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 When we got back from California our family experienced over two weeks of sickness!?  It started with me getting sick on the drive home, then Ronan & Griffin each missed several days of school because of fevers, and poor Tate had an ear infection. It was a miserable & draining time!  While the big boys were sick and laying around all day, Tate would often point to the front door and say something that meant "outside".  (:  It was awful being cooped up, so when everyone started feeling well again I took the boys to Bond Park for some fresh air!

Tate was so happy walk & explore & find sticks with his big bros.
Tate (14 months), Griffin (5), Ronan (7 1/2)

 I was glad I remembered my camera because there ended up being some nice photo opportunities. (:

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Proof that I was there. (;

We worked on building a bridge to cross the creak/mud area.

Tate got the last sip of Griffin's hot chocolate. (:

Last Day in Cali

Josh got up with our early riser (Tate) and went out to get donuts from The Donut Man!  They were oh so yummy!

The striped ones are called Tiger Tails--the picture doesn't really do 'em justice, but they are humongous!

We packed up and moved out of our home for the week.  Here are some views of Melissa & Shaheen's trailer--we would LOVE to have one just like it! (:

Ronan & Griffin slept in the bunk beds (in the back left of the photo), and Tate slept in a pack'n play.
*Side note: While we were tucking the boys into bed the night before, Griffin began asking questions about heaven and God.  And, after awhile of discussion with Josh and me, he made the decision to ask Jesus into his heart. (:  It was such a precious moment that we will never forget!

After getting all packed up we went to lunch with the Chases, Aunt Carol, & Wyatt at a cute little Mexican restaurant within walking distance from the Hickman's house. (Ronan is not actually sad in this picture, he is just being goofy for the camera...)

I like this picture of Sadie & Aaron (:

Me, Aunt Carol, & Becca

Our family in the bright California sun!  

Back at the Hickmans, Ronan found this wig that Uncle Keith wore one year for Halloween.  Hee hee! 

Ronan had been asking to see the Rose Bowl stadium (since the Ducks had just recently won the Rose Bowl), so we decided to make a quick stop there...even though there wasn't much to see from the outside. (:  It was still fun for our boys to see it.  We took some pictures 'cuz you just never know if someday they will play football there--ha ha...they can dream big. (:

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Goodbye palm trees...

We ended our trip with one last dinner at In-N-Out with the Barretts, Hickmans, Adamians, Melissa & her boys, the Chases, and Henrys.  It was hard to say goodbye to everyone---we had such a great week there!  I wish we all lived closer, but it definitely makes us appreciate the times that we do get to see each other!

Photo borrowed from Katrina

Dinner at the Barrett's

The Barretts invited us all over when we got back from visiting Oma.  They are used to having only two little ones around, Lincoln & Dominic, so it may have been a little overwhelming for them to have our excited troop of kiddos there! (:  Aunt Nancy made a delicious pasta & Italian sausage dinner for us and the Henrys made brownies for dessert!  We all had fun hanging out!

Katrina might like me to clarify that she is drinking iced tea, not beer. (;

Tate trying out the cool toys with Lincoln closely watching. (:

Tate was a little unsure about being held by Steve

Sweet, smiley Dominic!

After dinner the kids settled into watching Toy Story 3

Dominic & Tate wearing their matching "drink cup" onesies

Hmmm.  Not sure if Ronan should've tried this with little eyes watching (see Lincoln in the lower left corner).

cute second cousins (:

Visiting Oma

We all drove to Sun City to visit Oma, my dad's mom.  She had turned 90 years old  just a few weeks earlier (on New Year's Eve), so it was really great to get to spend some time with her and extend her birthday celebration!  Doesn't she look great?   I'm always impressed with her sharp mind...she has a great memory and is good at keeping up with all that's happening in our lives. (:  I was so happy that we got to see Oma on this trip!

We decided to meet at a park so that Oma could see all of the great grandchildren run around and play!

Sadie loves helping with Tate, and he has affectionately started getting her attention by calling her "mama" (;

Sadie and I were wearing similar outfits (:

I love Tate's "drink cup" In-n-Out onesie from Memaw & Papa!

Mom & Papa gave Oma some of the family photos that Erik took  at Christmas.

Oma surrounded by eight of her great grandchildren

My family with Oma (Photo by Katrina)

Four Generations (Photo by Katrina)

Tate got a lollipop from Memaw (;

 handsome guys (:

The styrofoam airplanes that M & P and Oma brought were a big hit!

Tate was wiped out after spending the day at the park!