Hair Salon!!

Somehow Megan convinced her friend Chris to temporarily dye her hair....that's true friendship!!

Our newest hobby....bird watching!

The girls were so excited to accompany Corey and I bird watching this year....

Playing in the City!!

The Hilton on Union Square, checking out student housing at UCSF for Joe and Jana, shopping on Haight and Ashbury, "hiking" to the Lemongrass Restaurant, breakfast at Lori's Diner, shopping at H&M and finding other deals on Union Square, watching the ice skaters and checking out the Christmas windows at Macy's, clam chowder on the wharf, the sunset overlooking the Golden Gate bridge....it's a city with so much to experience! Soon to be home to Jana and Joe!!

Christmas Morning!!

The kids at the top of the stairs....oh how the picture has changed over the years....but then not really






OK Emma plays this game where she bobbles the ball with her nose....


















Corey got his own Cracklin' Oat Bran this year so he doesn't have to sneak some out of the girls' boxes!

Christmas Eve!!

Christmas Eve was a great evening...after our shepherds meal, the kids opened their PJ's and Joe's UCSF sweatshirt was a hit! He didn't take it off for days! It was just the best feeling to have the family all together and to share the joy of Christmas together. Joe fits in perfectly with (and tolerates!) all of us....it's a wonderful glimpse of what an eternal family really is. Some of the best moments are when we were all in the kitchen preparing dinner, singing, laughing and just enjoying being together.

Jingle all the way....around Lodi Lake!

The Brink family made history yesterday as we ran the annual Christmas Tree Run at Lodi Lake. When it came to passing out the medals, Corey, Megan and I cleaned up!! We each took 1st place in our age groups!!!! Believe me, that will never again happen I am sure. We have the greatest friends and neighbors....Hazelhofers, Kellys, Robisons, Judds, Gonzalez, and LaViolas are those in the photo. You have to LOVE living in Lodi!

...and we're still eating turkey!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving day with the Schaffer clan (minus a few) and Mom Brink joining us! It was so fun to have everyone in our home. It had been awhile. The turkey and all the trimmings were delicious but the sweetest part of all was when we hold hands in a circle and each express something we are grateful for...As we got to the end of the circle and my mom and dad each expressed their gratitude for life, I looked around and couldn't even imagine the joy they felt they looked into the eyes of their children and grandchildren.