YESTERDAY'S TAKE YOUR KIDS TO WORK DAY

McKesson sponsored a take you kids to work day. Mark took Zach and Morgan to work. I begged him to take Bradley but it's for school age kids (darn! hee hee). I think they had fun. They had to learn about the company and actually work. Some of the kids were bummed about that they thought is was a free out of school day! Then they rewarded them with yummy food, sodas, playing games and snacks.

FAMILY HIKING ANYONE?

We went on a family hike and picnic (in the rain) nearby and took some fun and beautiful picture of the scenic views one Sunday afternoon.

IN HONOR OF EDWARD - ST JUDE TRIKE-A-THON

Bradley had a chance to raise some money for St. Jude Research Hospital at school doing a Trike-A-Thon today. We thought it was a great opportunity to Honor our cousin Edward on this side of the Country since we couldn't be at the services living this far away. Although Edward never made it to St. Jude it was talked about during his treatment as an option. We know others parents with children battling disease are being thought of this day as these kids enjoyed a day making a small difference in someones life. All our love to our young hero in heaven and all the other heros battling these children diseases currently in their lives here on earth.

Farewell To Our Cousin Edward

We lost our cousin this morning to GBM at 6:40am. He went peacefully with all his family surrounding him. It's been a bittersweet day as we weren't sure to cry for our families dealing with the loss or celebrating the fact Edward was released from his sickened body here on earth. He really wanted to be 14 returning to Heavenly Father. We will never forget the strength he had enduring this horrible disease. We will look forward to meet you again one day as each of our time here on earth is up. WE LOVE YOU EDWARD!!!!

HAPPY 14TH BIRTHDAY EDWARD!

Here are our birthday wishes for you this day! You mentioned for all to lift balloons to the Heavens on this special day! We did your Cowboy colors! We hope you were comforted this day with your family by your side. You made it to 14! Just wish it was under better and healthier circumstances. All our love to you. Your cousins

SUNDAY FAMILY STROLL

We enjoyed a family stroll on a local greenway. The kids climbed on rocks, swung on vines, and had fun looking at nature and it's little creatures. It was a lot of fun and a nice spring evening. Okay, Mom and Dad also played Tarzan and Jane with the kids.

Civil War Re-enactment

We went to a Civil War re-enactment. It was fun and the boys loved the guns, The sound was loud.

SPRING TIME VIEWS

The trees are changing and it's been fun to watch how each tree has it's own blossoms. It's daily changing. We really do have popcorn popping on the apricot trees.

Nascar Fans

Well this is posting is for our NASCAR racing fans out there. The Lowe's Motor Raceway is about 18 miles from our house and Joe Gibbs racing garage is 2 miles from our home. There are many others around the area but just a teaser for all of you out there.

Home Pictures

When I was back in California some of you were asking for photos of the inside of the house. Here are some that have been taken just realized haven't taken too many. Just finished painting a bathroom and a few more rooms to go. It's always a ongoing process trying to keep up in decorating verses always cleaning up after our four year old. Currently painting an orange bedroom (yes, Bradley picked out the color) We miss all of you family and friends. Hope to see everyone come summer. We are counting down the school year.

THE EASTER BUNNY CAME!

Hope all had a great day! We realized it was the first Holiday we've ever spent alone as a family. The reality of us being so far away has really come full circle. It was a beautiful day and the weather was pleasant. Fun was had by all and naps were nice. The food was great but like always way to much so left overs galore this week. Bradley was so excited about the hunt and eating all the chocolate his and everyone elses he is outside hiding the eggs again for another hunt as I type this message. Morgan was ready with her Easter dress and curly hair she looked adorable and she had us all wearing pink this year. We spent the afternoon at church which gave us a relaxing early Easter morning. We definately have a teen who was less enthusiastic about the day (he stayed up late the night before so was a bit grumpy). We ended the evening doing our 1st annual Peep roast campfire with our neighborhood families. Hope everyone enjoyed the Holiday! Scroll down for photos.

IT'S SPRING TIME!

It's been awhile since my last post. We were a little side tracked with our quick trip to California. It was nice to see as many as we could. Time is short when you have a lot of people to see that you love. I made it to Tahoe with all my fun group of ladies scrapbooking. The time worked out and thanks to Mark traveling a ton last year we had plenty of Frequent Flyer miles. It was a fun time for each of us not long enough but hope to come out in the summer. Morgan has a great time on her field trip to San Diego and then tried to see as many friends and family we could squeeze into the hours she was actually in Sacramento. Our Bradley was a bit confused when he saw our old home and just kept saying, "Can't we just go over and visit it" then I had to explain all his toys, bikes, and our trampoline wasn't there and we live in Carolina. That four year old brain is always ticking. We enjoyed hanging out with our neighbors like old times. We are back on in the rountine here with school. Kids are testing this week. It's really hitting me that we are in the south. In our backyard you hear the south. Frog chorus galore, bugs making these strange sounds and the stillness of the warm air. I was telling Mark today at lunch it reminds me of the Pirates ride entrance at Disneyland. He had to spend half the day in our DMV changing from California to Carolina licenses. He did much better than I did last week as it blew my day as I sobbed tears handing over my license and trying to drive home. Still have yet to do the final change and that is registering the vehicles that will take another day. I said things here are slow so I'm going with the pace of North Carolina (snails pace slow)! Keep on praying for our cousin Edward! He has became my hero! I am daily watching his updates on www.carepages.com online at 21prayersforEdwardVizina ALL OUR LOVE GOES OUT TO THE VIZINA FAMILY IN UTAH!

Prayer of Comfort Needed

I just wanted to let all know to pray for my cousin Edward and his family for comfort. He has been in a battle with Brain tumors and has recently been informed there is no other treatments that can been done for him. Hospice has been there to explain to him that he will never have to go to another doctor appointment, participate in chemo and radiation treatments, and that they are going to be there to make sure his is comforted the next couple months. It's so heart breaking that he has to experience this and it's hard on all of us that love him. Thanks for everyone that has prayed for him through out this past year in a half.

Charleston, SC

The kids had teacher workdays on Monday and Tuesday and it was the last weekend Grandma Linda was here so we were off to Visit Charleston, SC. What a great time we had. We packed our picnic lunches and we were off for a chilly but clear day and overnighter in Charleston. We had fun visiting The Citadel, Military Forts, Walking the Streets, Tolley rides and a Carriage ride through the Historical District. We also enjoyed a Delicious dinner at Hymans (a fabulous southern family owned and operated restaurant). Kids tasted their first Fried Green Tomatoes! Enjoy some of the photos we took. It's a lovely, rich in history place to visit. Everyone enjoyed a wonderful time and all agreed that the Carriage ride and walking is the best way to experience the time in Charleston Historical District. Look forward to going back (most likely not in the Summer).

OUR FIRST SNOW DAY!

No school is what the kids are saying! Snow fell overnight and the kids are enjoying the fun this morning early!!! So far we have experienced three seasons here in the Carolinas! So today will be a cozy day of blankets, hot chocolate, soup and snow.

HAPPY NEW YEARS TO ALL!

Well it's offically 2008 here on the East Coast. From Fireworks, Food, Fun, Movies, Games and Confetti we had a great night just hanging out counting down the 2007 year and putting it behind us. We wish all a great 2008 and wish we could share with all the new year ahead! 2008 lets make it great!!!

CHRISTMAS UPDATE

Whosh!!! We made it to the Holiday and everyone is smiles. It's been a very busy month. At the beginning of the month I was about to boycot the Christmas cards due to timing but once again the Christmas spirit snuck in and I managed to get them sent off. I love getting them so a click of a picture, uploading to Sam's Club and a drive over to pick up the cards, stuffing envelopes, sealing and sending them, they were on their way. Sorry if I miss anyone! The weather was so nice in December that I decided to get up on the roop top and paint away to update the shutter color. My neighbors thought I was crazy but I managed to get them done and we love the outcome. I found out during the day painting on the roof would get a bit toasty so out came the work halagens and off I went painting away in the evenings. My one neighbor (Judy) mentioned she was glad to see someone so crazy as her move in we are two of a kind. Mark did help when he could and I left the ladder painting to him. Then inbetween that we were running like always with Christmas performances, church and class parties as well as Mark's work party. It was a busy but festive Holiday. We have been overwhelmed bye how many people open their doors and invite us over so needless to say it's been a ton of running and fun for all of us. From dinners, to game nights, and just plain hanging out. We have once again been blessed. I do mean this dearly, we had wonderful friends and neighbors in Califonia and it's the same on this side that is making it feel like home. Our kids and the neighbor kids are beinging to run into and out of each others homes, yesterday it was a Community Christmas with literally running back and forth between the kids checking out each others gifts and treats. So much to choose from and they were all having double the fun. We didn't loose sight of the love that came into our home and lives this year and cherish the memories we have had this year. We do miss everyone back home but know we are coming to visit soon. We hope to enjoy the last few day left of 2007 and visit with our family and friends via web cam and phone lines. Hope everyone enjoys the rest of this Holiday Season. Love to all. Yvonne & Family

December Photos

 

 

 

 

He's FOUR!!!

Bradley had a small little Birthday Celebration with a few friends here on Friday. He is offically FOUR! He had so much fun opening his present he proceeded to open one of his Christmas presents under the tree (although he took that one to his room and opened quitely then ran down to show us his present). He loves his new Train table and set. It was a fun evening. Yes, a bit overwhelming but it's his party and he could cry if he wants too.

TURKEY TIME

Bradley and I shot (a photo of course) the turkey for our blog! Enjoy the photographs of the Turkeys. We were on our way to Trader Joes (40 minutes away) and turned the corner from our driveway and there they were so we backed up and ran to get the camera to share these photos with everyone. Have a Great Thanksgiving.