CLIMBING THE WALLS

LITERALLY.......we climb the walls around here!

Rena has turned into a little monkey!! She climbs whenever and where ever she can!

And she likes to do little tricks while she is climbing. Like no feet......

Or no hands.....

Maleah has been trying really hard to master the climbing also, but she hasn't made it quite to the top yet. I'm sure she'll keep trying (and keep copying her big sister) until she's up there!

37

HAPPY 37th BIRTHDAY JEFF!

Jeff turned 37 years old on Saturday. We had a fun little celebration for him at home on Friday night with dinner, presents and cake & ice cream!

The kids and I got him some new clothes - including this new Star Wars t-shirt.....

Maleah thought the bows on his forehead were silly.....

Time for cake.....

The kids wanted to help blow the candles out so we re-lit them (a few different times) and let them go for it.....

CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CAKE

When you mention "birthday" around here the first thing that these kids think of is "chocolate cake"!! So, when it came time for daddy's birthday everyone was eager to help.......with the chocolate cake and chocolate frosting, that is!

All 3 kids are actually getting pretty good in the kitchen. Cameron was at school when we made the cake so just the girls and I did the baking.

Rena is an expert at cracking eggs.....

Maleah is pretty good at the mixing part.....

Both of the girls are very good at helping me make sure the bowl is empty.....

And when it comes to spreading and decorating they can all get the job done.....

Even our neighbor, Gabby, is a big help with the decorating.....

Luckily no one around here cares if there is a little bit of cake mixed into the frosting or if it's not spread even or if part of the cake doesn't even have frosting on it. AND luckily everyone around here likes LOTS of spinkles on top!

SKATE PARK

Cameron has been taking skate lessons over at the YMCA for a couple of months now and this weekend he wanted to show-off some of his new skills at the local park. Jeff took him over on Saturday to practice then this morning right after church we headed over for a look at Cameron's new moves!

He really has learned a lot and is doing very GOOD! And he loves it!

The girls were good sports and watched and clapped for their brother!

I'm actually not a big fan of this local park because (unlike the YMCA) there isn't anyone there to enforce rules. First it's a "skateboard" park. There are NO bikes or scooters allowed........except that there is no one there to enforce it so there are bikes and scooters allowed. The other big thing is that safety equipment is required.......helmets and pads......but again, there is no one there to enforce it. Which, I am there to enforce it on Cameron, but I just want to say to some of the others "come on kids -- do you really think that wearing a helmet that isn't even fastened is really going to protect you???"

For now Cameron will keep going and either Jeff or I will keep going with him. Hopefully Jeff rather than me or I might have to start trying to enforce the rules on my own -- which would only embarrass Cameron -- oh no......I think I have turned into my mother!!!!! :)

BALBOA PARK

Yesterday was another beautiful day outside so we decided to head downtown to check out Balboa Park. There are tons of things to do there including "15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego Zoo". Yesterday we decided to check out a couple of the gardens and the San Diego Model Railroad Museum. I chose this museum because they have a special Lego Train Exhibit that only runs through next weekend.

It was really a fun afternoon and we will definitely be going back there again!

A fountain in the middle of the park.

Some "art" throughout the park.

ANOTHER LOST TOOTH

Cameron's second top middle tooth finally came out! It has been hanging by a thread for weeks now and on Friday night while we were out to dinner it finally fell out! He was so excited.......and doesn't he look cute with all of those holes in his mouth?!!?!! :)

CRAZY HAIR DAY

Jacinda and Cameron

Rena with 10 pony tails in!

BEAUTIFUL WEATHER

We have had some great weather the past few weeks and we having been trying to take advantage of it as much as possible. We spent one Saturday afternoon (January 2nd, I think it was) at the beach. NO swimming, but lots of playing.....

Notice we came up with a new use for our snow shovels!

Jeff & Cameron unsuccessfully tried to fly Jeff's new kite. It just wasn't windy enough.....

A new game that was a lot of fun until Jeff landed on Rena's leg..... :(

A fun day at the beach!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

We had a good end to 2009 and a good start to 2010. We celebrated the New Year at our neighbors house with two different families from the neighborhood.

The kids always have a good time with their friends next door. They got to roast some marshmallows.....

.....and just hang out with their friends.....

Us adults got to hang out and play some poker......

Jacinda spent part of the night teaching Cameron how to play "21". I'm pretty sure Cameron lost.....but had fun playing.....

The kids didn't make it until midnight, but they tried their hardest and Cameron came pretty close. Luckily it was a short walk home carrying the kids!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!