I'm in LOVE!

I've been playing around at tennis for about a year now....some days better than others but playing when your elbow isn't screaming is so much more enjoyable. I'd been suffering with tennis elbow-(no joke!) for about 6 months. I finally broke down and got a shot of cortisone-drugs are amazing! And with the spring-like weather in Lodi, I played 4 times last week!

Hot water....unlimited!

A new tankless hot water heater was just installed at our house. Amazing that the old one was still working....it was 1/2 filled with sediment! All my other neighbors are on their 2nd or 3rd one....I guess we should feel lucky. Anyway, the tankless concept means the water is heated as needed so it will never run out AND a big giant tank of hot water isn't trying to stay hot in a freezing cold garage. Hopefully the new bugger will pay for itself before too long! But, we might actually see a rise in our bill because I think Emma gauges the length of her shower on how long the hot water holds out!

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.