We had the opportunity to go and support Mike (Zion's bro) while he ran in the Turkey Trot. 10k! Crazy guy. His goal was 1:10. He ran it in 1:04. Way to go Mike!

We had a blast...thanks for inviting us!

(Mike is the guy in the white shirt and black hoodie).

Shireen, Mike, and David.

Aiden loves to ride with grandpa on his awesome scooter. Seriously...this thing is awesome.

Retail in the amount of $50,000+, how can it not be cool?!

It can lay him all the way back. Stretch his feet out. Raise him to about 6 ft. tall

Indoor and outdoor mode. Awesome!

my big boy

Quiet time

Tia's new bed. I figured since now that she can climb out of her crib with her eyes closed, it was time to take the front off of it and turn it into a day bed. Wrong! It lasted two days. She is too little to be big enough to stay in bed. She never slept. So back on it went. We will try again in a few months.

Practicing his smile for his school pics.

Birthday girl

At her doctors apt. she got weighed and measured.

Height: 34 inches 50%

(means there is 50 kids that are taller than she is, and 50 that is lower).

Weight: 25.6 lbs. 30%

Head circumference: 47.2 cm 45%

BMI: 15.6 25%

This chocolate color is not attractive

For all of our birthdays while we were in Cali. Everyone had a cupcake to celebrate.

My sister was great at making all of them. Elmo, rainbow, SF Giants, eyeball, you name it.

She did awesome.

They did a good job sharing most things.

Tia took this one

From my last Cali vaca. Matt and Tia.

This was a while ago at the beginning of school.

But I can always count on Tia in welcoming Aiden back to the car after school.

She cries when he gets out of the car. :) Brotherly/sisterly love.

A little squished in the Target shopping cart. The smiles did not last long on this trip.

This little sucker will rip your mom's bumper right off of her car...literally!

Stupid re-bar. Sorry mom.

Ah...my poor children. They always get quickly decorated birthday cakes.

I always think I can wait until the last minute, and it always takes longer than I had planned.

But this sucker was good!

Tia and her new doll.

Tia licked my camera lens, so it is a little foggy, but this is on the way into the airplane.

I love this photo. It means that I dont have to watch them, even for a minute. :)

Inside of the cake. YUM!

My little baby...er...toddler.

I received a cd from my mom a few weeks ago. A Christmas CD. Josh Groban, Noel. One song in particular (Thankful), made me really ponder what I am thankful for. There are so many things in our every day life that we don't even notice until we are without it. Hot water, heat for our house, music, a car that when you turn the key to start it, it will start. Family.

As most of our friends know, my dad was diagnosed with ALS in March, two years ago. A quick (but too long) death sentence-for anyone who knows about ALS. Thru my families struggle, it has made me realize and be thankful for everything in life. Good or bad. He struggles to eat, cough, scratch his nose, and even breath. It made me realize that even the breath we take is such a gift.

ALL that we have been given is a gift from our Father in Heaven. We have been so blessed this past year, in all things; more things than we can recognize. I do not know why things happen the way they do or why they do, but I do know that we have a loving Father above who loves us and blesses us each day.

During our last Family Home Evening, I asked my family what they are thankful for.

--Aiden said he is thankful for Jesus and the gospel. He is also thankful for his warm bed and his bike.

--Brooklyn said she is thankful for her blanket as well as daddy.

--Zion said he is thankful for his children (and me :), I had to throw that in there), his job, and the gospel.

--I am so grateful for my family. Immediate and extended. We are so blessed to be living here close to Zion's parents and we receive such support and love from them. I am also thankful for my parents and brother and sister. I have had quite a few opportunities to go and see them this year. I am so thankful for that time that we spent together.

I believe in forever families and I am grateful for that knowledge and belief that we will be together again some day.

Happy Holidays!