Spring Break Camping Trip

We had such a great time camping with our friends in Big Sur. We went with the Heywood family and the Lewis family. The kids had soooooo much fun playing with their friends and loving the natural environment. One of the children's favorite things was the huge mountainside that our campsite was up against. They climbed the steep slope to the top and then would slide down (either on their bum or surfer style). The first time all our kids climbed up, Albert and I were a little nervous because it is a HUGE mountainside and even the little ones were up on top where we couldn't even see them! So Albert sent ME up to check on them. It was a big climb up and I didn't even go all the way to the top. I looked down and got a little dizzy. The kids slid down right past me like it was nothing and then I contemplated on how I would get down. That seemed much harder then getting up! I'm not sure why it was harder for me than for the kids. After that, I just stayed down in the campsite and let the kids climb up and down over and over. We decided that the worst thing that could happen was that they would slide down the hill. Not so bad! They all had a few bruises and scratches on their legs by the end of the trip but that's what being kid is all about.

Another fun adventure was our hike! We hiked through the redwood trees up to a waterfall, somewhere between 2-3 miles, which ended up being a very good distance for the little children. Many of the redwood trees were hollow and the kids enjoyed going through and into them and I heard some imaginings of sleeping in them. Some of the pictures below are the kids in a hollow tree.

One of the memorable experiences was the icy cold creek! The water was very cold! Colder than the ocean! Brian Heywood challenged the kids to swim across and back and offered a little incentive as well! Jacen, Linnea, Sasha and Tristan all swam across and were proud of their accomplishment, and rightly so. I wondered if I had had my bathing suit, if I would have done it! I don't know!? They will remember that experience for a while though. They called themselves the Survivor Club!

We had such a fun time and are anxious to go back this summer. Are any of you interested in going with us? Just let us know!

Gavin's First Day of Preschool !!!

Today was Gavin's first day of preschool! His name has been on the waiting list since October and he adamantly did NOT want to go to school then. However, now that he is a BIG 4 year old, when the preschool called and said he was at the top of the list and could enroll, he was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!! He has tried to be patient the last couple of weeks. He was so excited this morning and had to wait almost an eternity for 10 o'clock to come so we could go. When we got there, he was interested in all the activities but it was just dawning on him that I was going to leave. He whimpered just a tiny bit when I hugged him good-bye and then was fine. Linnea and Jacen had an early dismissal from school today and so they came with me to pick Gavin up. He was a happy boy and is anxious to go back on Friday.

Gavin was thrilled about getting a new race car lunchbox and taking a lunch to school. This is what he had for lunch:
*hard boiled egg
*applesauce cup
*grape juice
*cinnamon race car cookies
When I examined his lunch box after school, I saw that he had eaten ALL of his lunch. His older brother and sister could learn a lesson about eating from him. <:

Happy preschool days to Gavin!

A few late Easter Pics!

I just found these pictures and wanted to post them up as well. Because we had our Easter Sunrise picnic breakfast at the oceanside, I wanted the focus Easter morning to be on our Savior, Jesus Christ. Then we went to church and the Easter bunny came while we were at church. The kids were anxious to see their surprises when they got home!

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday was beautiful. We woke up early in the morning and took a picnic breakfast to enjoy on the oceanside while watching the sun rise. We had a little lesson about Christ and his resurrection and I played my flute. Grama Shirley met us there and enjoyed breakfast with us. It was very nice. Afterward, we came home to get ready for church. While we were at church, the Easter Bunny came to our house and left some goodies. It was a nice day. I love Easter and the focus it places on our Savior and the hope His action of love gives us.

Easter Egg Hunt at the Heywoods

Saturday before Easter Sunday, we drove out to the Heywood's Ranch in Carmel Valley for lunch and a relaxing time visiting with friends and family and an Easter Egg hunt for the children. The weather was perfectly sunny and warm and we really had an enjoyable time. We missed Jacen going with us but he was having a fun time with the Young Men from church on a campout and paintball tournament.

Happy Birthday Gavin!!

Gavin had a very fun birthday the entire day! Literally, the entire day was dedicated to him having fun! It started out with waking up to lots of balloons! Friends, Lily and Beckam, came in the morning for a play group birthday party! Gavin had a race car birthday and we played fun games. In one game pictured below, they played musical present. They sat in a circle and passed the present. When the music stopped, the child holding the present could start unwrapping. They each got several turns unwrapping and then when it was all unwrapped, a present was inside for each of them. We went to the park, had yummmy cupcakes and ice cream and a fun time. After that party and after Jacen and Linnea got home from school, we went with some friends, Cheryl, Asher, Beckam, and Jaden, to Jump-in-Around. It is a couple of big rooms with several bounce houses along with arcade games. It was so fun to go with friends and all the kids had fun bouncing and running around for a couple of hours. We then said good bye to our friends and came home. Then Tera came over with Carter, Maila and Dallin to play. We played some more here before going out to dinner where we met Great Grampa Neufeld, Aunt Marilyn, Jared, and Albert at El Toritos. Gavin loved it when they sang to him! He soaks up any kind of attention! After dinner, we came home for cake and ice cream and presents. It was a great day celebrating Gavin! The next morning he woke up and asked if it was almost his birthday yet again!!







Gavin is a bunch of energy! He loves to have fun and loves to be active. He loves his family. He keeps us from being bored! We're so glad to have him in our family. When he was born, we felt like he completed the puzzle. He charged into this world ready to take it on and he still continues to show a strong determination and will! We love Gavin!

Happy Birthday Jace!!

On Jacen's actual birthday, Great Grampa took us all out to dinner and Jacen got to pick the restaurant. He picked Chilies and we all went and had a great time. They sang to him and that was fun for all of us to hear and see! After we ate, we came back to our house and had cake and ice cream and Jacen opened presents. I can't believe I have a twelve year old! He's growing up so fast!




Jacen is such a good young man and always tries to do what is right. He wants things to be fair for everyone and is sensitive to those around him. He is also very fun-loving and enjoys playing and having a good time. He has a fun sense of humor. He is a good student and very self motivated to learn and succeed at what he puts his mind to. He loves his family very much. His family is his top priority. His favorite thing in the whole world is for all his family to be together having fun. He is a good friend, a loving son and we are so thankful for him. He is such an important part of our family and we enjoyed celebrating his twelfth birthday.

Jacen's Birthday Party at the Sports Center

I am a little late in getting my posts up! Jacen had a fantastic birthday party at the Sports Center though. We squeezed it in before the pool area was closed for remodeling and the kids had a blast swimming and water sliding! Tons of friends were there along with our family and Tera and Maila and Dallin.

Above: Dallin, Tera, Linnea and Maila
Jacen and his friends

Fun With Dress Up!

Linnea and Gavin had a blast the other night playing dress up! It was so funny to see the outfits they would put together. In the picture, Linnea is sporting the Jackie Cardigan in marine blue with her silk/cashmere scarf to top it off. She has the perfect bag accessory in the J Crew bag and on her feet are vintage J Crew leather boots (thigh high!). Gavin is sporting some great wool/rubber rain boots and a bright red shirt that can't be missed! We all had fun cleaning up the clothes! Isn't it great to be a child!

Happy Birthday to Dallin!

Happy Birthday to Dallin!
We had a great time at Dallin's birthday party! I'm a little late posting up pictures though. Dallin chose to eat at California Pizza Kitchen and then we went back to his house for cake and ice cream. Tera made the cutest "Under the Sea" cake for him. We were happy to celebrate his birthday with Great-grampa Neufeld and Aunt Marilyn and Morgan as well! Dallin is such a joy to have in our family. He always has a smile to share! We love you, Dallin!