made me sore before I even got on the bike. I rode for an hour no less and plan on getting back into the swing of things. I will most likely plan on the Lake Cahuilla Tri again. I have a hard time putting in the work without a goal in front of me. No guts, no glory!

The Dinskey Sitch...

The holiday season is coming to an end and a new year fast approaches. I think we learned alot in 2008...like I will somehow, someway put an end to Rich's snoring, apparently there is a problem with my side of the closet, and the biggie...if you don't show up for practice you won't play well. Who knew? Nothing that 2009 can't cure right?

The past 12 months came with lots of laughs, happiness, sadness, fear, relief, hard work, let downs and rewards. We don't know what 2009 will bring, but we are thankful for the lessons of this past year!

We had an incredible Christmas and are feeling especially blessed to have such wonderful relationships with our families, friends and eachother.

Check out the slide show below....

What is Chicken made of?

Bryce couldn't wait for dinner last night...he was STARVING, as usual. He wanted apple sauce and TWO chicken legs. No time to even heat them up...he wanted them cold and he wanted them now!! As he's ripping the meat off the "dog bone" (as he calls it), this was our conversation:

Bryce: "Hey mom, what is chicken made of?"

Mom: "It's made from a chicken Bryce."

Bryce: "Like, the animal chicken?"

Mom: "Yes Bryce, like the animal."

Bryce: "That's gross!!"

...and he spits it out.

The kid LOVES cheeseburgers...how do you think that talk will go? My Crazy Boy!

Polar Express

Sadly...I don't have the time I would like to put into this post. Why?...you might ask. Well besides cramming 12 hours of driving into 2 days just to see the look on the kids faces when they realize they are about to experience something incredible, it's the middle of December and that should say it all right? So...just imagine if you will, (once Bryce got over the fact that his lame Christmas robe had puppies with antlers on and he actually had to wear it), that our boys had the time of their little lives! Wide eyes, Christmas lights, horse drawn carriages, amazement, hot chocolate, cookies and candy, Christmas carols, Santa Clause....and of course the Polar Express train picking us up in our Jammie's on a very chilly night. We all had a blast!!

And I'm off....to pick up the kids from school and get ready for more Christmas Festivities. We pray that you are all enjoying the CHRISTmas holiday, and remembering the reason for the season :)

Until next time....

Camping kiddo's

I wanted to capture "camping" on our annual Thanksgiving trip. This vacation is very important to all of our kids, as they can't imagine celebrating Turkey Day any other way. This year's trip was especially freeing to our kids I think. They are getting older...they could ride their bikes a little further...their imaginations ran a bit wilder...and they even managed to get slightly dirtier this time around. They were free to be whoever they wanted to be among the dust, in the trees, wielding light sabers as they flew down "death chamber ditch" and shot at squirells with a sling shot. Thank goodness for bad aim!

While it's back to bubble baths and bed times...they will talk of this adventure until the next one. And they will keep the memories forever!

Morgan and Brennen playing rock, paper, scissors
Little Lo Lo tree climber

Funny that you can't see Bryce's face, but you know he's on his tip toes reaching for something he shouldn't have...SODA!

My little Kung Fu Master (Jonah)

Jilly in all her glory. Talk about lettin' your hair down. This girl knows how to camp.

GREAT grandpa

Photos taken at Manhatten Beach Pier. Brycee is eyeing the giant pelican in the next photo.The Nigel (as my nephew would call him) was pretty creepy. As you can see the boys were frightened!
I love this picture of the boys with their Great Grandfather. Brycee likes that he can see their shadows!

Here they are...the biggest and littles Lenarth's sharing some quality time :)

We love you Grandpa!!

It's not often enough that we get to see Great Grandpa Lenarth, but each visit is very special to all of us, but especially the boys. They are always asking about him and his big house...and wondering when we are going on an airplane to see him? Unfortunately, four airline tickets are a bit hard to come by these days.

It was a great surprise to learn that Grandpa was coming to town to stay with his daughter in El Segundo, so the boys and I drove up to spend the day with him. Oh, how the boys love their GREAT Grandpa!