Adios 2008

I still have a hard time believing this year is over already.....time flies and the kids keep getting bigger! YIKES! We are looking forward to all that 2009 has in store for us. I am not one for making a ton of resolutions because I have not been the greatest at making it past January in keeping them:) So I have tried to keep it practical and simple this year. I will share my three in hopes that maybe it will keep me accountable a little more in keeping them.

For 2009 I plan to.....

1. Run in one race a month, whether it be a 5K, 10K or half marathon. No more marathons for me, 3 is enough plus I would like my poor feet to survive:)

2. Invest more in the friendships that count rather then the ones that continue to disappoint.

3. Take more little mini adventures with the family. We have done a few of these lately and they always turn out to be so much fun.

With that I hope and pray that you all have a safe and Happy New Years!!!! Bryan just headed out to work and I am getting ready to go to a friends house with the kids. Nothing like getting together with my fellow deputies wives and kids while all our hubbies are at work....at least we have each other, right? So stay safe tonight so they have less to do :)

See you in 2009!

Christmas in the City

On Saturday we went into San Francisco to my mom's house for Christmas with her, my uncle and my sister. The kids were so excited to go and see everyone. They each packed some of their favorite toys and movies for a day at Mor Mor's.

As expected between my mom and my sister there was quite the little gathering of presents under the tree when we arrived. The kids were besides themselves to get to open ore presents. We unleashed the inner princess in Dani when my mom ave her a trunk filled with various princess dresses and jewelry. It was hilarious to see her try and put everything on while wearing the new snow boots that she got too. Another hit was the new "running shoes" that Amy got her. She would put them on and declare she was going running, do a lap around the house and then come back and adjust her shoes, then this was repeated a dozen times.

The biggies was when Chris got to open his last present from Aunt Mami.....he was beside himself. You will have to look at the pictures to see that. After presents and brunch Bryan, Amy and I headed down to AT&T park to watch the Emerald Bowl (Cal vs. Miami). It was a great game and even better because they pulled out a win. While at the game the kids got to hang with my mom and uncle. I think the hit was Dani walking to pizza in her jammies, running shoes and princess dress. Too bad we didn't get a picture of that one.

My moms cute little tree and all the presents for the kiddos

Patiently waiting to start opening the gifts

Helping Aunt Mami look at the book they made her

Dani trying on one of the new jackets from Aunt MamiThe little princess playing with her new Hannah Montana doll, she was in heaven.

Testing out the snowboots

Opening the big present from Mami

A new skateboard!!!! Now we just need to up our insurance policy!

Bryan and I all bundled up at the Cal game.

Our Christmas

I figured it was about time to pull out the computer since we are now through the holidays. Christmas was so relaxing this year, quite the change. The decorating done early, shopping done on budget and ahead of schedule and no where to be.

Christmas Eve came and we had a nice morning together as a family and then went over to our friends house to exchange presents with them. From there the kids came home with Bryan and I headed off to church for the day (it is an all day event when you work there). Cornerstone had three services in Livermore and all were amazing, Bryan and the kids came and joined me for the last one. Nothing says Christmas like a little Holy Night under candle light. That we enjoyed a treat of pizza and jammies before tucking the kids away in bed.

Like we had expected Chris was wide awake at 5:45 ready for presents. The best part was he said to me, "Mom you can stay here and I will just go down there and open all the presents" Nice try but now. We were able to hold him off long enough to get some coffee going and open our eyes. Chris and Dani had a blast opening their presents. Bryan and I were very happy at our decision to not go over board this year, They each got three new things and it was the perfect amount. Who knows how much will be added today when we go to my mom's for Christmas, she and my sister always go all out for them!

After breakfast it was off to Starbuck's. This little tradition started on Chris's 2nd Christmas. The first few years Bryan always had to work so after we opened presents Bryan would go to sleep and I would take Chris, and later Dani, on a walk to Starbuck's for some coffee to kill some time and also get my fix. After a while I actually came to enjoy this. Bryan was able to join in last year and again this year. We took Rex along for the walk this year, but it was a little cooler then we would have hoped for. The 1.5 down there was not bad, but the way home was straight into a brutal head wind. Chris had abandoned his scooter at this point So I was pushing 80 lbs of kids into the wind, no fun. I got my workout for the day though.

The afternoon was filled with naps, Christmas movies and time with the kids. We enjoyed a nice tri-tip that night grilled on Bryan's new BBQ he had gotten for his 30th a few days before. I think Bryan will be using it a lot in the future, his head is spinning with ideas.

Christmas was a success this year and we feel blessed to have a family, a home, jobs, and God who cares for us so much this season. We hope you and your families all had a nice Christmas as well.

The kids on Christmas morning.

Waiting patiently to open their stockings......I promise Chris was excited!

Christmas fun at school!

Today was Chris's last day of school until Jan 29th (I LOVE year round school) so his teacher had some fun stuff planned. The parents were invited to join in the fun of decorating gingerbread houses. Chris had so much fun and impressed me with his desire to make sure very side was symmetrical.

Chris was excited to make his "ABC" pattern with his gumdrops on the roof

Chris and his buddy Logan

Very hard at work on the houses, surprisingly all the kids did really well not devouring the bowls of candy set in front of them!

Chris and Mommy with his masterpiece

The finished product

Now this will be a picture I will cherish considering this afternoon when Chris and I were out running errands Sierra decided to get the gingerbread house off the kitchen counter and EAT IT!!!! I was so mad and felt so bad for Chris because he was so excited to show Bryan. But my sweet little man looked at me and said, "Oh mom it's okay, at least we have a picture. Maybe we can make another one next year!" I love him.

BPS Junkies

I think our family is addicted to the Bass Pro Shop. We keep going back over and over again. Maybe it is because it is "free fun" and the kids have a blast. Bryan and I took the kids again last night and of course they wanted to see Santa again. This time the picture turned out a lot better.


Laugh if you must but we really enjoy this place. I think we may go this weekend to watch them feed the trout!

It could have been my kids

I have a feeling that if we lived within walking distant to a toy store this story could very easily be one of my kids!

I love he he took the officers to show them his toys.

Holiday Run for Health

Nothing like a little run with Santa to get the season going! My friend Vicky and I braved the cold and wind to do the Holiday Run for Health in Antioch this morning. The race was a nice 5K around the Contra Loma Regional Park. We had a great time and it was fun to have someone to run with. We ended up not doing to bad either coming in at 26:35 and taking 4th and 5th place in our age group. Not bad for two moms......I think the best part was we passed about half the CCC Sheriff's recruits that were running it :)

Me, Santa and Vicky after the race

Vicky and I getting our medals

Nathaniel (Vicky's youngest) did the Santa Dash with his sister and had a blast.

Meet Sparkey

Sparky is the newest addition to family Christmas decor. Bryan had an extra dog harness so of course he had to go on Sparky. The kids have really enjoyed that we now have a Police Reindeer that looks out for the house while we are gone.

We love Christmas!

Christmas at the Bass Pro Shops

Nothing says Christmas like Santa at the Bass Pro Shop....say what?

Bryan and I have actually grown found of this place; the kids really enjoy all the fish, animals and the shooting range. We took the kids out there one night to walk around, as we walked on the lady asked if we wanted to see Santa, "Um sure, where is he?". She told the kids to follow the reindeer hoof-prints on the floor to Santa's Workshop. Chris was so excited to do this and laughed the whole way to Santa. The BPS had turned the whole boat area into Santa's workshop; packed with trains, a shooting range, coloring area toys and FREE pictures with Santa. So the kids got their first ever picture with the big man (normally we are not willing to wait in line for hours and pay $20 for a picture that may or may not turn out). When there was no line and it was free so why not!

Chris and Dani with Santa

Bryan was so excited that I made him wear the camo Santa hat.

***my apologizes for the poor picture quality, I really need a new camera so for now all I have is the iPhone for pics.

MADD Awards Banquet

Every year MADD hosts an awards banquet for all the top arresting officers in Alameda County for DUI's. For the second year Bryan was invited to attended the banquet for his 36 DUI arrests this year. It is always an eye opener to be at this banquet and hear the statistics of the people that drive drunk daily and that every 30 min. someone dies because of a DUI related incident.

This year all the law enforcement agencies in Alameda County that were at the banquet were responsible for 4680 DUI arrests. The top arresting officer was from ACSO, Deputy Osborne, and he arrested 204 people for DUI just this year. Pretty impressive!

As a wife I am always very proud of Bryan going to these events. He has a job that often receives little recognition and most the people they encounter daily are not real friendly if you get my drift. It was nice to see how appreciative MADD is of the work that law enforcement does. I am very proud of the work that Bryan does and all the accomplishments he has made in the department.

Riding in style in the motorcade on our way to Scott's

The bikes always look so great all lined up!

Bryan receiving his award from the National President of MADD

A group shot of all the ACSO guys and the sheriff

Sheriff Ahern telling the deputies how proud he was of all the awards ACSO received and the work they did this year

Bryan and I on the waterfront in Oakland

Our good friends Keith and Lori Gilkerson....Keith had 56 DUI arrests this year!

Here is a shot of Bryan and Rex's car.