our backyard

The reason I haven't posted for a while is because we have been busy working on the backyard. I didn't get a before picture but as you look at the after, imagine it 4 feet tall in weeds...that is the before. The first picture is our patio furniture covered up...it is a firepit in a table (propane) and some really comfy chairs. The next picture shows the garden box in the back corner. We have some lettuce, carrots, zucchini, cucumbers, onions, squash, and 3 types of tomatoes. We also have 5 fruit trees along the fence - peach, nectarine, orange, granny and fuji apples. Behind the garden box are two grapevines. The other side has our trampoline and the future home of a playset/fort structure. When school gets out, we will be hosting some outdoor movie nights...hopefully we can pick a not so windy night.

Sam's snowstorm!

I was very focused the other day on working on our taxes. Sam, who loves to be in the same room with you regardless of where you are, decided to play with the shredder paper. I has just cleaned out several files and shredded them so the container was quite full. It did keep him occupied for a while so I could work on taxes!

Steve's father

Steve's father passed away on Sunday, February 10th. He was 79 and accomplished alot during those 79 years. His posterity already consists of over 50 people...the majority of which were able to attend the funeral. It was nice to spend the day with family and learn more about his dad's early years.

Snow trip

We went on a mini-vacation with two other families - Sellers and Crumps. We stayed 2 nights in the Trendwest timeshare in Angels Camp and spent one day up by Bear Valley playing in the snow. It was a very nice trip with beautiful weather. I finally had someone else to take pictures so got one of me sledding with Sam...who loves the snow and actually walked up the hill by himself.

Hannah's soccer game

Weather was not always the soccer teams best friend this winter. These are some pictures of their final game against Deer Valley...the other high school in Antioch. The final score...1-0 with Hannah scoring the only goal. They had a great season.

Christmas

For Christmas, my side of the family headed to a cabin...and this year...there was snow (we had sunshine and green grass two years ago). The facility has a tube run already made so all play...no work for us! The kids also loved exploring the river that was partly frozen over. Many times they could be seen carrying around a huge chunk of ice that they had broken off. Sam loved the tube run...although after one run when some snow blew in his face...he covered his face every time after that. He wasn't real happy when we made him walk up the hill though...he much preferred being carried.

portraits

I decided to update the pictures on my living room wall...I already had sr pictures for Rob and Raechel so took some of the others to the park by our house and snapped away. With a little help from the computer...this is the result...not bad for an amatuer! (or however that word is spelled). Christmas pictures will be coming soon. Work has kept me busy trying to get all the stuff ready for taxes.