Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

This year has been exciting, new, crazy, stressful, and fun! This year has taught me to live each day to the fullest with your loved ones and friends. Be helpful, be kind, share, say I love you even when you are mad, concentrate on things that matter, life is a ride, are you on it?!

We sure had a ride this year when Jacob got laid off from his pharmaceutical job in March, to finding another job two weeks later, that he would start in May. Severance and time Jacob had, so off I went to work and coached gymnastics like crazy. Private lessons, more hours, and Jacob ended up being "Mr. Mom". I missed my kids and the routine I had, but I was so grateful for Jacob in wanting to help out plus giving me a chance to work and feel what it was like to be the one working! The kids were able to have memories and time with their Dad that I was so grateful for. So, one door closes another one opens and Jacob is working for Pfizer as a pharmaceutical Rep in SLO!

We moved in July and listed our house for Sale in Clovis. Ellie started 2nd grade, the brothers started pre-school, I have a few minutes to myself 3 days a week, which is nice!

My laptop, realtor, and real estate attorney became my best friends and we were on a quest to sell our house "short sale" style which I am happy to say sold!

Tragedy struck friends, jobs were lost, lives were lost, accidents happened, and this is why 2011 can only bring new experiences and opportunities to share our love and friendship to all those in need. Service is truly contagious and the biggest service that was given to us was that Jesus Christ died for us. We hope you can remember this, this holiday season and let your light shine!

Merry Christmas,
Love The Dean's
Jacob, April, Ellie, Cooper & James

Brothers 1st Day of Preschool!

These guys started preschool yesterday! They are too cute getting ready for school in the morning. Quite different from their sister! They are up, dressed and ready to go! They truly are precious and I love that they are growing up and have each other. Never would have thought, once again, that I would have twins, but now it's moments like this picture that make me feel I am so lucky to be their mom!

Pickin' Apples

We finally got to take Jacob to the Avila Barn! It is one of the kids favorite places! We went on the hayride and picked apples and Jacob is making an apple pie right now! I would really love to have my own farm and orchard. It would be beautiful to look at and yummy to eat! But a ton of work! I love the pic of cooper here to the left. He is our "challenging" child, well I guess all kids are challenging but he is especially "special". He is super smart and he knows it! Aughh! But doesn't he look so sweet in this pic?...makes me want to be more patient with him. By the way the ice-cream was amazing at the barn! Cupcake ice0-cream, oatmeal choc-chip and lime sorbet! Dad spoiled them and then we headed to the beach. Love having a day with the fam.

2nd grader!!!

2nd grader!!! School has begun and Ellie's words were, "I can't believe summer is over!" But, we will still have fun! She had a great first day of school. Kids are so easy to adjust and I am grateful she is outgoing and makes friends easily! The twins start preschool in 2 weeks and I never worry about them. Twins always have each other and my boys think they are the bomb and can do anything! ha ha, they will hopefully keep that mentality. Things I noticed about Ellie as a 2nd grader:

-Confident

-Tall

-Mature

-cautious

-Curious

Well, I think Ellie will be just fine. Of course, my sleepless nights of worrying about her and wondering if our move would make things hard, I realized kids like adventures and love to learn! So, school is a good place! I will post The brothers in a few weeks, watch out! These boys are growing up!

10 years!!

Jacob and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary yesterday!!! Here we are all together on our header! Wow, can't believe how much has happened in 10 years!!! Love my life and all the roads we have taken thus far:)

Summer almost gone!

Peach picking in Avila, The beach, curly, curly hair, and 5 baby chicks!!! We are enjoying SLO and all our visitors who have come in just the 1st month of us living here!! School starts this month, can't believe it!! This summer has gone by way too fast!

"Move that Bus!"

Well we celebrated 4th of July with our friends and then the moving truck came and we were off! It was like extreme makeover "Move that Bus!" They really got the hugest truck ever and it was really hideous. The truck was huge and it made quite a scene at our new neighborhood. We love it here in SLO and the weather is amazing!!! I guess when you move from the valley in the middle of summer it makes it feel even better! We had one hiccup along with the way with Ellie. She caught a nasty virus that involved fever for 5 days and ending in red dots all over her legs and swollen ankles! After an ER visit, blood work, doctor visit, urine sample, they have concluded it is a virus and will heal on it's own. So, life gets crazy but when it gives you lemons make lemonade right? At least I get to look out at the beautiful hills every morning from our front porch. We miss our friends though, so come visit!! We would love to have you:) Well, onto our next chapter in life. Always an adventure here, as buzz would say, "To infinity and beyond!"

Brother's turn 4/ movin' to SLO

Well it is true, our babies are 4 years old, and we are so blessed to have them in our lives. Having a summer birthday will always mean, "fun in the sun!" So, we headed to GG and Papa's house for swimming with some cousins and 100 degree weather! They had been dying to swim since we have been at my parent's for the past week and a half with fog and sixty degree weather!

In a week we will be in 70 and 80 degree weather because, we are moving, to San Luis Obispo!! Craziness, here, but long story short, Jacob is still in pharmaceuticals, new company, new territory, new job, he took it and we are off! So, the best part is that we have movers moving us! In our 10 years of being married and our 5 moves, we have always done it ourselves...So this is a real treat. The kids are excited to be by the beach and start our new adventure there. You never know where life will take you, and be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it! We had planned on moving back to San Luis Obispo someday. Since we went to College there 10 years ago, we loved living there and of course had great memories, as we both fell in love with each other there. Now, we are headed back and can't wait to make new memories with our family. SLO here we come, with a 7 year old and two 4 year olds!! Watch out.

Ellie turns 7!

Ellie turned 7! Crazy! So, this is how we roll. Ellie wanted to do something with her friends from school for her b-day. Tuesday invitations went out, friday was the party at the bowling alley! Last minute, yes, but it worked! Ellie wanted root beer floats for her class. My parents and Jay surprised Ellie at school on Friday for her b-day! It was a fun filled day. I gave all the kids red, white and blue crazy socks to wear while they were bowling! This was their "party favor". They all looked so cute in their socks! We had fun and can't believe Ellie is 7 going on 17. Now we are gearing up for the twins b-day in a month. They can't wait!

I know the pic is old on my header but it is one of my fav's!! We have been going busy busy around here. As you can tell I have not updated the blog since January. Ironically, it is still raining!!! We have had some beautiful days mixed in with crazy storms. Ellie turns 7 next week! Can't believe how big she is getting. Well I wanted to write more, but I have to run! To be continued, just wanted to let you all know we are alive and doing well...

Rain, Rain and more Rain!

Ok sorry Aunt Penni but I don't think I could live in Oregon! All this rain we have been having has only been a few days and I am needing a break. It is dark, cold and the kids are wanting to go on a bike ride right now! I would totally take them on one but it is coming down pretty good today. So I let the twins play in it and of course they had fun and then came in soaked and wanted hot chocolate and new clothes. The twins are now 3 1/2 and are slightly driving me a little crazy. They were good, now not so much. Why is it that they are angels when you are not trying to get anything done? The minute I start to do something, the whine, crying, and fighting begins!! Guess our kids just want our attention but so does my house and laundry! Ok so I think life will be better when it is spring. I love that time of year and it is the beginning of birthdays and almost summer! As for the shot of Ellie, any former Rising Star gymnasts reading this post will recognize the leotard!! It is my old one!! Yes, my mom kept some of my old stuff and now Ellie has a sack full. Not only has she worn this leotard to gymnastics but she also has been wearing my old sweatshirt that says, "Rising Star gymnastics Carmel CA" with my name APRIL down the sleeve to school. She says she never takes it off at school and it is her favorite sweatshirt. Really?! I mean I guess I am really cool to her right now. She tells everyone it is my old stuff and she looks so cute in it! Confident shall we say?! I am glad she is so proud of her mom's old stuff . I have a pic of me on my living room floor doing the splits just like Ellie. I need to find it mom and then post it with this one!

CTR

We had a great Christmas at my parents house. The hits were skateboards and an easy bake oven! Jacob played golf, we enjoyed 70 degree weather on Christmas day!!! The new year has started and all my kids are in the primary at church! They all got their own "CTR" rings. This stands for "Choose The Right." They were so excited and proud to get their very own rings and I hope they can remember what it means! I love being a mother to my children. They make me so happy and yes they are growing up so fast! Today is the last day of break before Ellie goes back to school. Over the break I have enjoyed being with her...most of the time, and learned that she really looks up to me as her mother. Especially with little girls I need to remind myself to be the best mother and example to her. She watches my every move and wants to be just like me. Ellie says, everyone at school says she looks like her mother. At least she is proud of it and not humiliated! ha ha! We are raising our future and I hope my children can make the most out of theirs! So Here is to 2010! Make it a good one!