Mtn. High

Part of the kids' x-mas present was a ski trip to Mtn High. Since they are old enough, we thought we can spend money on family getaways instead of supporting the crazy consumerism that x-mas has turned in to. It's an attempt to teach them that "things" do not create happiness, and that there are more important things in life. Being their first time out of the slopes, Sage and Abby took snowboard lessons. Emi decided she could just wing it, and skiied with me. I think this was a good experience, and they really had fun. At the end of the day, they said they'd like to do this again next year and one of them even said, "we don't need presents!" Small victory for Mommy. ^_^

X-mas 2011

Emi's 14th

Emi turned 14 this year and entered high school. The kids are growing up too fast. Luckily for Emi, although her b-day landed on a Saturday (her school has classes on Saturday) it got cancelled since it was the beginning of the Thanksgiving Break. So she got to sleep in a little bit and enjoyed her b-day french toast and omlet breakfast before we headed down to the desert.

She had talked about wanting her ears pierced but wanted to do it on a "special" day so her piercings would have meaning. So she thought her 14th b-day would be a good day.

For her b-day dessert this year she chose some Rainbow Sherbet.

I'm 14! (I don't have enough fingers so help me Abby!)

Girl Scout Day at the Living Desert

Abby joined the Girl Scouts this year. Their first "big" Scout Day outing was to the Living Desert in Palm Desert. It was one of those places that is somewhat close by but we haven't been so it was nice. She had a fun time with her friend Lexi.

Sage's 12th & Halloween 2011

Persistence paid off for Sage this year. He wanted a sleepover for his birthday, but the last time he had one, the boys were VERY loud and so we had said no. He bugged us and bugged us, even made a list on WHY he should be allowed to have one. So we gave in. And they weren't as bad this time around so I guess it worked out.

Halloween... Sage was a burglar and Abby was a mime. Emi was still at school and was going to meet us there.

Sage and Ben (gangster).

Abby and Sidney (PB&J sandwich).

Emi & friends. She's supposed to be Snow White.

Alex the Skunk.

Abby's pumpkin, it's an owl.

Emi's pumpkin, there was a pumpkin carving at school so she did hers there.

Sage's pumpkin... I don't think he felt like carving this year.

B-day ride. He wanted to go somewhere he's never ridden so we did the Sunset/Sunrise trail loop in May Valley.

I am 12!

We got him a Mario game and some beef jerkey. Abby got him a lottery ticket. And then had some rootbeer float to top of the night of candies.

Big Horse Corn Maze

One day as we drove through Temecula, we drive by this giant corn maze. Abby's like, I wanna go! I guess she really wanted to go because she kept bringing it up, over and OVER for the next couple weeks. And so we went. It was also Sage's b-day weekend, so we tied it all in. Turns out this corn maze is Southern California's largest authentic corn maze. Emi had school plus a Halloween party, David was participating in the San Jac Enduro, so it was just the three of us.

Abby, looks like you're sitting on a pig...

"Corn Box". At first when we saw this on the list of activities, we wondered, what in the world is a corn box? Literally, a box full of corn. Some kept making its way into Abby's ears so she had to keep them covered.

Jumpers. They sure like jumpers.

Corn Maze. I think this would of been cool at night.

Corn Cannon. This thing was pretty neat. It'd be cool to have a Pine Cone Cannon and shoot it off our deck.

Pumpkin Bowling.

Not sure what this thing's called. Some sort of let's-dig-some-sand thingy magingy.

Big inflatable slide.

Rubber Duck Race. And we got to keep the duck. ^_^