Giving thanks.....................

Well, we made it through another holiday! We were up in Big Bear at our cabin with my whole family (except Tracy, Heath & fam). We really had a good time, the girls said it was one of their funnest. I feel so blessed to have such a loving, fun, crazy, and warm family. Here is about a thousand pictures for a thousand memories :}

Pealing potatoes...............

Lessons from Dad on how to carve the perfect turkey (not that they needed it- but now they know)

knock knock......who's there?...............Olive..................Olive who?

OLIVE U!!!!

Blessings.The kids made everyone name cards, then we mixed them up, picked one, and had to write something we were thankful for that person.

Then we read what was written about us.

Wet eyes followed.

After some awesome family worship (ending with "Old McDonald's Farm for Lily") we played a competitive game of CHENEY CATCHPHRASE

"whippersnapper" being the favorite word of the night!!!!

wishbone - ohhh both of you cuties make a wish...............

Lots of baby lovin', holdin', and kissin' goin' on...........

Some outdoor activities:

shopping

mountain biking

tree surfing

waiting for the "Tree Lighting" in the village - super cold - 18 degrees - didn't stay long.

p.s. Yes, Mandy did not take this black hat off all 4 days we were there!

lovins from my cousins

photo op's on the boardwalk

As I look back on the year behind me it's kind of a blur. I felt almost like "let's just get this 1st year thing over with". But now looking back I see I have so much to be thankful for - God has blessed my family and I in so many ways.

• Things I'm thankful for:
• God's promises
• God's grace
• my children
• 12 years with John Eric Rojas
• my Mom and Dad
• my brother & sisters (& in-laws)
• my nieces and nephews
• My Aunts & Uncles
• grandmothers and grandfathers
• cousins
• good Friends
• good neighbors
• my dogs, cats & FISH
• a roof over my head
• a dependable car to drive (bonus - it's pretty)
• the cabin - my retreat
• mountains & beach
• foot rubs
• my bed
• chocolate covered bananas (Trader Joes)
• competition reality shows (amazing race)
• comfy couches (to watch the above)
• The promise that I'll someday see my loved ones who are in heaven
• my sense of humor (like when you can laugh at yourself - when you think your daughter is taking pictures of you and really she has pushed VIDEO instead) - lovely.
  
  

oh, there is the picture button.

As you look back I hope you find many things to be thankful for. I'm also looking forward - to seeing what God has in store for me in the coming year.

CHEERS!!!!

Mandy did a cheerleading clinic on Friday night with the high school cheerleaders.

They went after school, ate dinner, then sat with cheerleaders at the game,

And then did the half time show!

(she is right in the middle with capri sweats on)

She has done this for a couple of years with all of her friends.

Her biggest fans

Good times.

And it was a great game - we lost - but still a great game. GO MISSION!

And the winner is........................

Can I just say I thought he looked like a lobster.

Drum Role Please......................

Benny is a RED gummy bear!!!!

He actually does have little ears that kept falling and a pillow in his tummy. Heather and my mom worked very hard on this multi functional costume. There is so many possibilities for next year - a hot tamale, red teletubby, beating heart (haha Cathy B.), lobster, the devil (that was most people's guess). No matter what people thought he was - they all thought he looked cute!!!

p.s. No one won.

Fun Days

This is a 2 parter.

I'll start with Halloween:

Mandy was a forest fairy.

She originally wanted to be a football player but changed her mind when she saw this costume!

Go figure!

And here is the gang. I'm going to do my first contest - can anyone guess what Benny (in RED) is supposed to be?????? (I'll post answer later - Heath and Cathy don't tell!!)

Tick or Treatin' ARMY

Part 2:

Hannah Montana!!!!!!!!!!!

We had soooo much fun with all of our friends! And this was really a good show! Pure, innocent girl fun! then some dinner after...........................
And girls do just wanna have fun :}

Tooo bad Mandy didn't have any fun

(actually I'm not sure who had more fun - the little girls or the big girls!).