Three Months of Pictures

If you ever read this blog, you probably think that all we do is go to Big Bear. I don't know wht it is, but we just can't get enough of that place. We found a super cheap motel room and just drove up there a couple weekends ago to enjoy the snow! I think my sanity while living in Southern California is dependent upon these much-needed escapes to the mountains. After seeing the beauty of nature and breathing the fresh air I can return to the craziness of life in south orange county. We're going up next weekend to ski and snowboard with some friends...can't wait!

Michelle and I had the adventure of babysitting our nephews for 5 days--let's just say I have an entirely new level of respect for moms who do this all day every day. We were so sore and exhausted! But it was a blast! Although they can't quite say, "Auntie Lish" or "Auntie Michelle," Jake calls us, "Annee," so that's close enough for me. I miss them so much!

The day after Christmas we woke up to a winter wonderland in the front yard!

Christmas morning was wonderful...why can't we do this every day?

Our adorable cousins in Cottage Grove: Brandon, Donald, Chad and Noah Hughes.

Mom feeds these deer almonds 5 times/day and she can call them out of the woods like dogs. It's pretty hilarious.

Mom and Tom in their cozy Cottage Grove living room!

We got to join the Gaylord Christmas for a couple hours in Vancouver, Washington! It was special because we hadn't seen most of the family since 2004.

Christmas with Jer, Steph, Jake & Toby in Beaverton, Oregon!

Paul, Michelle, Mel and I were a bit crazy and spontaneous and decided to go up to Big Bear for a night to celebrate Mel's birthday. Natty joined us of course. We didn't get there until after midnight but it was so much fun!

Paul really enjoyed the "cheesiest Christmas outfit" contest at our church Christmas party this year! :) He's wearing his white elephant gift on his head.

We got to see Lil and Ted for a couple hours after Thanksgiving on their way back from visiting Heidi in Santa Barbara. Lil needs her Starbucks and Southern California sunshine!

It was so fun to spend a few hours with Nicole while she was back from Mexico for the holidays.

Christmas? No...Thanksgiving. We decorated gingerbread houses this year after Thanksgiving dinner! Here's our beautiful award-winning gingerbread house.

We had a blast celebrating Maria's birthday at Disneyland and Downtown Disney!

On the way back from a business trip to Africa, I got to spend a couple wonderful days in Paris! Here is the Seine at sunset.

This is as close as I got to the Eiffel tower because of the transportation strike.

Marilyn and me in front of the Louvre. An original Monet an Musee D'Orsay.

The Louvre at night! I loved the Ancient Near East and Egyptology sections!

Marilyn and me in front of Notre Dame.

Burkina Faso....a little known country in West Africa...is where I really spent my birthday. Actually I was in the plane on my birthday. I got to interview the JESUS film staff members and hear all abotu their ministries - it was awesome!