Counting my blessings

I am counting my blessings and have so much to be thankful for. I am really enjoying this winter. I am so glad we are getting the rain we need. Even though I am a fan of the summer, I really appreciate the winter here in California. I LOVE the rolling green hills, the twisted bare Oak trees, the mild weather.... it is so beautiful! I feel so lucky to live here.

Here is a picture of the hills as we were traveling the other day

Off Vasco road near our house

Rolling Hills and Windmills

Another thing I love about this area is all the things we have available around us. We have been exploring the awesome local museums, going to the snow to sled and make snowmen, enjoying parks and riding bikes (Braden learned to ride w/o training wheels, woo hoo!)

Chabot Science Center in Oakland:

Astronaut Sadie Carter

Astronaut Braden Carter

The Academy of Science:

We couldn't believe how big this catfish was! It was seriously as big as Mackenzie!

See?!

Sadie and Braden want their picture by the catfish too!

No Training Wheels!


We also started the kids in some new activities, Sadie is in Dance and Braden is in T-Ball. They are both really excited. Braden turns 4 next month and 4 is the youngest they can be to start so he is probably the littlest one on the league.

Sadie is learning ballet and tap in her class. I don't have a picture of her in her dance outfit though.



I am also grateful Jason's business has been able to survive through one of the toughest times for our economy, especially for his industry. We have had some rough spots but we have really been blessed overall. We were able to do one of the projects we have been saving for and wanting to do for a while and get some new furniture. We outgrew our old couch and love seat and never got furniture in our living room (but it did made for a great skateboard, bike and scooter area! :) so we finally decided to get it done the way we have wanted. Patty requested that I share pictures so here are the finished products:

These pictures I have to share just because they are so cute. The other day Jason was trying to find some clothes for Mackenzie to wear and if I don't get the clothes ready when Jason is dressing the kids they always end up wearing something random or weird or clothes for the other sibling. So this time she ended up in one of Sadie's dress up dresses!

This week we enjoyed the company of my Dad and my brother Zackary. Of course we were dealing yet another sickness with Mackenzie when they were here which kept us from doing to much, but it was great spending time with them.

My dad was so thoughtful and bought some flowers for me that he saw in the Grocery store, just because. Oh, and the oranges in the middle were from my mother and father-in-law's tree, so yummy!

"King Zackary" being a good sport and entertaining the kids. I have to brag about my brother Zackary for a second because I think he is awesome. I wish I had recorded how amazing he made our new piano sound, I hope I can get as good as him someday. Funny because when I was his age and he was about Sadie's age he told me he wanted to be as good as me at the piano when he grew up! He even wrote music and lyrics for this beautiful love song he wants to sing for his future wife. He has a great voice too! He is band leader, plays all kinds of instruments, straight A student, lead actor in drama, He is one of those guys that is good at everything he does. I really "look up" to him (he is only 1 inch taller than me :)

So that is a little bit of what has been going on around here in my blogging absence. I am especially grateful for my family, I love them so much. I am so lucky that I can stay home with my kids as they are growing up and be a part of their life.