The weary world rejoices...

...for yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn.

Christmas!!

Polar Express

A few weeks before Christmas, we surprised the kids with a trip to Williams, AZ to ride the Polar Express. And, instead of opening our jammies on Christmas Eve, we decided to do it early and join in the Polar Express jammie tradition!

(Preston, you make life fun, buddy.)

Hot Cocoa and cookies -- just like the book!!

Paige led the masses in part of the sing-a-long.

Gavin is waving at Santa through the window--we have arrived at the North Pole!

Santa boarded the train and gave each child a silver bell...

...and Gavin rang this bell all the live-long-night.

Good-bye, Santa!

Christmas Goodies

The Countdown begins...

The Tree

Gingerbread Houses




Trevor's Holiday Concert




Preston's Preschool Party

Christmas Cookies

(Mama Hits 20 Weeks)

Church Christmas Party

Christmas is here!

Snow + Angel

Pink is the new Owens

10 Reasons we are thrilled to have another GIRL!!

1. I can start typing things pink now, just for fun.

2. I can design a girl's nursery! (we were living in one room shoe boxes when Paige was a wee babe)

3. I can use all those girl clothes I collected through the years that I bought on clearance, intended for "baby showers".

4. I can also get out all my favorite Paige clothes that her little body used to wear.

5. I can name her after my mom.

6. Paige will have a sister.

7. The boys will have a little sister.

8. Steve and I will have "daughters".

9. There's nothing like your husband holding your baby girl.

10. The perfect "caboose" to our family!

And, lastly, I would post the "It's a Girl" ultrasound, but one of my goals in life is to never have any of my children's rears on the internet.

Call me old fashioned ;)

Our Thanksgiving in the mountains

Location: Auberry, California

Population: 2, 053 +/-

Temperature: 45 degrees (during the day!)

Pets: 3 dogs, one cat and lots of wild coyotes, cats, birds....

View from my parents' house: Beautiful

We made the trek to "Grandma and Grandpa's Mountain" for Thanksgiving this year and it was a great, memorable trip. We enjoyed cold weather, good food, rural living, some sniffles (okay, lots of sniffles), and even some snow!

*****Warning: LOTS OF PHOTOS AHEAD*****

Posing on the driveway before a little mountain-side jaunt

We did a lot of relaxing.

A boy empties his pockets.

Grandpa getting schooled (sorry, Dad) by Paige in a fierce game of Slamwich

What a delish feast we had! Can you believe this was the only photo I took all Turkey Day?

Dad and I spotted this bluejay one morning when sitting on the porch.


Morning frost

One of the highlights was the tractor rides from Grandpa Ben. Dad and Sandy own 12 acres on the front side of this mountain and he took everyone for a tour.



Our perfect snow day at Shaver Lake, about 10 miles up the mountain from Dad and Sandy's place. We used to come here when I was little--snow in the winter and camping in the summer. We met my brother, Jared and his 3 kiddos there and had a great time.


This was a prime sledding, snowball-making, and picture-taking location.

Have the time of your life much?

AIM!

FIRE!!

Handsome cousin, Elijah

Lauren having a snack

Twin sis, Rachel, finishing a run

Don't the girls look just like their Mama?

The dream of snowman building had come true.

Gavin's line of the day: "It's not done yet." over and over as he added more snow to the snowman.

Trevor was having more fun that it appears...maybe because this was about a half hour before he lost his lunch...

Handsome husband, thank you for loving me when I'm pregnant and puffy.

Dad, Sandy, Us

On our last day, we met Jared the kids "in town" (Clovis) for a movie, "Tangled", and some Maggie Moos. Cute movie. Good ice cream.

Me and my little bro

On the last night we went out for yummy pizza.

Ready for church.

I just love this picture.

Thanks Grandpa Ben and Grandma Sandy (and Beatty, Wiley, Easy, and Maui) for letting us take over your lovely home in the mountains for Thanksgiving.

(Sorry we left our sniffles with you.)