It is Christmas Time!

The Sunday after Christmas we got right to work on putting up the Christmas Tree. The kids love every minute of it.

Thanksgiving at the Beach

Again, this is why we love California. Of course we pay the price for this weather. Every year, we go with my sister's family and my parents to have dinner on the beach and the kids play in the waves. The weather is always amazing on Thanksgiving.



My hunky husband.

Jared and Branden. These two are trouble!

Lucas was afraid of the water last year but this year we couldn't get him out to go to eat dinner.

Leah and Sidney.

Leah loves the camera.

I love to see them laugh together!

Catherine's Wedding

Jeff's cousin Catherine got married the Tuesday before Thanksgiving in the Los Angeles Temple.

Leah and Catherine.

Leah with Brad (the groom).

Leah with Caleb and Noah, Laurel's boys.

Leah and Parker, MaryClaire's son.

Leah and Natalie, MaryClaire's daughter. They hung out and ate cookies together.


After the wedding, Jeff took the family to Tito's Tacos. Bob and Deborah, the Featherstones, the Poelmans and even Stuart and Helen went! The bride and groom didn't make the lunch date.

November Visit to Orange County

Jeff's cousin Catherine got married the Tuesday before Thanksgiving this year in Los Angeles, so he and Leah drove down. The Monday before, they went to visit Joey and Katie. Jude was born the day before so it was perfect timing. Jeff and Joey took the older kids to Chuck E. Cheese and then Jeff headed over to meet little Jude!

Jared and I were a little jealous that we didn't get to go. Jared had play rehearsals and I had to work.

Little baby Jude!

Our Kids' Biggest Fans

When I was a kid playing soccer, my grandparents didn't live close enough to come to my games. My sister was also playing so one of my parents was with her and the other stayed with me. In contrast, my kids often have 9 fans at any given game.

It wasn't Halloween. Claire just wanted to wear the cow costume.

Are You Ready for Some Futbol?

Soccer season is a great time of year. The weather is perfect and the games are action-packed.

This year I was the assistant coach for Leah's team again. We ended the year with zero wins and zero goals. The Sting did manage to hold a couple of teams to 3 goals. Given Leah's interest in soccer, we may be moving to her into swim.




Leah had a couple of great break-aways this year but after she shot the ball, she was back to looking for butterflies.




Jared on the other hand is fiercy competitive. If he is ever subbed out, he is immediately tailing his coach along the sidelines, always asking to go back in.





He played every position on his team this season, including one game at goalie when he'd been sick for 5 days beforehand. He excelled on defense but he also couldn't wait to get up front and score. He continues to be a leader and his coach noted how much he is liked by all of his teammates.