Snow!!!

We woke early and headded to the snow! We drove to a 4wheel drive trail above the Bass Lake area. There were lots of snow mobiles...We found a place that is a campground in the summer...The kids had so much fun...Of course, I also went down the hill a few times on the sled(William too)

12-24-08

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house...We'd just got back from "Christmas" with the Myricks(we always celebrate with them on Christmas eve day), Liam was so exhausted that Riley was the only one with energy enough to leave goodies for Santa. She made Santa a drawing. Left cookies and milk..and a carrot for the reindeer.
A few days earlier she was telling me that she wasnt sure Santa was real.. She said Nicole and Liam told her it's just the parents that put out the presents. I told her the same think my Mom told me.."when you stop believing in Santa, he stops bringing you presents". Liam said real fast, "I believe".
So tonight when I mentioned putting out the cookies I didnt know how she would react. But-She got really into it and, maybe since Liam was in bed already, she was talking about how he'd need enough good cookies..and what about the reindeer? She said she's going to listen to the bells, and mom-did you ever see him when he came to your house....

O Christmas Tree

We choose our 2008 Christmas Tree, once again, at the Atwater-Jordan Rd. xmas tree farm... Becky, Tim and their boys went at the same time. We loaded both trees ontop of the Jeep. I LOVE the way a fresh-cut tree makes the house smell. I've been looking forward to this..

Christmas Parade 2008

Last year we went to the parade, sat and watched...this year the C.A.T.C.H. kids were invited to be on a float. Both Liam and Riley were on the float. -poor kids though, It was so freezing cold!

Long Time No Blog

We've been enjoying summer here. The fair was this week. Last week we went to Yosemite...
Riley Lost her 1st tooth!


Today I rode my bike alot. 3 times today - no car. Liam and I rode to the barber and then on to get lunch for everyone then home. I rode to the pharmacy then to my sisters and Home again.
My butt is sore now... I have been looking at new bike seats online...I need a softer one for sure.

Donner Lake Camping

Camped with Wills parents for 2 nights 3 days

garden

African dancing

Mom, Nicole and Me about to do the butterfly dance



Rileys art creation

This week Riley and I have been doing African dance and Art. Along with Mom and Some nephews and nieces. (Nicole went a few times, Lil Rachel, Carson, Kaden). It was fun. Tonight was the last night. We learned dances such as the Pelican..Vulcher..Lion..Frog(cocodangday)...Butterfly.
And we made some fun art...
art of my circle "progress/inside out"

"sense of time" colage
The teacher was a lady artist from Ghana, Nana Dicta (sp?) it was fun to listen to her talk and describe things with art and dance. Riley didnt conform too much (she has to remain the free spirit that she is) We danced in lines and in circles..we formed one big circle and went around and around and Riley was right in the middle at one point twirling and hopping.

Monster doll

This is an idea from a craft magazine...Riley wanted it to look like the doll in the magazine (as much as possible). It was green with blue. We used green cotton fabric for the body and felt for the blue parts. Everything came from my closet (I'm trying to use what I have instead of buying more)

Rileys addition to the design was the monsters heart.

She cut out all the pieces and I sewed it up.

Sunday Rule: No TV

So what do you do with tv addicted kids?




We walked about 2 1/2 miles along the creek path to the big park. Stopped to ride down a hill a few times. The kids played at the skate park for a while. We played at the playground. The kids took their scooters. We took turns walking Sarah.
She still needs alot of encouragement to not pull ahead. It was misty on us...very wierd ..last week was 100-plus degrees.

When we got home I checked on my little plants - most of them are ready to be transplanted.

Liams baby quilt

The first quilt I ever made. Still in service.

Wind

We've had lots of wind for the last 2 days. Baseball practice was canceled tonight. I remember living in Sacramento...there was wind like this quite often. People in central California don't know what to do with it. The main problem is that we have so much agriculture here that any wind brings up lots of dust into the air.

back to school night

corn, yellow squash, lettuce

Moms birthday

Moms birthday celebration was today, even though her actual birthday was yesterday. This is what we normaly do...the kids splash and play...we bar-b-q...Have lots of fun. We did a group gift and got Mom a digital camera. It's a cute little canon 7 mega pixel.

Moms garden, as you can see, is already taking off. It's tomato, pepper, squash,string bean, onion...and a few others. Her plants are atleast 3 weeks ahead of mine. And all planted in the ground.

100 degrees

We've had 3 days of 100 degree weather. It has switched from spring to summer. Tonight at dinner Riley's prayer was "dear God, thank you for food and thank you for this lovely weather"
Kids like having a little pool to swim in.

Basil

Ninety-? degrees!
The hot has found us. It's California after all. Maybe now my tomato plants will grow. It has to be hot for tomatos.
I always buy the kids a little pool to splash in. They had lots of fun after school. I hope this one will last. I secretly long for a built-in/in-ground pool. I told William that if we ever move I want to move into a home with a pool or spa.

I know I keep posting messages about my plants...but check out the cucumber...
cucumber It made a new leaf. I love watching these plants grow! It is my new passion(for now). It's actually not boring because the plants change every-single-day. Some of them are ready to transplant.
(I just typed the work transplant and the reason why it's called transplant just popped into my brain-never thought about it that way before)...moving on...I also have a sugar snap coming up and two zuccini plants emerged in the last few days. No tomatos yet though.