HiHo...HiHo...off on a hike we go...

Apparently we live close to California's largest coal field. Dave found this trail a few months ago and took the girls but this was the first time I went with them. It's a great place to go because dogs are allowed and the trail is long enough to tire the girls but short enough that Charlotte can walk the whole way! It was a super foggy day but we ventured out anyway...I think the trail is about a 2 mile hike and I'm so proud of my little ladies because I didn't hear one squeal of a whine or complain...

 scary old farm house on the way up the hill...

 Charlotte wants to keep up so-so bad

 one of the coal mines

 the inside of the coal mine is made to look like it did from the mid 1850s to 1900

 old barns make GREAT stages

 on the way UP

 another mine

 daddy and his girls

 these trees had this crazy wax-like trunks that attracted hundreds on bees. it freaked me out every time we passed one...

 we hike to the top of the hill which was higher than the fog...

 taking a break

 jail~birds

so tired but SO much FUN!

Here Wii Go...Just Dance 2

We finally gave into the video game world and bought a Wii. We figured that since we are living in an area that it is cold and rains often, the girls needed something to keep them busy and active...They LOVE it and play on it all the time!

I even get a piece of Super Mario Bros. when I can...

We also bought a PlayStation 3...

This night was so much fun. Our friends across the street from us came over and all the kiddos had a blast dancing with Just Dance 2. The grown ups even got a piece of the action and I got daddy on video! Not only do we have the dancing games for the Wii, we also have SingStar for the PlayStation...so it has become a dancin' karaoke house on Saturday nights!

Good.Bye 2010

I know I've been horrible at updating this blog, but it is a resolution of mine to keep it updated even though most of you see these same pictures on Facebook. With our family living so far away, I've realized that these are the stories of our adventures...not just pictures...

so goodbye 2010 and hellllo 2011.

.JANUARY.

Big Bear

.FEBRUARY.

first time roller skating

.MARCH.

House For Sale

.APRIL.

Family Readiness Award @ the Pentagon

.MAY.

Mama turns 50!

.JUNE.

moving day

.JULY.

summer fun @ our new home

.AUGUST.

Coast Guard Day

.SEPTEMBER.

first soccer team

.OCTOBER.

happy halloween

.NOVEMBER.

Thanksgiving in Lake Tahoe

.DECEMBER.

Christmas with cousins

a new way to celebrate the 4th of July

It was important for Dave and I to make the 4th special for the girls this year since we weren't in HB for our annual 4th of July celebration, so we decided to go to the local celebration that the Calvary Church put on...This was the 22 anniversary of this production and when I say production, that is exactly what it was! When we got there we thought it would be a small town celebration with maybe a singer and some of the local dancers...NOT! This show was full of professional singers, dancers, actors and an AMAZING firework show. There was also a choir of over 150 people sitting in the stripes of the flag on the stage and the different acts ranged from Mary Poppins to Madagascar...and at the end there was a tribute to all military servicemen and women...It brought tears to my eyes to see this small community come together on the day of our Independence and celebrate...It was INCREDIBLE and it made me excited to think of all the different celebrations we will see along our journey...

We also went to the local parade in the morning but I deleted the photos...sorry, but honestly it wasn't anything compared to our hometown parade. It was nice though to see the community come together.

we staked out this spot 6 hours before the show started...
the stage

JD and Char dancin' and singin'

grandma and alyssa snugglin'

my little *sparkler* singin'

alyssa was "too cool" to dance while char danced away

the flag lite up at night! Beauty-ful

military tribute

home.sweet.home...Nor Cal

I know, I know...you don't even have to say it or think it...

~I'M AN AWFUL BLOGGER~

maybe because I really don't know how many people really read this, but then again I'm doing this for my own good and so it's better late than never...right?!

Anywho, we are getting all settled in and making our new house a home. The move went as smooth as it could. Dave and I drove up with the dogs a few days before the girls and all our stuff arrived and we could tell by the moment of our arrival it was a TOTALLY different way of life up here! Not a bad thing, but life moves WAY slower than it does in the OC. My mom drove up with the girls and is staying with us until the 20th...it has been so great having all the extra help and I'm nervous to see how I'll do it when she leaves.

We are now living in a small town and specifically, our neighborhood is one that you'd find on Army Wives or any other military wife show. All the wives hang out in the front yards while the kids (everyone has at least 2 kiddos) play in the street, houses, pools or whatever keeps them busy at the time. Just to give you an idea...we live next door to a family with 4 kids: 4 year old triplet girls and a 5 yr old boy...across the street is a family with 3 kids: a 7 yr old boy, 5 yr old boy and an 18 month old girl...and two different families who just had a baby (yesterday AND a week ago)...Everyone has welcomed our family and I can honestly say that I feel at home already.

However, I miss our family and friends tremendously but hope to be seeing you all sooner than later for a visit! hint.hint.

our backyard view

the windmills on the drive up

mr. dave driving the budget


I had the dogs with me they made me proud...good dogs!

**I'll be posting pics of the house soon**