A Trip to Fresno

We have been in California for the last two and one half weeks. We split our time between Fresno and Bakersfield where we had all kinds of adventures. The best part is that we missed the third largest snow storm in Flagstaff history. We returned to almost 5 feet of snow on the ground, but we have wonderful neighbors and friends who had our drive way shoveled and waiting for us to pull in! Here are some of our pictures from Fresno:

Will at our favorite park ever, Bear Park. It's really called Oso de Oro, but the boys named it Bear Park when they were little. It has everything a kid could ever dream of in a park and more. If you are ever in Fresno check it out!
A swing from big brother

Chasing big brother!

Daddy took us on a tour of the National Guard Base where he served for 18 years. Will is finally the boy he was waiting for--he loves jets too!!

Four of us in front of an F-16. Sam decided to skip the base and stay home to have a WII competition with Grandma and Grandpa!

Will being silly in Grandma's kitchen sink. Grandma gave him a bath here each night and now everytime he passes a sink he says, "Take bath?"

Happy New Year!

A New Years Kiss
Ally and Will holding hands

Christmas Day

Sleepy boys waiting to open their presents
Will helping Pop open his gift and enjoying a donut that St. Nicholas left in his stocking

This year, instead of having a gift exchange, our family decided to have a gingerbread house decorating contest. Jessica, Gracie and Will were a team.

Anna, Amanda and Aaron were a team

Some of the decorating goodies

Amanda and Anna made Max, from the Grinch

Will eating frosting from Jessica's finger

Anna working on their Whoville village

Phillip, Jake and Sam were a team and made a beautiful church

Anna and Amanda and Aaron's Whoville

Jessica, Grace, and Will's creation

Kim and Cheryle were the judges

The boys were the winners!!!

The Best Day Ever

Our friends, the Hardy's, invited us over for an amazing day of fun. The kids had goat rides, horse rides and even got to ride their REALLY high zip line. Everyone thought it was better than a day at Disneyland. It was even more wonderful because it was spent with such generous and special friends like Jana, Skipper and Melissa! Riding the goats

Aaron checking everyone out

Will was not interested in riding in that cart. He wanted to ride the goat!

Jake and Aaron in the goat cart

Will riding Chip. Riding this horse made him the happiest, most content little boy ever!

Aaron had a turn on the horse

Lawrence and Sam getting their helmets on for their turn on the zipline

Sammy way up in the air

Lawrence after his ride. He had a great time!!!

Jessica's Birthday Party

We celebrated Jessica's birthday December 21st with a trip to Moo Creamery, a fabulous restaraunt and ice cream shop in Bakersfield. Afterwards we went to the California Living Museum (CALM) to look at their amazing display of Christmas lights. They had ice cream cones just for babies!
The birthday girl

Will looking at the lights

Will and Aaron taking a ride in Aarons awesome new wheels!

Aaron on his daddy's shoulders

Sammy on a snowflake

Sam and Lawrence tried to steal the babies' ride

Sam and Lawrence

Will and Matt

Aaron and Grammy

Feast of St. Lucy

December 13th is the feast of our patron saint, St. Lucy. She is the patron saint against hemorrhages. She became even more special to us when my great nephew, Aaron, was diagnosed with glaucoma, because her name means light and she is also the patron saint of the blind. Many prayers were offered and St. Lucy proved to be a powerful intercessor because now Aaron has great eyesight and the clearest most beautiful blue eyes you could ever imagine. Needless to say we love St. Lucy and we love to make her yummy bread too! The bread is made in the shape of a wreath and topped with candles to symbolize the wreaths scandinavian girls wear on St. Lucy's feast. The bread is filled with lots of delicious butter, cinnamon and orange zest and frosted with an orange glaze. Delish!
Jake and Sam lit the candles and then we said a prayer and asked St. Lucy to take our prayers for good health and good eyesight straight to Jesus!

Then the boys blew out the candles...

and ate almost the entire loaf of bread!