around the house. . .

Kate set up a picnic for everyone:). 

Grace and Will playing soccer one afternoon, and making up players and injuries.  

Kate is really into braids right now.  She wants to look like Anna:). 

Cheese!

Will was dragging Annie on the floor, and she loved it!! 

Annie loves to read:). 

Grace got the Character of the Week award:). 

We're trying to sit down for meals more lately.  

La Quinta. . .

What a gift to get some warmth and sunshine for a week! We just got back from a week in La Quinta, and it was such a blessing.  I must have been especially in need of vitamin D, because I really felt like it was one of the more rejuvenating weeks we have had! It did help that it was gorgeous the whole time! And that the kids are older and were entertained by swimming big chunks of the day! It was also awesome because there was a free tennis clinic for kids each day. 

Our annual hike up the mountain:). 

Pat and I had a night out, and took the tram to the top of a mountain.  It was so fun! And so shocking when it was 80 degrees at the bottom, and 40 degrees at the top!! We braved the cold just fast enough to get a picture! 

All their Grandparents at one time! 

Bocci ball with Aunt Kelly! 

Grace having fun riding the scooter! 

Annie looking very contemplative. . . 

January

I can't believe it's already February! I try to have at least one entry a month, but it's usually spurred by  a trip/activity/birthday that comes up.  Our January was relatively quiet!  I kind of felt like we were hibernating! The pictures below represent things we did at or around our house.

Will got to go to the Blazers/Warriors game with Pat as his gift from Santa! 

We took the kids biking on a trail in town, and we parked near this park.  The kids were so excited to go in the water when they finished biking! 

Annie hit a few milestones these last few weeks! She is now walking on her own, tries to eat on her own with a spoon, and loves dancing (not sure if that is milestone, but it's fun!). 

And games have been very popular lately! 

My sister Karen bought Monopoly for Grace, and I thought it would be too hard, but they love it!! 

I took Grace, Will, and our neighbor Ryan to a free clinic at the St. John's racquet club.  It turned out they were the only kids there, so they got a free lesson with the pro! It was awesome! 

Winter Break

The week after Christmas, we went to the beach for a few days.  It was great to have a change of scene, and especially great because it was sunny the whole time!  It was absolutely freezing, but so beautiful!   

Annie and I hung out here for about 5 minutes before we had to keep moving! 

Pat and I out for a New Year's Day walk.  Again, freezing, but so pretty! 

The house we stayed at is amazing!

For some reason, they were cracking up during dinner! 

the views were so pretty!! 

Watching the sunset with Aunt Kelly.  It was SO cold!! 

Jessica and Tom came for the day with baby Bridget.  

From this. . . .

to this the next day. . . .

Will's snowman, Lucky. 

Time for hot chocolate! 

SNOW DAY!

They had one more day of vacation thanks to the snow, so we went to Bill and Maureen's and they went sledding! 

And more hot chocolate after sledding at Grandma Rene's!