Christmas!

Christmas 2008 was crazy! I was in Las Vegas for a trial the entire month of December (and flew home quickly for Christmas) while Jason was holding down the fort at home (and doing an amazing job of it - what a man!). Luckily, Santa and his elves had time for presents. We barely managed to shop, thanks to Amazon - it was awesome! No lines and usually free shipping - that's how we're shopping ever year!!! And because of my crazy trial schedule, Jason got to pick out his own presents - he thought it was the best year ever! I'm looking forward to a nice, peaceful, quiet (did I mention peaceful?) Christmas at home for 2009.














Mike got a sweet snowboard. He'll be shredding with us in no time! We asked Santa to bring him a haircut - or at least a comb. No such luck. At least he won't need a helmet.














Alyssa was a very happy little girl - she LOVES her Wowie Alive Cub and her new big girl bike from Grandma. Dare I say, spoiled? Nah!

Jason Rocks

Jason was the Police Department's first recipient of the Meritorious Service Award in Fall, 2008 for a fire rescue and for stopping a student on his way to school with a rifle (scary!) I think they gave it to him because he looks so handsome in uniform. Either way, we are very, very proud of our officer.

Family Pics!

Birthdays!

Mike turned the big 1-3 on September 21st. He and his friends went to the movies so he could "officially" see a PG-13 movie. He got some great presents, including this favorite shirt from Grandma Idonna. He totally scored in cash (His friends are totally invited to our birthdays now too), and now has a sweet new ipod - can I borrow it?














Alyssa turned 5 on September 30th! Where does the time go!? The most important thing to her was that the cake have a crown on it - which it did - along with disney princesses. Ah - the joy of being 5.

Her favorite gift by far is the Tinkerbell watch she received from her Grandma, and for the first few days, we knew what time it was every few minutes. When she thought her tinkerbell watch face had been lost at church, it was as if she had lost her best friend - crocodile tears and all. Dad found it in the truck, and the world was right again. She also loves her American Girl doll - it's supposed to look like her - can you tell (minus the frosting face)?

Happy birthday CRAZY kids!!!

And she's off....

Alyssa has been asking us for awhile to take her training wheels off her bike so she can learn to ride like a "big girl." After a few words of advice from Dad and some wobbly turns, she was off in a matter of a few minutes.

There's no stopping her now - she wants to learn how to ride a unicycle next. Jason, I'll let you handle that too.

She's so proud! So are mom and dad! Good job sweetie!

Dirtbiking maniacs

The kids tore it up on their dirtbikes, and I am once again reminded how much they are like their Dad - scary!

Alyssa perfected her turns today and left in a cloud of dust.

We hope Jason can take his training wheels off by the end of the summer. Maybe the kids can show you how it's done, honey.

Hot Air Balloon Races. Rise and Shine!

There is an ongoing debate in our house about whether getting up at 4am (yup - you read that right!) in order to attend the balloon races is worth it. Girls say for sure! The boys don't think there is enough excitement to justify the early rise. But we all agree it was a great way to spend a morning together. Dawn Patrol at 5:30 am sets 5 balloons to music against the darkened sky to "glow." Beautiful!


Then the best part. Down on the field, the crews prepare their balloons for launch - over 100 of them - right in front of you. Eventually you are surrounded by rising balloons and the sky is filled with them. Super cool.

Forget the balloons, though. The kids thought the Energizer ears were the best part. Mike's going to try to pass them off as a "headband" at school. Let me know how that works out for you. Oh wait, the school will probably do that for you.

We finished the morning with an awesome breakfast at Mimi's, which was enough to knock Alyssa out on the way home. Lucky girl. She's still sleeping - 3 1/2 hours later. Zzzzzzz.

Labor Day Hike

After being apart all weekend (Jason on a motorcycle run, Mike at an A's baseball game, and Lis and Mom hanging out for a girl's weekend), we caught up during a hike at Galena Creek (I'm so grateful for the extra day together)! The weather was absolutely amazing.
We took the road less traveled (with Mike as our guide) and did some off path exploring. That's Alyssa checking out her map on the side of a rock. Good thing we had her.
It was great to be out together as a family. We realized we don't take advantage of the incredible outdoor opportunities that are so close to home. There are too many awesome things waiting for us. We should never complain that there is nothing to do.
I'm not sure that nature is ready for us, but here we come!


Jason's super-human strength couldn't save Mike from the falling tree. Aaaagghhh!!

Mike finally crossed the creek on the fallen tree after his sister showed him how it was done. Mike wasn't afraid of anything, of course - he was just watching for bears while we all tried it first - isn't that right tough guy???

Ruling the School

Mike started his first day of 8th grade on Monday. Obviously Jason did the school shopping this year. I think all his new school shirts have either skulls or blood, or both. Hey Mike - next year it's you, me and American Eagle. He's so glad not to be a Sevee anymore - 8th graders are much cooler. We keep reminding him that his freshman year is just around the corner, so he better enjoy the high and mighty feeling while it lasts. He's jammin' on trumpet again in band and chose beginning guitar for his other elective - maybe he can teach Jason a thing or two. Go Shaw Coyotes!

Outie to Innie

After Alyssa's umbilical hernia surgery (which involved closing a small hole in the muscle behind her belly button), the nurse told us she would be tired and probably just lay around and watch movies for a couple of days. She obviously doesn't know Alyssa very well. After the surgery, she practically skipped out of the hospital and never slowed down. She remembers them singing the Sponge Bob song to her before she fell asleep for the surgery, and the staff was amazed at her bravery through the entire process, much of which was away from Mom and Dad. Grandma Idonna came to the rescue (as usual) so we could work on Friday, and Grandma didn't have any luck keeping Alyssa down either. We are very grateful that the surgery was successful. I will miss her huge, squishy belly button - it was so cute! But she now has a cutesy little innie. Her first day home she sounded out and wrote "bellybutton" all by herself on her drawing board as "belebutin." She is still wearing her hospital bracelet 4 days later and thinks her surgery was super cool.

Purple Puppy Power!!!!

Alyssa LOVES her first ever season of AYSO soccer. The team thought long and hard about a name and came up with the "PURPLE PUPPIES!" Hilarious and unbelievably cute, especially when their first game was against the Unicorns - those names could only come from a bunch of 4 year old girls (and it makes cheering from the sidelines fun - "Go Purple Puppies!"). She has a hard time remembering to trap the ball with her feet - why use your feet when your hands work so well? She smiles and laughs the entire time.


I'll admit that we are all enjoying this much more than T-Ball......
She is a sweaty mess by game's end - she gets that from her Daddy.

Cammie got married!!!

Wow is the only word to describe Cam's wedding, which overlooked Lake Tahoe on an amazing summer day. It was so awesome to be surrounded by family all weekend. We are all so happy for Cammie and Rob!

Cammie looked like a princess and Tiffany did an amazing job with the elegant reception. I cried my eyes out. I LOVE my sisters!

A glimpse into date night....

Oh Batman, you're so brave and handsome and tough, especially in the toy aisle of WalMart.

Robert is about to make an honest woman out of Cammie (little sis)!

Next week Cammie will be a married woman! We are so excited to have Robert as an official part of our family soon, although he was adopted in as the favorite uncle a long time ago. Her engagement pictures are absolutely beautiful. Congratulations to my baby sister.

Alyssa's 1st Triathalon!

Alyssa competed in her very first triathalon last Saturday. First she ran her heart out in the water run....






Next she rode her speedy princess bike 2 MILES! around the Sparks Marina. Dad rode with her and Mom ran. She was the fastest chick on training wheels.....









Last she ran .2 miles to the finish line where a medal was waiting for her.




Mom, Dad, Grandma Idonna and Mikey were there to wipe her sweat and cheer her on. You go girl!