Boys and their Trikes

The boys both have tricycles now - Levi just got a hand-me-down from Salma that is just his size. Previously, he wouldn't let us put his helmet on - but today he was ready for it to ride his new bike. Lookout world......here I come!


He looks so big dragging his trike around :)


Here are the two bikers - they are both getting so big! Brothers - ridin' bikes together. How sweet is that!

New Home

After looking at houses for about 6 weeks - and putting in 6 different offers - we finally had an offer accepted on Friday, February 27th. It is a foreclosure - and we had placed the offer on Saturday, February 20th but had received word a few days later than another bid was accepted. But - a few days after that we were told the first bid had funding issues. Good news for us! This was the 3rd foreclosure that we had bid on - and our favoritist of the 3. Here is the front -

It is a 4 bedroom, 3 bath home - with 3 bedrooms upstairs and a spare rooms downstairs. We are very excited to be able to be in our own home. This is the family room -

Many foreclosures have a lot of issues - faucets missing, light fixtures missing, holes in walls, trees removed, appliances missing, etc. This house is in very good shape - move-in ready. Most of the paint looks pretty good - except for the "princess" paint in one of the boys rooms. That will need to be one of the first projects. Here is the kitchen - so many cabinets - yea!

We will all be sleeping upstairs - which makes me a bit nervous to have the boys - and mostly Levi - to deal with stairs. He is not very good at stairs. Thankfully there is only one narrow entrance - that can be gated easily. I will feel better when he gets a little older and we don't have to worry so much about falling down stairs. This is the dining/living room combo - view from the stairs -

We have a fairly small backyard - much smaller than Wichita. Jim is glad for that - not so much yard to maintain. We really didn't use our large yard in Kansas much - so I hope we have better use of this yard. We are excited about it - seems like a good size for the boys to play in - landscaped nicely - and not too much to maintain.

We are very thankful that we were able to move to California at this time - and have been blessed in our jobs. We feel fortunate to be able to purchase this home and look forward to making family memories and watching our boys grow here.

Brothers

It is so fun to see Jacob and Levi be sweet with each other. Each morning they love to sit in the chair together as they wake up - watching cartoons - and sometimes eating breakfast (note the pancake in Levi's hand).

Footie pajamas are fun too.........sometimes. Levi likes his. Jacob likes footie pajamas......sometimes......when he is not having oc issues with his feet. For the past few weeks, he has wanted to wear two piece pjs. I was ready to pack away all of his footie pjs a few months ago - and then he started liking them again. We never know how the wind will blow.....it changes often on us.......keeps us on our toes!

Christmas 2008

Our first Christmas in California as a family. We celebrated at home on Christmas Eve. We are trying to get a family picture by the tree - so hard to get all four cooperating at the same time!


Missy flew in from Kansas and spent the week with us. The boys loved having Auntie around - it was a fun week!


Before opening the gaggle of presents - we read the Christmas story. Sweet picture with Jacob listening and cuddling with me.


Levi and Mommy. So hard to keep him in one place to take a picture.


We went to Uncle Joey's and Aunt Ofelia's house for Christmas Day. Here are Nana and Poppop - posin' for a pic.

Jacob got a Big Wheel from Nana and Poppop. He had to go outside and try it out. It is so much fun!

When Levi was told to get ready for a picture - he had to go sit under the tree. I guess we had taken so many shots under the tree - that is where he associated that every picture must be taken!

On Christmas morning we opened stockings. Jacob took out each item and presented it like it was the best thing ever. But - something kept making jingly music - and he couldn't figure out from where it was coming. He would just stop and listen - and then the music would stop. It was pretty funny. We finally had to tell him it was the reindeer - the candy pooping reindeer.

One of Jacob's gifts - a racetrack. Levi and Jacob love letting the cars race down it.

Levi loved the bows. Priceless picture - don't get too close - you might get something extra special!

Levi loves to jump on the bean bag chair that Grandma got Jacob for his birthday. It was a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. Too bad we have to wait a whole year before doing it again!

Jacob's 4th Birthday Bash

Jacob turned 4 on December 3rd and we celebrated on Saturday. He got his own digital camera - and was enjoying taking pictures of us now.


Blowing out his candles - one at a time. Good thing he wasn't older! He took cupcakes to school on Wednesday for his actual birthday - and wanted cupcakes again for his party.


Brother Levi enjoying chocolate.......he didn't eat much pizza - but knows what the good stuff is!


Opening up his presents - walkie talkies and Mr. Potato Head. The boys enjoyed hiding and spying and talking secretively on the walkie talkies......sometimes they forgot to quit pushing the button though......


Jacob was excited - he got "dollars"! Hasn't quite figured out the difference in monetary amounts - he would have been just as happy with $1 bills :)


Cousin Salma was enjoying playing with a monster car with Uncle Jim - and everytime it rolled over his hand - she cracked up.

The kids were catching butterflies with the Elefun Game. Jacob needs some practice - didn't quite have the hang of actually moving his net around........sometimes one would happen to fall in - that was fun.

We can't believe our BIG boy is actually 4 now. The last 4 years have gone by pretty quickly. We call Levi - lil bit - sometimes - but he is getting bigger too. They sure grow up quickly and learn to do things. When Poppop asked Jacob - if he is 4 this year - how old will he be next year - Jacob paused for a moment and then said "18". I am glad he won't be growing up that quickly!

Thanksgiving 2008

Our first Thanksgiving in California as a family. We all met at our house on Friday instead of Thursday so that we could celebrate with my brother Joey and his family too. Here is Salma - isn't she a cutie!

Here are the boys - Jacob, cousin Antonio, and Levi - eating their "snowman lollipops" and playing in Jacob's room.


Here is Nana Cyndy and Uncle Joey - laughing at a funny story of Uncle Joey's (at least he thought it was!). Everyone had a good time together.


Here is Poppop Joe and Uncle Guy - everyone loves to have their picture taken!


Antonio and his Mom Ofelia - having a cuddle moment. The kids played hard together. And - there was a LOT of screaming - the three older kids were running from the "monster" Levi - who was learning to scream after all of them. They were having a blast - it was very loud - but they were having fun.

After all the kids had their jammies on - it was "jump on Uncle Joey" time!


The intent was for Levi to warm up to him a bit - but the kids weren't shy about tackling him too. Even Uncle Guy got in on it - missed that picture though!

Daddy and Levi at the table. It was a fun day - and a fun first Thanksgiving together in sunny California. We missed all of our family and friends that weren't here to share the day with us - all of those in Kansas and Texas - and our first Thanksgiving without Grandpa Jerry - Papa.

Leaves....Leaves....and More Leaves....

We are enjoying being in an older neighborhood with mature trees.......for the most part. Raking, mowing, sweeping, raking some more, mowing some more, is a constant battle. Fortunately, the leaves are ALMOST all gone from the tree. And - fortunately for me - Jim does all of the work! Here is the next Tiger Woods.....or tiger.....in the woods....

Here is our yard - with a weeks worth of leaf trappings....

Some more fun leaves.

Here is Jacob's first experience jumping in the leaves. In Wichita - our baby trees dropped about 10 leaves a piece.

More fun playing in the pile. Isn't it fun being a kid!