Happy Easter

Here are the photos of our festivities over the last week. Lots of egg hunts and lots of fun.

Recap

Here's the recap of some of our adventures.

Last weekend Paul and I traveled to Pismo for my cousins wedding. First time that either on of us had ever been to Pismo. It really is a very beautiful beach. We didn't have a long stay. It really was a, spend the night and head home the next day. Will not ever do that again. A 4 and 1/2 hour trip to just spend the night definitely not worth it. We were exhausted by the time we returned home on Sunday evening.

We took advantage of the fact that we were so close to Hearst Castle to make a stop there for one of their tours. If you don't know anything about Hearst Castle. William Randolf Hearst (the newspaper mogul) had it built on top of a hill in San Simeon. The view is breathtaking from the hill and the castle is amazing. From the outside it looks like a church, but when you step inside you really feel you are inside a castle. It was amazing.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Class Presentation

Cameron's Kindergarten class have been learning about community helpers over the past few weeks. With Paul being a Police Officer the teacher thought that it would be much easier for the class to have him come in, instead of a stranger from the city department.

It was really cool to see these kindergartners reaction to having Paul in the classroom, and just the students around campus in general. This age group doesn't have any set opinion about the Police yet. They are still in awe that someone does that job. I know that as they grow older some of the kids opinions will change for the worse, but right now they still like Police Officers.

Changed Look Again

The New Cut

I have finally had enough of having long hair. It was getting to the point that all I was doing was pulling it back in a ponytail, so I went and got the hair chopped, and I love it. I don't think I will be growing my hair out for awhile. This is such a cute cut for my personality and so much easier to do in the morning when the kids are pulling on my pant legs. Here are photos of the new look and the old look.

Springtime!!!!!!!!

Well it looks as though springtime may be finally getting here. And what do you do when spring decides to arrive?

Go To The Park!!!! Which is exactly what we did. How thankful I am to be able to get the kids out of the house for a few hours.

We have been inundated with many rainy days over the last few weeks, which has meant that my kids were very much hard to handle. It must be really difficult for them to contain that much energy cooped up inside. So with a beautiful sunny day handed to us on Saturday we headed out of the house for some fun in the sun.

Here are just few pics of the kids releasing some huge amounts of energy.

Almond Blossom

Every year the City of Ripon (where Paul works) has an Almond Blossom Parade and Festival. Because Paul is usually always working we head out for the parade and then head home. This year was an exception, Paul was able to get off immediately following the parade, so we headed out to the festival and carnival. Here are some of my favorite pictures.

Presidents Day Trip to the Rail Museum

We are so lucky that there are so many different museums, aquariums, and other places of interest that are only a short drive from our home. This time around we made the trip to the railroad museum in Sacramento. It was a really great trip. My sister Laura tagged along so that she could buy her tickets for a concert she wanted to attend without having to pay the convienience fee. Would have liked to be able to stop a read a lot more about the different trains and historical aspects, but the kids would have gone amuck. Well, more amuck than what they were.

After the visit to the museum we walked around Old Sacramento, stopped for some ice cream and found a really great sock store that my sister Amanda would love. After our visit we walked back to the car and headed for home. It was a quiet ride home, everyone fell asleep except for me, the driver.

My Funny Valentine

Here is my little valentine. Cameron's kindergarten class had a little party and this is how all the kids came home from their party. Couldn't pass up this kodak moment.

What I Want 4 Valentines

As my husband was getting ready to walk out the door today, I had mentioned that Cameron had made some Valentines notes for us at school that he would be giving us. With that said, Paul said he needed to get me a Valentines gift. I, in turn, said I don't want any gifts, but as I thought about it I realized I did want something...

I want to be able to sleep in and not get up at the crack of dawn with the kids. I want my house to be cleaned by someone other than me. I want to be waited on hand and foot, like I do for my family on a daily basis. There it is. That is what I want. NO Candy, NO Flowers, just to be taken care of for one day.

Birthday Parties

These are all pictures from the birthday parties that the kids have been invited to. We got to watch the kids run around and jump on trampolines at a gymnastics birthday party. We then got to chase our kids around an indoor bounce house play place for a birthday party. We had lots of fun. I didn't get the best pictures due to the fact the my camera does not take motion photos very well, but you get the gist of it.

We unfortunately had to miss other birthday parties. If only there was enough time to be able to make everyone's birthday parties we would have tons more pictures to show.

A New Look, A New Attitude

I finally came to the conclusion that I was sick of my long hair. I was tired of trying to figure out what I wanted to do with it, tired of doing it, and just plain tired of my old tired look. My wonderful husband got me a gift card for Christmas from a local salon to help with my endeavor of getting my hair cut. This is the best cut I have ever gotten. No more cheapo places to get my hair cut. I will be returning to the salon from now on to get my hair cut.

Snow Daze

Our recent adventures took us up into the mountains just below Pine Crest to take in some snow fun. It took a little longer to get to the snow due to the fact that we were having to pick up snow clothes and boots for the kids. Note to self when the snow clothes come out buy them up fast, don't wait until the night before to hunt in every store for what is needed. We had fun in the snow, but Madeline is still not keen on the stuff. We will attempt the snow again next year. Maybe she will enjoy it then.

Daddy and Cameron

Mommy and Madeline

Madeline hating the snow

Cameron loving the snow

My Dad's Take on Christmas Morning (Oh Dad Column if it was still in the paper)

The perfect gift

worth waiting for



By Roger W. Hoskins

Words Worth Remembering



In the winter of 1959, all I wanted for Christmas was an NHL Hockey Night in Canada game. It was all I wanted in 1960 and 1961, too. One wintery day in 1959, I had spent an afternoon of bliss playing with my neighbor David Best and his game.

From then on I was a hockey junkie and the only fix was the game itself. But kids wanting Christmas presents is a slippery slope. Having previously begged the same season for a six-finger baseball glove, Fort Apache action set, electric football, I realized it was my own fault when Santa couldn’t pull my miracle out of his bag.

So I spent that Christmas launching Cape Canaveral missiles across the basement sky. The only thing missing was the rocket’s red glare. But I had a work around. The smallest two missiles could fit into the mouth of my replica civil war cannon. The cannon went off with just a little less noise than the real McCoy. It used paste, a drop of water and a spark to send quivers of thundering joy down young spines. But the science of past and present was stopped dead in its tracks before a second test fire could be lit. The first blast brought Dad down the steps and he confiscated the cannon and secret paste.

My sister and I played Sorry for rest of the day. Sorry was the game Uncle Frank gave us on three consecutive Christmases. That wasn’t a mistake, really, because we needed replacement parts each summer. The stiff cards also made excellent motor sounding additions to bikes when attached near the spokes with clothes pins.

The second year I got the football game but it was the wrong one. I wanted Cadaco Foto-electric and my parents brought home the kind where vibrating players inched across the board. I had asked for football so it was my own fault for not providing a picture. The third year I struck gold by only asking for one thing and one thing only.

At last, my pop and I were playing for the “all-time, big-time, full-time” hockey championship. My father was adept at a center pass and rush and beat me handily the first month. Then I started winning a few, usually 10-9, but I’ll never be sure that Dad didn’t let me win.

That hockey game in my 10th year was my top gun, my Red-Ryder, lever action bb gun with a compass in the stock. And it was something my pop really seemed to like. If he didn’t he never let on. Christmas has evolved for me over the years. No I want to be Santa and save Christmas for people I love. The first time my wife and I played secret Santa for friends, some of the joy disappeared when we weren’t even suspected of the good deed. It shouldn’t matter but when friends round up the suspects, you’d like to be somewhere on the list.

As a 57-year-old grandpa, now I watch for the moment when I can step in and save Christmas and I no longer mind if no one suspects.

My grandchildren have given me the best Christmas I could ever hope for.

My 5-year-old grandson Cameron sold candy and whatever for the right to pick out one present for himself. He outsold the whole school so he had his choice of an impressive array. There were video games for his DS or playstation, sports equipment, musical instruments. The choices were enough to make an adult’s head spin. His father and mother tried to give him counsel but the final choice was left to him.

On Christmas Day he brought his cherished prize to share with the family. He wheeled up a blue bicycle and wearing a grin bigger than he was, Cameron gave his prize to his cousin Jacob, age 6. Cameron picked the bike because Jacob didn’t have one. He picked blue because that was Jacob’s favorite color.

And that’s the story of my most memorable Christmas, even better than the hockey game I once waited three years for.

Merry Christmas to all.