Fun with Aunt Barb and Uncle Harold

Trains, trains, and trains!

Bedtime stories

Shannon's first trip on the roller coaster


..just tall enough!

Lauren's friend Ella from preschool who happened to be there the same day

Log Ride!

Lauren and Harold on the dragon coaster....anything fast and she loves it!

Barb and Shannon on the merry go round

Lauren flying

Sacramento Zoo

Since it was the weekend of the airshow on base, Daniel had to work all weekend. It was great to have company and get out and enjoy some sporatic sunshine even though Lauren was not feeling so well we later found out. :)

Slow Dance

By David L. Weatherford

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You’d better slow down.
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short,
The music won’t last.

Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask "How are you?"
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores running
through your head?
You’d better slow down.
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won’t last.

Ever told your child, "We’ll do it tomorrow?"
And in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time to call and say "Hi?"
You’d better slow down.
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won’t last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift…
Thrown away.

Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before your song is over.

He is Risen!

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die."
-- John 11:25-26

"The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances."
-- Robert Flatt

Ballet Lessons

Since taking a long break from gymnastics (over a year) we decided to let the girls try a few weeks of ballet. Lauren has been persistant that she wanted to do ballet and karate so thought we'd give ballet a try first since I was not sure what they would think of it. I tried to talk Lauren into tap since I took tap for 8 years and got them cheap tap shoes at a consignment sale last year but she was set on ballet (so I will just show them myself at home :) Here are a few pictures from their first day today.

Lauren, Shannon, and a friend Martine from preschool

Thank you Mrs. D for letting me borrow your camera!

And our next base is...

...Travis AFB!

Wow has it been a long year waiting to find out our next step. Over a year ago Daniel was interviewing with Providence. One time they flew him up and a few others we were in town for. Each time I was so hopeful it would come to be as we prayed for God's will for our family. Moving back to Oregon has been a desire of both Daniel and myself since we started our military journey back in 2004. I was certain we would do 4 years and be DONE....but here we are in 2009 and content in our next base. Even though we hope to move back to Oregon and can't wait until that day, we are accepting our next assignment (2-4 years) with gratitude. God is so good. We are thankful that Daniel has a stable job and we are still close enough to visit friends and family in both states.

We trust God's perfect timing and that He can see the big pictures for our lives and decided we rather wait for that day then make it happen on our own. I have no problem trusting and waiting for that day. Until then we are embracing our next adventure and counting our blessings.

Another birthday and a visit from my mom

It's amazing what the difference a year can make. This year as I celebrated my 32nd birthday I could not help but smile and thank God for such a good year.

Now that my thyroid is in check and am getting my energy back I feel so much better! Somewhere while raising babies and getting my masters degree I wore myself out. Even though my lab results did not show a large imbalance for my thyroid I knew the numbers were still high and did my research...and after 6 months of working with a naturopathic doctor who looks at your whole overall health and adresses the areas out of balance, I feel like my old self again.

The week proved to be extremely rainy so all of our activities turned indoors. My mom and I were able to enjoy a quiet (kid free) trip to the mall, Daniel and I enjoyed a movie, and the girls had many fun indoor outings to get their wiggles out :)

The girls, my mom, and Daniel at "old mcdonalds", as Shannon call it, climbing in the play area while I fought a headache and took a few pictures.

beautiful flowers from the girls (grandma :)

Lauren enjoying cake

breakfast at our favorite spot in town

and de-wiggling at pump it up.

Thank you mom for the great company~we love you!

South Lake Tahoe Trip

This past weekend we enjoyed a wonderful weekend with the Belleza Jr. and Sr. , Doney, and Pavano families. Christian's parents have been more than generous with us as we have spent a few weekends with them at their house near Santa Cruz and now inviting all the "friends and families" along for a weekend escape. Here are a few picture from our weekend.

Lake Tahoe

nature hike adventure

first night's dinner hosted by Mark and Tracy

7 of the 8 kids at dinner

relaxing after playing in the snow

Superbowl!

tropical theme night

Shannon sledding on her tummy

Daniel and Lauren posing before a ride down in the tube

Michelle, Darcy and I after a morning of sledding and tired kids :)

The girls with Kaitie


The girls and Caleb

Lauren trying out Tyler's sled

The guys before snowboarding