On to February

This morning the kids are playing very nicely. I like having 11am church because there is little rush; we've got lots of time. However, once the boys get into play mode they are hard to switch back. I know I should get them up, showered, fed and dressed before they play but it is hard to be so productive with so much free time.
Alex is still playing football. He is taking piano lessons and preparing for his birthday/baptism. We've got some planning to do. Also, he'll be a cub scout and his first event is the pinewood derby! I have already ordered the awards for the event. I am very excited to get this event pulled together.
We also have nursery to look forward to at the end of the month for Macey. I may ask for an early entry date since I'll be teaching the Sunbeams and Dan will be gone again. Speaking of callings... I am now down to two, Scouts and Sunbeams, which is the 3 year old Sunday School class if you don't know.
I don't have much else to report or any pictures to post, but I thought I'd put a little update up nonetheless.

Flag Football

Macey in the bathroom

Jan update

I'm still catching up rather than getting ahead so, here is another quick slideshow of life here.
Dan has been travelling, but we hope that it will be slowing down soon.
Alex earned The Responsibility, The Trustworthiness, and Outstanding attendance for the second quarter.
Alex has also started playing flag football. He really loves playing with all of his friends. He has made a few touchdowns. It is more intense than I would expect for 7 year olds, but the boys don't complain.
Our oranges have ripened. I've waited 4 years to taste its fruit. We have a Moro Blood Orange tree. They are delicious!
Macey talks and talks, snacks and snacks, climbs and CLIMBS. She is one month away from the nursery. Alex is one month away from his baptism and his first Pinewood Derby race.
We are happy and looking forward to another great year as a family.

Ryan climbing a coconut tree

While in San Diego Ryan climbed this novelty tree. He said it was a little scary at the top, but he did it!

California for New Year's

Dan took a weeks vacation after Christmas and when you work from home, you don't stay home for fun. So, after our excursion to the AZ mountains, we came home for 2 hours, swapped laundry, and got back in the car headed west.

While visiting Grandma Black we enjoyed our usual park there, the canyon, warmer weather than our AZ friends, the Holiday Bowl Balloon Parade and family fun festival, NOT staying up to celebrate the New Year (both Dan and Grandma were asleep on the couch, so I gave up and went to bed), taking down Grandma's tree, and a trip to the beach.
Ryan was FREEZING at the beach in soaking wet clothes. Duh, right? If you know the Pacific, you know it is cold year round. So as he and I were having a snack I asked him to put his sweatshirt on. He said no and basically said he didn't want to admit it was winter. But what I loved was when he said, 'Mom, ya know, maybe sometime we could go surfing.' Huh, well, I sure guess that we could...
Macey loved the beach. She loved the ocean. She loved the waves and getting in the freezing water. Then when we took her away from that she loved the sand and destroying the boys castles.
I hope you will note that Macey's new wagon saw desert, snow, and beach all in one week's time.