Bike Race Photos!

We finally had the chance to order the photos from the race in November! Gotta love it! We are going to do 2 more in April and possibly one in Tahoe in June...around the lake!

Quick trip to Chicago

This week the kids and I had set aside some time to visit the Stacy/Ritter/Littau clan in Redding but unfortunately, it didn't work out. So, we decided to take advantage of the light flying loads and head to Chicago to take the kids to play in their first snow with their cousins. it couldn't have been a better trip! They had a blast!!! We made a snowman, a polka dot tree with snowballs, and Andon loved "flying" down the slide and crashing at the bottom!

We were able to go with Mark to the airport when he went to work and then met him at his gate as he was being released from work...it couldn't have worked out better!!!

Mish Mosh Fun

We have been doing great here! In fact tonight, we actually had a fantastic time out to dinner at our favorite pizza place, Nello's. We have not been having the best experiences going to eat...usually a tantrum or a fight over where we are going to all sit (yep, Mark and I are constantly fighting over where to sit...hehehe).


These pics are a little of what's been happening around here...
The kids had their first hot chocolate moustaches...as you can see they had a blast!

Last week we were so excited to deliver 97 shoeboxes filled with gifts and necessities for kids around the world through Operation Christmas Child. My MOPS group got it all together and the kids had so much fun putting them together!

Mark and the kids decorated our train table cover last week as well. Now both Mark and Andon's trains are set up around the Christmas tree. We are gradually getting ready for Christmas...our tree is up but we are going to be working on outdoor lights this week.

Avery is our little ballerina! She had her first "recital" today and I think she was a little shy because Andon and I were there. She'll be continuing lessons in January :-)

More updates to come...

Thanksgiving...Nutcraker...Cuddles

Hope that everyone had a nice Thanksgiving! Avery and Andon broke their first wishbone today and it shattered...leaving both of them with equal pieces, go figure!!!

Last night we took the kids to see The Nutcracker Ballet! Avery has been taking ballet so she was in awe and Andon seemed to enjoy it as well! They both were pretty scared by the cannon where the soldiers kill the Mouse King but other than that it was great!

Andon and Mark spent some time cuddling on the couch this morning. It's always so great to hear, "I love you" from your kiddos! Through all the frustrations of the "Terrible 3's" there is plenty for us to be thankful for!

caramel apples at dinner

Tonight a dinner Mark, the kids and I were talking about what things the kids wanted to gift other kids with for Christmas from our Angel Tree at church. They are really understanding this year! Anyways, we were talking about what kind of bikes they wanted to get for them and as we are eating our last Halloween caramel apple from the Chicago Bibbey's and here's the conversation:

Mark: "Hey guys, if you could choose any toy in the world to give to another kiddo doesn't have any toys, what would it be?"


Avery: "Baby dolls and a Dora bike."

Andon: "Um Daddy, I would like to give caramel apples to all the kids who don't have any caramel apples. "

Yes, these apples are yummy..but maye not a necessity...especially for my waist!!!

It's off to Never, Neverland! Happy Halloween!

So Tinkerbell and Peter Pan had a really fun time last night...except for the fact that Andon lost his dagger! Avery had so much glitter in her hair that we had to wash it twice to get it all out!!! The pictures say it all...

Day at the Pumpkin Patch with MOPS

Our MOPS group went to Mother Nature's Farm on October 30th. We had a lot of fun....putting stickers on their pumpkins, a hayride, farm animals, lunch and a bouncy house.