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!"