Happy New Year!! 2011

After returning home from Knott's, we invited Monroe over (it's becoming a tradition she sleeps over on New Year's Eve) and the second round of fun began.

We played games, Wii, Apples to Apples, puzzles, and jumped on the trampoline until the clock struck twelve, then we all crashed!

Everyone was utterly exhausted and beyond tired after a long fun-filled day (and week) so had no problem at all crashing hard after banging pots and pans for the neighborhood to hear at midnight.

Then we eventually awoke, to the sweet smell of warm, savory, cinnamon rolls with pumpkin spice cream cheese frosting. Yum!

(Two pans of it! - Nothing like starting out the New Year guilt free!)

Happy New Year everyone! Here's to a wonderful, prosperous, and healthy 2011!

Singin' in the Rain

Since we have a short rainy season here, when the rain comes, it's cause for celebration!

The kids love to play in the rain.  I particularly love the spring rains when it's warmer and there are bouts of sunshine - just right for rainbow making.

It's raining outside, so go ahead and put on your rain gear and have some fun! 

As kids, we loved to make boats out of leaves or paper and watch them float down the swollen gutters, down the drain, and then we'd run to the bridge to see the boats make their way down the wash.  

Now when my kids dress up and play outside in the rain, neighbors will stop their cars to watch as if they've never seen children playing in the rain before.  Simple entertainment is such a novelty these days.  

  

This was taken one year ago, March 2008:

Christian, Ashlyn, Brooke

Four Years Ago March 2005:

Christian is the baby,

Brooke and Madison

It's also funny to see the rain gear recycled from one kid to the next.