Where Does the Time Go?

Its almost depressing watching your kids grow up so fast right before your eyes. I was looking through baby pictures of Kalee and Lily and just cant believe what they have changed into. Joel and I are excited for our future and having wonderful experiences with the kids as they grow up, but jease, why does it happen so fast?

About a week ago Joel took the Girls to the Jelly Belly Factory here in Fairfield to see the tour. The girls had an awesome time! They loved all the colors and the elaborate decorations all made out of Jelly Beans. Lily gave herself exclusive access when she decided that she did not need to heed the roped off areas and climed into the Jelly Belly motorcycle. The girls were in awe of how they made the beans and several other forms of gummy candy, as well as their favorite choclate treats. Joel was surprised that they kept on their required headgear for the length of the tour. At the end of the tour there was a tasting station where they got to taste ever flavor of Jelly Belly. Of course the girls did not like some of them, but they sure thought that some of the flavors were hilarious. Joel also let them go to the wall of Jelly's and pick which flavors they wanted to buy and take home. We still have left over Jelly Beans.

Last sunday we went down to Grandma Bragg's house for dinner and decided to celebrate Clark's 1st birthday a little early. It was so cute how Grandma got little games ready for the kids to play, like fishing and clothspin drop. The Girls absolutely love going over there. We had a great dinner and after had cake and icecream. Clark had his own cupcake and liked it quite a bit.

Life here is still going good. We just bought new couches to fill the empty family room and are piecing the rest of the decorations together as we go. My days go bye to fast as most of it seems to be taking and picking up Kalee from school. She loves her new class and is doing much better here then in Del Rio. I am taking Lily this week to do a trial run on a dance class for her. We'll see how that goes. They are so different that I am sure Lily wont freeze on stage like her sister. Lily also has been asking for a haircut but apparently did'nt like the answer I gave her of "maybe later." So, one day after school, she snooped through Kalee's backpack and found her safety scissors and gave herself a new doo. I of course after getting over my frustration and dissapointment fixed it that night. She will still need to get it done professionally somtime soon.

Our Saturday Adventure

Joel and I decided to get away this Saturday and see some of the sites. We went to Muir woods, home of the great California Redwoods and to check out the Golden Gate Bridge. We all had a great time and were in awe of the beauty and shear size of the Redwood trees. It was so pretty in the forest and you almost forget how close you are to San Francisco. Kalee asked if she could climb the tree, so I told her sure go ahead, Its only about 300 feet to the top. Joel jumped in and said that's no big deal, I used to climb a tree twice that size in my front yard, but I did it with a superhero costume (family joke). The bridge is huge and the girls recognized it from Little Einsteins. The enjoyed driving over it and seeing the ocean below and the all the sailboats going underneath.

Such A Cute Boy!!!

Just some pics of Clark doin' his thang. You have to click on the one in the bathtub and take a good look at his face, ha ha!

A Visit From the Rudd's

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit. What a fun weekend! I picked them up from the airport on Saturday morning and had Joel meet as at the Olive Garden for lunch. It was great that we got 25% off becuase of Katrina's employee discount...I just wish the customer service could have been better. After, we drove the Vacaville Ice Skating Center, where Lily had the chance to make her long awaited wish come true. Unfortunately, she realized that Ice Skating is a little more difficult than what you see on the T.V., but that didn't stop her from attempting several triple sou cow's and a couple double axel's. I cracked up watching her try and lift her leg and glide like on Ice Princess...what a cutie! Joel developed several new back problems from carrying the girls around the ice a few thousand times.

Sunday we had a great time just sitting around all day. I made us an excellent dinner, if I do say so myself, that resembled Thanksgiving. Mom had the chance to lounge and read her book, Dad did what he does best, and Ambrea spent the day talking all cutsie schmutsie with her hunk a burnin' love Derek. That night we played games and I finally beat Joel at Cranium...I just wished I didn't have to cheat so badly, or so Joel says.

Monday Joel had to work, so I took the fam to San Francisco to see the sights. We went to Pier 39 and eventually wound up in the big house, I told Ambrea that it was illegal to wear that much make up in California but she just wouldnt believe me, J/K. Alcatraz was awesome and everyone had a really good time. It was very cold! On the way home we met Joel at Red Lobster and had dinner. Tuesday before I took the fam back to the airport we stopped and toured the base and saw some of the planes. We were so glad they spent the time to come and visit and it was sad when they left, but I wont miss not having the wait in line for the bathroom in my house anymore.

Clarks First Haircut

Give the kid a candy cane and he is golden. Our cute little boy is growing like a weed. He did so good during his haircut. Joel and I argued quite a bit over what kind of hairdue that Clark would recieve. Joel opted for the shaved sides with a sweet mohawk, and I wanted the shaggy look. We compromised and gave him a contemperary and somewhat modern look I like to call...the Kent. Now its the new year we are all going for a new look. I have vowed to go on a diet and finally phase out the fattening death I am so addicted to...Choclate. My other New Years resolutions include getting back to my high shcool size, reading the scriptures dailey, and buying every peice of clothing I like, J/K. Joel wants to run a marathon, I told him go for it. He has never been much of a runner and I think that is why he wants to do it. I told him he should do the Alcatraz Iron Man, he said yeah right, Jaws has an hearty appetite for the extremely white meat, and besides he doesnt want to make all the other competitors look bad. Kalee and Lily dont really have any resolutions other than trying to lower their decibal level a few thousand notches.