Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thanks for visiting to get the recap of 2008 for our family! It has been an exciting and blessed year for us. Our biggest event this year was of course the birth of Casey, our boy! He has fit right in with our family and we can't even remember what life was like without him.

My how the time flies....

This was a big year for Maddie as well! Not only was she preparing to be a big sis' but she also experienced her first trip to Disneyland. Many of you know that she is obsessed with princesses right now, so this trip was like heaven to her.
This was the year of her 3rd birthday as well...so of course that was princess as well...

We had her party at Lake Castaic and Maddie got to ride on a ski boat for the first time on this day as well. It was a very busy and fun day in the sun and wind!

I think she wanted to be a beach bum all summer. Our big family vacation this year was to Southern California where we made it to Aquarium of the Pacific (which I have absolutely no pictures of since it was so crowded and she was running all over the place, I was trying to be a responsible parent), Downtown Disney, Lake Castaic for her party and then to the beach house in Oxnard.

It has now been 2 years since we moved to Sacramento. We are still enjoying our time at Southpointe Christian Center as youth pastors. There is so much going on all through the fall and winter season at Southpointe that we are just now reflecting back on all that we have done. Here are the kids on Harvest Day 2008!
Since I had better finish this blog before Casey wakes up from his nap, it is imperative that I tell you that this Christmas was full of fun and joy for the whole family! I love living it through Madison and Casey's eyes. Here's some pictures of some of the fun family traditions we have done for the first time this year...We picked out our tree the day after Thanksgiving and decorated that night. Then it was time for the first gingerbread house creation...

Then it was time for our first ice skating trip as a family. This was Maddie's first time! She did so good...and really wants to go again.

The skates didn't fit daddy right, so we only have mommy pictures! It was fun watching daddy walk like his ankles were broken though!
Then it was time for Maddie to sing at her second Pre-School Christmas play...

Along the way to Christmas, Casey was dedicated to the Lord on December 21st!

Casey got to open one of his presents early since Mommy really wanted to start using it...

He is officially a cowboy now on his Galloping horse Jumperoo! Plus, mommy gets to eat dinner a little slower now. Finally it was Christmas Eve, and due to Maddies persistence, we let her open most of her presents.

Her favorite present was the Sleeping Beauty Vanity set which mommy and daddy had to search all over Sacramento and Roseville for. It was worth it to see her reaction! This was just one of about 20 presents that family and friends got her. She was very spoiled. She also got a digital camera from Grandma and Grandpa, so we will start adding some of her pictures to the blog too.

Since Casey fell asleep during the present opening time on Christams Eve, he got to open his on Christmas morning. He was a happy camper!
So, that is the recap of our year and Christmas season! Thanks for keeping up with us. We hope that your Christmas was blessed and that your New Year will be blessed even more!

Busy Busy!

We love this time of year, especially now that we have kids. It's like we get to relive our childhood through them now. The last few weeks have been spent putting up all of our Christmas decorations and and lights inside and outside the house. I just realized that I forgot to take a picture of our christmas tree, so you will see that later. Casey is now 6 months old and weighs almost 16lbs. He loves his time in his exersaucer.A couple of weeks ago we took Maddie to Funderland again, although it was much colder than the last time. I swear that is to coolest, cheapest place to let your kids have fun.
Madison is so excited for christmastime that she loves to wear reindeer antlers around the house and is constantly rearranging the ornaments on our tree. And last but not least, I, Lindsay, cannot stop baking for the life of me! Our youth just held a bake sale and I was much overjoyed to bake pies and cookies! It's like therapy. Who need's the scented candles when you can just constantly bake?!?!? Here's the famous cream cheese pumpkin pies that sold first at the bake sale. Well, soon we will be creating our longest blog yet. Hopefully you will all receive an update and a card this year, but please do not get offended if you do not, because you can find out much more about us here at this beautiful blogsite!

Maddie's School Pictures!

Here they are!!! Okay, I will pay whatever it takes to get all of these pictures! I just wish I had known that this day was picture day. I would have made her wear a different shirt.

First Family Portraits!

It's been late in coming, but we finally broke down and did some family portraits. Individuals of Maddie will soon be following. She had some taken at her school. Hope you all enjoy!

First Solid Food!

Casey experienced his first rice cereal on his five month birthday! He doesn't seem to care for it too much...but time will tell. He has decided that he needs to hold the spoon though.

Happy Harvest!

Does this picture say it all?!?!?! He wasn't too happy with mom putting her eyeliner on his face, but the little "lion" survived the night in the rain. Our church held its annual Harvest Carnival, so of course what else would Madison decide to be?

Sleeping Beauty in all her glory!

I thought she should have been Snow White (her black hair), but she insisted that she is Sleeping Beauty. Oh well...it's just the beginning I have a feeling.

Here's another of the lion boy! I can't get over how cute he is. Every day is such a joy to spend with him. He is sleeping like an angel (11 hrs a night) and napping pretty good throughout the day. He is the most laid back baby. God has blessed us with two children with very different personalities.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

October 3, 2008! Happy Birthday to the best Husband and Daddy Ever! Look what you created! How cute!

We love this time of year!!!

I think Apple Hill is my new favorite place to go. Not only do they have the best apple pie that I have eaten, but it has made me miss the country. It was so peaceful. Anyways, on our way back from Tahoe we made a stop at the famous Apple Hill that people have been telling us about. Maddie loved it! Her favorite was they hayride. I can 100 percent say that the apple pie and apple cider was our favorite!

Their apple juice was like crack! Madison was addicted! This her face after 3 cups!

Funderland at 105 Degrees!

We decided to meet our friends at Funderland...little did we know that it was going to be 105 degrees! We never have time to check the weather. Anyways, Madison had fun with her favorite friend Lexi. She went on all the rides, even the scary ones!

Look at their red little faces! Maddie is in the middle of Jordan and Lexi.

A day at the Fair!

Somebody gave us free tickets and parking pass to get in the California State Fair, so we decided to go yesterday. Enjoy the pics!

Maddie on her first roller coaster with dad!

The Carousel with mom!

This is what Casey did...sit patiently in a hot stroller!

Getting a kiss by Cali the Sea Lion! How cute is that?!??!?!

A Corn Box? Yes, it is much cleaner than sand...and seemingly much more fun. I think this was her favorite part of the whole day. Oh, the simple things in life...

Maddie petting a deer. There was a small barn full of deer, goats, sheep, kangaroo things?, and pigs that were just running all around in chaos. The kids could just run around and pet them.

I think this guys is very proud...or he is getting ready to spit!