Angels Camp

We decided to head out of town the weekend before thanksgiving, just to get away and have a change in scenery.  It is amazing how much the kids enjoy being in a new place!  It was a bit of a fiasco getting out the door because when I started Ryan's car to leave, the key case cracked and totally fell apart.  We tried duck taping it back together, but apparently when the key is dislodged from the electronics, it won't work.  So, we took a trip to Lexus and $90 later, we were on our way.  It was a blessing because if we had been 2 hours away up at Angels camp (with a population of 3700 and no Lexus dealer), we would most likely have had to be towed!  So, although it started out a bit rocky, we really enjoyed our time there.  The kids and Ryan swam in the pool (I forgot my suit, darn it!), ate junk food, played ping pong, visited Calaveras Big Trees Park and then toured the Mercer Caverns.
The Mercer Caverns was a bit interesting....we went 16 stories underground and the stairs were very skinny and steep.  At one point K was starting to freak out, but I picked him up and thankfully, he pulled it together.  He has come along way...I can remember a couple summers ago when the panic set in and he could not recover, so it was good to see his progress :o).  We learned a lot about the history of the cavern and saw the really neat Limestone displays.  Ryan was very happy to get out...he was starting to panic a little too.

Pool pictures.....Reggie is getting a little too heavy for dad:

 Not quite the same height....

More visitors!

Last week was an exciting week for us....we had lots of visitors from home :o).  Ryan's cousin Tonya and her husband Pete and their 2 boys, Jake and Lucas stopped by for dinner!!!  It happened to be the day that Grandma Peggy arrived, so the kids were over the moon.  It was kind of cool weather, but the kids played 4 square, football and jumped on the trampoline.  It was great for us adults to catch up and we had a nice visit.  As I was saying goodnight to Reggie, he said, "I really enjoyed playing with them mom".  It was pretty cute and maybe we'll be able to connect over the holidays.

Grandma Peggy's visit seemed to go by quickly....we toured Joe Michell School on Friday when the kids were at school.  We are likely going to transfer all the kids there next year.  It was interesting to hear about the International Baccalaureate program they are implementing and something that really aligns with how I would like our kids to think.   She did some of the preparation for our Thanksgiving meal on Saturday.  The lemon lush and apple crisp were devoured Friday night, but we had enough for Sat. too.  I was excited to have apples and oatmeal in the morning-what a perfect breakfast!  We really lucked out with our turkey and it was so moist and juicy....probably the best turkey we've had (honeysuckle brand).  We stuffed ourselves and then went to see Big Hero 6.  The boys loved it!  It was a little much for us adults.

There was a lot of 4 square played over the weekend and lots of laughs from Ainsley and Grandma....Ainsley makes grandma laugh and then they can't stop!

Sunday was Ainsley's state meet in Oroville.  It was a 2 1/2 hour drive each way and it made for a very long day.  Thankfully, Samantha was available to watch the boys.  She woke up with a sore throat and since I had the same virus, I knew it was really uncomfortable.  We gave her some medicine and she was fine and didn't want more before the meet, so off she went (she competed at 4:20).  She had a really great day!  A little jittery on floor of all things, but she had her best all around score yet, 36.2 (6th all-around).  Ryan had a red eye out of San Francisco, so he was maybe going to have to miss her last event, but praise God, she was the very first one up, so he got to watch her bar routine :o).  He is in Boston all week.  Ainsley was near tears when I found her afterward.  She opened up her mouth to talk and it was very hoarse and she could barely get the words out.  I felt bad that we didn't give her medicine....she was not feeling well at all :o(.  So....we had to go to McDonald's to get her an ice cream to help her throat feel better :o).  We made the long trek home and didn't arrive until 11:15.  It worked out o.k. that she was sick because I didn't feel bad keeping her home from school.  I didn't get any action shots, but hopefully will post some later from one of the parents had a fancy camera and was taking pictures.

 She tied for 3rd on beam with her teammate, Izzy.  Ainsley is 2 weeks younger than her...she is the cutest little thing!

There was so much anticipation with the state meet and it is nice to have it overwith.  She has been excited to tell us the new things she is doing at practice already!

Here's a couple of pictures that I didn't get around to posting.....
This was taken the first week of Nov.  It was a beautiful week and we were enjoying a few quiet minutes at the gym by the pool!  On Nov. 2nd, I did finally have to turn on the heat .  The nights have been getting chilly.

Can you believe the size of this bear at Costco....REALLY??!!  What's next?

Halloween

The weather forecast was rain....of all days, REALLY???  We lucked out as it sprinkled toward the end of the school parade and cleared off for the evening trick-or-treating.  The rain doesn't usually last long here :o).  Today it was in the high 70's!
We found a bit of time the day before Halloween to carve pumpkins (it was K's idea) and since we haven't done it in a couple years, we thought it would be fun.  We quickly realized why we don't usually do it because WE end up doing all the work and the kids ran around and played.  At least I got some seeds out of it and this year I did garlic salt and they were delicious!
We even carved the neighbors pumpkin.  Noah was very excited (he said this was his best time at our house!).

 We can't take credit for this one....someone at Ryan's work did this for their contest and she let hm take it home.

Both the boys were Pokemon characters and I felt a little embarrassed for Reggie because his costume was a little small and well, he's huge!  But, he didn't care and good for him:

K was helping a classmate with her candy at their party....she said, "I hope I got a butterscotch one!" and he grabbed it and said, "M-I-L-K, oh yes that is a butterscotch one" (he was reading the letters from a Milk Dud box) and she was so happy!  Until she eats it and realizes that they are Milk Duds-which just made me think....why would you name a candy milk dud?
Later that day we went to the Williams for dinner and trick-or-treating in our old neighborhood.  We had to stop by Mrs. Pierson's house (Reggie's kindergarten teacher), but we didn't make it to the smoked sandwiches and beer/wine stop this year.  On the way home, we stopped by the house with the pig and it had sure grown since last year.  It was sitting on her lap on the couch and was fully grown at 65 pounds.  Ainsley pet it and it was making a very strange noise (equivalent of a cat purring).  I had no idea they did that!

Sorting and trading candy the next day....

Exciting night!

I was putting Reggie to bed tonight and he asked me if he had already accepted Jesus and I said, "I don't think so, unless you did it at church and didn't tell me."  I asked him if he wanted to and he said yes!!!  So, we said a prayer :o).  They have a kid baptism class at our church, so we'll look into that and see what he thinks.  Praise the Lord!!!