Playing Outside

I'm going to like the weather here in CA. The kids and I have been able to play outside. I'm still a bit blown away that I can step outside my door and pick oranges to eat. They are incredible:-)

Here the kids are enjoying their birthday gifts from the Jensens - golf clubs and a baseball tee.

Moving Out/Moving In

Hello, again! We are safe and sound and reasonably settled in Ripon, CA. My mom was invaluable in helping me get the house unpacked and my mother-in-law was invaluable in taking the kids for a week so I could get the house settled. I would have posted sooner but one of the losses in the move was our card reader (I probably threw it away with all the paper the packers use to wrap things.) Anyway, some picture for you all!

Good-bye, Sunnyside!Hello, Ripon!

The Cake, the Party, the Fun

This may be my last post in a little while as we move next week and whose knows when I'll be up and blogging again:-)

Anika and Andrew shared a birthday party last night with some good friends. I tried my hand a making their cakes this year. Anika's was a princess cake and Andrew's had Elmo on it.

Making a wish . . .Cake and ice cream - yummmmm!

Waiting (patiently?) for her presents. . ."Presents? I'd rather wrestle with Tyler."

New princess costume (you can never have too many!)
Little People's Fire truck with lights and sirens will keep Andrew busy -- for awhile:-)Daddy opens the Barbie princess doll. (Wow, these kiddos were spoiled!!!!)

A boy and his dog. . .and his sister:-)

Look whose 4!!!

Anika celebrated her 4th birthday on Jan. 8. Since we were having a party later in the week with her brother, we just enjoyed some ice cream together and did her hand print. She is holding up her hand in the picture not to say she is 5 but to show her hand that is going to be imprinted in the plaster:-)

Sibling Rivalry?

Anika grabbed the dust mop recently and instead of using it for its intended purpose (sigh, maybe someday. . .) She asked Andrew to jump on for a ride. Oh, that they would play this nicely more often:-)

PS Yes, Drew is wearing his coat -- I can hardly get him it out of it.

The Belly:-)

A few of you have inquired recently about my expanding form. So here are a few pictures - I'm finally looking pregnant and not just chubby:-) (A big shout out to sister, Hil, for sending a box stuffed with maternity shirts - yeah!!!)

New "stuff"

A few of our favorite things. . .

The new play phone is great, but the Chex Mix - now there's something to get excited about:-)

Sharing? a moment. Anika has been playing for hours with her new paper dolls (clad in her new dress up gown and jewelry, of course).

Posing with her new denim dress and sweater.

Anika loved putting together her new puzzles.

Christmas Eve morning

Since Christmas around here gets quite hectic with Daddy preaching and other obligations, we decided to make Christmas Eve our family celebration and gift-giving day. Anika walked down the stairs this morning and said, "Presents!" Then she ran in to wake up Daddy. Daddy asked her who she thought left the presents. "I don't know. . . I think GOD!"

"Come on, Mom & Dad! There are presents waiting."

Christmas cookies

Anika and I baked and decorated Christmas cookies on Friday with help from Auntie Dana. Anika has certainly improved her technique from last year!

The Restaurant Business

Our basement is transformed since we moved most of the youth group couches last night, but the kids are enjoying the extra room. What fun!!!

Anika is into the restaurant business. "You'll have the soup!"

The Newest Wicker

If you would indulge us, we would like to introduce you to the newest Wicker:-) We had an ultrasound yesterday and I must say that I was more amazed than ever. I'm not sure if the hospital technology has improved or if I'm better at seeing the pictures or . . . The technician did say that one reason we got great pictures was something about the ratio of amniotic fluid to baby size or something like that. Regardless we were so blessed to see a healthy, active baby. (No, we didn't find out the sex).

Papa's Here

Anika and Andrew can't get enough of their Papa.

Fixer, Upper

Lloyd's dad is visiting for a few days -- not just for pleasure; we are putting him to work on our bathroom. There was a leak which caused our tiles to become soft so we needed to get it fixed before we sold the place. Now we wish we had done it years ago and enjoyed it ourselves:-) We put up really pretty and clean wall panels - mildew resistent! Here are a few shots of the progress. Dad is putting the finishing touches on it yet.

A View from the Sky

Lloyd took a recent, whirlwind trip to Ripon for 24 hrs or so. He shot a couple of beautiful pictures of Mr. Rainier from the plane. (I'm sure going to miss those mountains!)

Christmas Parade

Another Lighted Farm Implement Parade has come and gone. The kids really enjoyed it this year. It was quite cold but we bundled up as best we could and enjoyed the hot chocolate that our church handed out. It was a beautiful night and the snow began to fall just as the last float passed us by.

Church volunteers handing out free hot chocolate:

Anika and Andrew sat with their good friends Ryan and Tyler:

The kids favorite float was this steam tractor dressed up as Thomas the Train!