Recap 2014

January: Day hike to Jenkins Lake/Pollock Pines area

Beautiful Lake, the snow level was super low because there just hasn't been very much rain. 

 Got to have just the right kind of walking stick to make a hike successful. 

We have hit snow. It was very surreal. We were walking for about an hour, and all of a sudden it gets super cold and we start walking through snow. 

Travis of course has to throw a rock on the ice, because it is "Oh so much fun to watch the ice break."

 Nice family picture some girls took of us in front of the waterfall. What a lovely day hike we had!

February: Fisherman's Wharf & Alcatraz

The kids had President's week off, so I wanted to show them San Francisco. We took a daytrip to Fisherman's wharf and Alcatraz Island. We got to ride on a Ferry, that was a ton of fun for the kids.

Some of the stories of prisoners escaping was a little scary for Andrew but they were both very brave. They liked seeing what a cell looked like and what it was like for some of the prisoners on an island. 

It was a little chilly on Alcatraz. Good thing we brought our sweatshirts.

Of course one of our favorite parts was shopping at Fisherman's wharf and getting some yummy ice cream.

The last thing we did was take a look at the submarine USS Pompanito. Pretty cool to see a submarine up close. It was very long!




February: Green Oaks Talent Show

How adorable are these two? They performed in the Green Oaks Talent show. Andrew played the tambourine while Hannah sang "Little Liza Jane." Such a great performance.

March: Upward Basketball for Andrew

Andrew had a great season with Upward Basketball. He got to play with his good friend Ryan, and his dad Joe was his Upward Coach.

April--Dying Easter Eggs

This is our yearly tradition-dying Easter eggs. The kids love it, and have a lot of fun doing it.

May--Andrew turns 6!

Andrew decided he wanted to have a basketball party this year, so we invited his Upward Basketball coach, Coach Joe, to help out with the party. They had a blast. Andrew got a new basketball hoop for his birthday, and had a fantastic time.


June--Mission trip to Mexico

 We had the privilege to be part of a family mission trip to Ensenada, Mexico. We were able to minister to others in the hospital ministry, provide a VBS and help build homes. The kids had a lot of fun. 

June/July--Swim team mania

Andrew and Hannah were both on the Rollingwood Rockets this year, and Mommy got to help coach as well. They had a great year, made some good friends and worked very hard during swim meets and practices. Wat a great year they had swimming!

July--Camping Stumpy Meadows

We went for a weekend in July camping to Stumpy Meadows Campsite, right outside Georgetown, California. It's located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the El Dorado National Forest. We were there for 2 nights, and got to go swimming in the Stumpy Meadows Lake. Andrew made a pine cone man, we went on several walks to watch the sunset, toasted marshmallows for smores and even got to watch Daddy throw a hatchet into a tree.


August--Back to School

The kids and I have started on a new adventure this year...Homeschooling! Our family absolutely loved Green Oaks Elementary but Travis and I felt that we just weren't getting the quality time we wanted with our kids. So, we have done a ton of research and have joined the Folsom Cordova Homeschool Charter School and will try our hand at homeschooling. The kids are very excited, and I am very nervous but I think it will be a great year!

August---Our first backpacking trip

  We went on our first backpacking trip as a family this month! So much fun. We decided on Point Reyes, because it was next to the ocean and had a great weather forecast. We parked at the Visitor Center, and hiked 6 miles to our campsite called Coast Camp, which was right next to the ocean. We misjudged the mileage and thought it was only a 4 mile hike, and then hiked 2 extra miles. The kids were troopers though. They both had about 10 lbs each in their packs, and of course Hannah had to bring her pink puppy with. We saw lot's of wildlife, got to play on the beach, Daddy taught the kids about tide pools, and we slept snugly in our two person tents. On the way back to our car, the terrain was even worse than before. Straight uphill for at least 3-4 miles! Super gruesome, but once again the kids were troopers and we all had a great first backpacking trip.

September--Soccer boy

Andrew is starting his 3rd year in soccer with Coach Matt and the Wildcats. They are playing in a new league this year U8, and it is significantly harder than U6 was. So proud of these boys. They have been working so hard. We are so blessed to be part of Coach Matt's team and all he is teaching the boys.

September---Backpacking to Lake Margaret

We went for our second backpacking trip to Lake Margaret which is right outside of Kirkwood, CA. Another fun trip, but boy did we have a lot of mishaps. First, I left one of my hiking boots at home, then Travis hurt his foot referring soccer the day before, we ran out of propane to make our food, and then on the way back Travis forgot his fishing pole at our campsite and I ran all the way back to get it. It was a little overwhelming, but we had such a great time. Got to see God's amazing creation of lakes and mountains, saw a snake, Travis got to go fishing, and we spent some good quality time together.

October---Halloween

For Halloween this year kiddos dressed up as Ninja and Zebra. This year they had the option of either using their own $ to buy their costume or they had to find a costume under $10. The thrift store came in very handy! Every Halloween we trick or treat with our neighbors. What a fun tradition. 

October---House Remodel





This year is a big remodel year for our house. We are redoing the kitchen, livingroom, guest bathroom and kids rooms. Such a big job! As I am writing this, it is Spring of 2016 and it is STILL not done!

November---Oliver

 

This is Hannah's first musical with CYT and she plays an aristocratic daughter in Oliver. Here she is pictured with her "mother." It was a great first time experience. The first show Hannah and I watched was Beauty and the Beast and she told me she for sure wants to try out for the next show when she will be old enough (8).

November---Monterey Bay Aquarium Field Trip

 

 

 What a fun day we had at the Aquarium. We camped overnight at Veterans Memorial campground. it was a little chilly that morning, but nothing that hot coffee and tea couldn't fix. The kids got to see all kinds of fun exhibits, animals, and touch squishy octopus. So glad Monterey Aquarium has Homeschool days! 


December---Christmas Card picture




My talented friend Susan Muse took our Christmas card picture this year. One of my favorites so far!


December---Creekside candlelight service

December---Christmas at Grandma/Grandpa's house (our house is still being remodeled)

Every Christmas morning we have homemade cinnamon buns and it seems like they get better every year we make them. This year Daddy came up with a creative gift. Date coupons for the kids. One time a month he will go on a date with each kiddos. One month it's to see a motorcycle race, another month backpacking trip, etc.