We just got back from a weekend in Donner with the Balbis....our Sac. family! Boy do we miss them, but it was as if we were never apart. Some dear friends let all 13 of us stay at their cabin for the weekend...and we had a blast! This year no one was sick so we all got to get out and play in the snow...even Audrianna (to an extent). The girls even got to play while being snowed on...what a special thing! We sure loved playing games in the evening, reading by the fire, dancing on Mikayla's new Disney DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) and just hanging out. God has been really good to us by giving us such a wonderful extended family!

Gymnastics

We have been so blessed being able to have the girls in a great gymnastics program for the past 4 months or so. I won classes in a drawing at the Fair. They have absolutely loved it. We aren't sure it we will be able to continue it, but the prayer is that we can. They are doing so well and really having fun!

Almost crawling!!!

Ok, she is so close to crawling...she'll comando-crawl, she'll rock back and forth on all fours and she'll even hop forward, but she just won't pick up her hands when she's on all fours to go forward. I can't believe how hard she works and doesn't give up. This day she was making raspberry sounds the whole time..telling me what she thinks about all this work!

Highlands' Construction Update

Nick and I were driving by the property the other day and saw that the men were starting pouring concrete at our church's property. We had to get some pics of the progress. How exciting it is.....hopefully it will be done this year! (The goal is around August!!!!)

Resolution for 2008----PLAY MORE!!!

Our family's resolution for this new year is to play together more....we tend to be too busy and miss out on opportunities to play. So far we are doing well....before the storms we got out everyday for walks and then while inside we are playing Nick's Christmas gift from Bella, "Pass the Pigs." It has been such a great thing for us to spend time playing together. Here are some pics from New Years Day when we went for a walk around Atascadero Lake. It was a bit muddy and at one time Mikayla lost a shoe in the deep mud, but kept on waking. We had a lot of laughs and had some great play time! (I don't know how to organize these pics on this blog....it doesn't let me put them where I want them....oh well, it isn't a scrapbook! :)

Taking Down Christmas

It always saddens me to take down Christmas decorations. This year we did it right before New Year's. Our poor tree was so dry (and yes I watered it faithfully) and dropping so many needles, that I decided I could wait no more. Bella thought she'd be a good "stand-in" for the tree after I took it out. (Notice her shirt? I don't know if you could read it. It says, "Sassy." My Uncle Robby and Marcie gave it to her....while they have only spent a little time with her...somehow they knew...hummmm.)
Since so much of Christmas this year went by without us knowing, we are already looking forward to next year....we promised the girls we would actually get outside lights up next year and make cookies for Santa and such! I can't wait! I do think I am going to leave up a Nativity set to remind us daily of the blessing of Baby Jesus! I hope we remember it all year!

Ice Cream Ice Cream, we all Scream for Ice Cream

After the Christmas rush...more like a marathon....we were able to spend some family time together. We spent some time in San Luis Obispo and Arroyo Grande and wrapped up our time together having Ice Cream at a cute shop in Arroyo Grande.

YUM....Please share Papa....sorry Audrianna, you're out of luck!

So true!

10 Foot Cake

The tip of the star actually measured 10ft. 6in. and there were sugar cooking hung all the way up to the top. Woo-hoo, we did it!

The girls were angels during the services.....we ended up staying for all 3 services and didn't get home until 12:30....the girls were such troopers! Caleb seemed to think he was a Rose girl......I was hoping for a cute pic of all 3 girls in their Christmas dresses, but this was the best we got! Oh well!