Wonderful Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year! The girls are at that age where they can really enjoy it! We seperated our "opening of presents" into three shifts. Christmas Eve we opened gifts just the four of us after a yummy pizza dinner! Than Christmas morning we opened stockings, late morning Blain's parents came over and we opened gifts with them. Blain made another delicious turkey and my parents arrived just in time for dinner! It was such a treat since our parents rarely get to see each other. So we had a great time visiting with everyone. Than after dinner we opened presents with my parents.

Our living room was overthrown with dozens of toys, princess shoes, clothes and books! But what a wonderful day we had!

Locks of Love

Before photo above.

After photo below.

After years of hoping one day I could donate my hair to Locks of Love...I finally DID IT!!! What a great experience and I am loving my short hair!

And this was after my hair was styled!

Madison and Emily's first campfire.

Before moving to Oceanside, we spent a great night out with Blain's parents. We took a drive down to Huntington Beach and made a fire. We enjoyed hot dogs and S'mores and watched the sunset!

Madison ate two hot dogs and we loved watching her eat her very FIRST s'more!

Bath Time!

Madison loves her bubble baths!
Emily loves playing with the bubbly washcloth!

Nothing better than kisses from your sister!

Sweet girls!

Gonna take some time and get pictures up from this last month! We've been between houses for the last month and now that we're settled I'm ready to get back to posting!

Here is Madison and Emily wearing some of Blain's gear! They had a blast looking through all his stuff!

It's been too long!

So gorgeous!

Beautiful photo of Blain and I at the Grand Canyon!

Amazing sunset!

The beauty just took my breath away!

Yes, we are totally in love!

It's been far too long since I last posted!!!

For now let's just say that we are in Norwalk, awaiting the day that Blain checks into Camp Pendleton and we are given a house!!!

Blain and I had a great road trip from Texas to California! We stopped at the Grand Canyon (a first for the both of us) and we were taken away by the beauty of it!

The girls are also thrilled to have their daddy home!

Emily + pillows = total cuteness!

So comfy!
Hi Mom!

Aren't I cute?

Yeah I think I am super cute!

This was such a sweet moment for me. I didn't know she knew what a pillow was or how to use it! Children really do learn by observing! The same day she started laying down on pillows is the same day she started hugging me...that's right...I now get hugs from Emily all through out the day! I love it!

Uh oh...it has started!

Yup, that would be Madison in bed with a boy! HeHe!!! While in Monterey, we were so lucky to have been able to get together with some of our old friends! That included a playdate with my good friend Tanya and her son Jayden! They had a great time playing cars, chasing each other around the house and yes, laying in bed hiding under the covers!

Visit with Great-Grandparents!

A couple weeks ago we went and spent the afternoon with my Grandparents. The girls had a great time and Madison got cookies!

Power Team video!

Here is another member of the Power Team Ryan King aka "Bonzai" running through big blocks of ice!

Power Team

Madison staring at their picture!

Jamie Morrison lifting a log!

Michael Collins aka "Srgt Rock" bending steel bars!The Power Team was in Patterson this week and what a treat! These are a group of guys who, through various acts of strength, send a positive message to the teens of today. Not only did they come and do shows every night from Wednesday to Sunday for the community...they also went to every school and talked with the students about bullying and alcohol. We went and saw them 3 out of the 5 nights and they were great! Madison even got a crush on Jamie Morrison! Though she didn't want to take a picture with him...she did show him her new TinkerBell shirt at church! What a fun week and thank you to the Power Team for coming into our community and helping over 200 people make committments to Christ!

Our night in San Francisco!

The store next to Shotwell has this bench outside and Michelle says that she loves to watch the dozens of tourists who pose with these monkeys each day! My mom and I couldn't help ourselves!
My sis and I outside Shotwell.

Michelle has been working so hard the past few months. She has been helping her friends Holly and Michael get their store ready! So on the night of the Grand Opening of SHOTWELL, my mom and I decided to go out and surprise her! I am not a San Fran girl...but I love my sister and wanted to show her how proud of her I am! You did a great job Sis and tell Holly and Michael that their store is wonderful!