PBJs galore

The last week before Christmas vacation started off with our running club’s Jingle Jog.  Everyone had their bells on as they lapped the soccer field.  One of the best sounds ever:

"Sometimes Christmas is a little too much jingle and not enough Jesus.”  -heard at church

I always want to be mindful of putting Jesus first.

We joined co-op friends last week to assemble over 200 lunches for some folks who needed lunch.  Never have I seen so many sticky peanut-buttered fingers!  Such sweet kids.  I love the moms too.

Sandwich, granola bars fruit and bottle of water packed in a sack:

After sandwich making, we met up at the near-by Oceanside Mission San Luis Rey for a little California History.  The Mission was under construction (seismic reinforcements, gotta love California), but we were able to explore the grounds.

Our friends made a fabulous mission replica made out of made-from-scratch gingerbread.  It was so impressive (and super clever)!

Down at the Lavanderia (aka the Mission’s Native American Laundromat):

8 miles on a crisp December morning:

Christmas

We trekked to my parents home (in the Central Valley) for Christmas this year.  My mom knows how to do Christmas.  It was such a treat for all of us to be there.

“Owl Box Mounting” (my dad’s always got some fun project brewing):

I’m a bet-making mom.  I said I’d give 2 bucks to anyone who jumped in my parent’s 55-degree swimming pool, figuring I‘d have no takers.

Josh made 6 bucks (3 different days) off of his (sucker) mom.  He’s loco.  Zac was in tears he wanted that 2 bucks so bad, but couldn’t get it done.

My dad and the devoted Mr. Garland took down this avocado tree (it was leaning into the neighbor’s yard):

I have THE BEST parents:

Christmas Eve:

Christmas Morn:

Gift opening:

Little boy wrestling:

Just what he wanted…  quick drying undies:

More Jesus, less jingle:

Zac loves his new Leapster:

Josh and Zac love their new banana boards:

Christmas Dinner:

The gift that keeps on giving:

Grandmom spoiled Sarah rotten with hocho whenever she wanted:

Workin’ for her drinks:

The Super Bubbles jacuuzi bath:  the frothiest froth-a-rama.

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas!!

Snow Day

After Christmas, my dad and the 6 of us headed up the highway to Sequoia National Park in search of snow for sledding.

Deal breaker?  Our borrowed snow chains turned out to be too big for our tires, but the car right next to us had chains that were too small. We swapped chains with our new ‘friends’, happily went on our way, and swapped back the next day. God was totally looking out for us!

A winter wonderland:

Four Guardsmen stand sentry:

Wolverton:

Future snowman nose:

 

It’s hard work making sure that 4 little people all have snow gloves, jackets, boots, pants in the right place at the right time, in the right size.

Rachel could have eaten the snow all day long:

When you’re five years old and your hands are cold, it’s time to pack it up and go home:

General Sherman Tree:  By volume, it is the largest known living single stem tree on Earth (Wikipedia).

Sunny, snowy, rainy and rainbow-y all in the same day:

My dad is now even more convinced that he’s a pot-o-gold:

A double over Kaweah Lake: