california

Our vacation was filled with so many fun filled activities... (and a few not so fun filled.) It is always great to go out and spend time with our family. Jacob was extra excited to see his cousins this year.. he seems to be missing them more and more as he gets older. Oh, how I would love for him to live by his best friends.

Christmas was, of course, even bigger and better than the year before. Dwight and Renee do what only grandparents can and really spoil these kids with love, affection, and... toys. ;o)


The kids decided to sit together, very well and very spontaneously.. which made for an amazing (hurried, "oh my gosh!! look at them! where's my camera?!?!")photo of them all.


very rare for us.. a family photo!!


my boys - all exhausted from a long, fun Christmas day

Grandma Nee's birthday was coming up, so we decided to have a fun outing to "Color Me Mine" to make birthday gifts. Jacob picked dolphins because "It's Grandma Nee's favorite animal." Logan picked a heart and had a blast painting it. Their beauty is something that maybe only a mother or grandma could love, but I thought they were absolutely precious.





Our next excursion took us down to Dana Point for McNaughton Christmas. The beach was lovely, as always. The boys also did not forget about the tradition of getting donuts at the best donut shop EVER. They had a fun time picking them out!!





Jacob also picked some of Grandma Nee's flowers. Again.. I think only a grandma could love a little boy picking all of her beautiful flowers. ;o)



When we got back to Bakersfield, Jacob enjoyed some fun times at the movies with his cousins.


Going to see "The Tale of Despereaux" with Chase


Armed and ready to watch "Bolt - 3D"


"Bolt - 3D" with Ethan and Madison

We also headed on a bowling trip with Brandon's friend Kris and his family. Jacob was a little upset that he never got a strike (like he always does on the wii), but the day was still so much fun!!




Jacob and Emma


Jacob and Hannah

We headed to Jamba Juice one night to treat Logan to a dairy free dessert. He absolutely loved it!! I bought an original size and had it split into 2 cups (one for Jacob and one for Logan). Well, Jacob didn't drink his, so Logan certainly didn't mind finishing it off for him!!



Thanks to lovely Bakersfield, Jacob had to go to the doctor for a cold.. like always. Well, it turns out he was wheezing and had to have his 1st ever breathing treatment.

The end of our trip came all too soon. We drove down to the Beach House and "Uncle Feffe" (Jesse ;o) came to pick us up and take us to the airport. How could we not stop and have one last look at the ocean on our way?

Uncle "Feffe" and Logan

Dada and Jacob throwing rocks into the waves

Logan, into his dance moves on the way to the airport. And in Rae Rae's pink frilly seat, I might add. ;o)

Taking off.. goodbye beautiful California coastline!!

The boys playing in a pink princess castle in a toystore in the Nashville airport.

Logan.. being a boy and trying to climb the walls.

I was so excited.. This was the first time he has ever taken off his shirt by himself!! I had to snap a few photos before succumbing to all the scowling looks from onlookers.

Jacob - in a state of shock over the coldness he felt when exiting the airplane in Detroit. He did not move or talk for atleast a whole minute.. I started to think something was really wrong until he said "It's really cooollldddd!"

And, boy, was he right!!

We got home to discover that our furnace has stopped working while we were gone. It is not very pleasant to travel all day and be so excited to finally be home (at midnight), only to walk in and see your breath in front of your face.

We tried to fix it, but after no luck we had to call a 24 hour emergency furnace company.

Magically, amazingly smart, magnificent Brandon fixed the furnace and they didn't have to come. Until then, I sat in front of the oven pulling a move I learned from watching the 11 o'clock news of house fires in Detroit.

We went to bed, freezing and shaking violently until our blankets warmed up around us. My poor boys were crying and crying as we smothered them with freezing cold blankets, knowing that it would all be better soon.

I had my first day of class the next morning and was so happy to wake up to a house that was 70 degrees again.

So, we are back home again.

Back to our busy days filled with lots of fun, trials, love, lessons, and running, running, running.