Brian surprised the kids and brought home a basketball hoop this week. He and my dad spent about 4 hours putting it together last night... even after dark they were determined to get it up. 
The Red Volcanoes had Game 2 yesterday and are pretty fun to watch. Eight kindergarten boys running around being silly and playing a little basketball. 
Ben likes it too but needs a little boost.
It was both fun and entertaining to watch the Red Volcanoes. They had a great time... and did you know kindergarten boys spend half the time playing with their shorts, have their hands down their pants, and spend a lot of time on the ground? 
We actually saw the sun today! It has been so grey and wet... but today the clouds parted and we saw BLUE sky. So I ran outside and let the sun shine on my face and didn't want it to disappear behind the clouds. But then the rest of the clouds left, and it was a gorgeous afternoon! The kids played outside...bikes, scooters, tag, ball, pushed the fertilizer cart around etc. It was great. :-)
Ben was painting the other day while I was making lunch, cleaning up the kitchen etc. Then I heard "Mom... I am finger painting!" He dumped the whole bottle of paint out on the paper and went to town. He kind of looks like the hulk....but yellow.
Brian and I said our I dos. Geez we look young! 
We spent a week in Sonoma and San Francisco before packing up the rest of my stuff and heading to Arizona! Here we are somewhere in San Fran. Brian will be home tomorrow... the boys and I are missing him.
We had an unexpected snow storm today. The kids looked outside this afternoon and couldn't believe it... Sam had been asking for snow since the first day of Winter! 
The boys had a blast sledding, throwing snowballs and rolling around in the white stuff. Brian is stuck across town at work. The freeways are jammed up and there are accidents everywhere. 
One of our snow dogs...
There wasn't a lot of sleeping in our house last night. Ben was up late and Sam up very early -- I heard little feet running through the house this morning checking things out. 
Sam was so thrilled Santa brought him what he asked for! Star Wars pens... I know, pretty boring but for some reason he saw these crazy pens at Costco months ago, and has been asking about them ever since. Pretty easy kid!
Ben has been a stinker lately so I think he was actually surprised Santa brought him a crane for his train set. 
Very excited cousins! 
The boys had a great time with their cousins last night at Char and Duffy's. We couldn't get them all in a photo together -- but here are a few! 
Caden, Grace, Audrey, Duffy, Maddox and Sam.
Ben and Audrey.
Annual white elephant gift exchange!
This race track from Aunt Lacey & Uncle Craig was quite the hit! We got home and the kids were beat... they left some treats out for Santa and his reindeer and were off to bed.
S
