Candycane Parade

Brianna went to her first Christmas Parade! It was great hanging out with Gramee and Bri's good friend Leah and her Daddy. As you can see we were all bundled up for the cold evening in downtown Visalia.

The parade was pretty well done and both girls loved watching all the different floats go bay. They especially loved the highschool bands and would dance to the music. It was a great evening.

Thanksgiving dinner

We topped off our day by having dinner with Ken & Gloria, Uncle Bill & Auntie Bettie and their son Brian, wife Donna and kids, Courtney and Chandler. Here is everybody ready to have dinner and thankful, especially, to still have Ken at the head of the table

Chandler winning at domino
Courtney, concentrating on her next move, and failing to avoid the camera (at least this time!).

This year, Jeremy, Bibi & Brianna are so thankful for God's guidance and blessing through our move to Visalia, Jeremy's new job, great new friends and a wonderful church community. We are especially thankful that Bri continues to grow and learn and thrive in great health . Thank YOU for all your prayers, support and encouraging comments. We love you!!!

A day of giving ...

We got Thanksgiving day started early by running a "Run Against Hunger" 5 K (3.1 miles). We had a blast, and also met an old friend from PUC days, Naomi Roman, and her boyfriend. It was great to have Brianna, Ken & Gloria cheering us on at the finish line! Our time was 30 min, an average of about a 10 min mile. We also got interviewed for the Fresno Bee article (click here) about the race and the charity that puts it on.

Then for lunch we volunteered at the Visalia Rescue Mission. Bibi's task was to serve mashed potatoes and gravy, while Jeremy and Brianna helped with dessert and other miscellaneous tasks. We hope to involve Brianna in as many service type activities as possible so she grows up loving to bless others in our community.

Here are Daddy and Bri ready to get to work...

Bibi's team in action...

The tables were all set up outside and we served about 75 people a Thanksgiving lunch between 1-2pm. Lunch consisted of roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables, dinner rolls and butter and different kinds of pie for dessert. The Rescue Mission is a great ministry! They serve 3 meals a day every day of the year. They are a true blessing to the community.

It's a small town...

Well, it's Saturday night... and our big activity with Brianna this evening was to go to check out the new Super Target that recently opened in the next town over. Yes, you might think there are more interesting things to do around here, but it's a small town. And we chose Target over cow tipping :-)

Actually it's a very nice store and the first SUPER Target we've ever seen. We hope you're weekend is going well!

Models in the making ...

All dressed up for church and posing for Daddy

Cascade is not so sure pictures are a good idea right now ... the dolly looks way more fun right now

Haven is striking a pose, Cascade is thinking "what is she doing?" and Bri is altogether somewhere else!

Bri and Cascade are learning the ropes from older cousin Haven

Thank you Uncle Ken and Auntie Crystal

I love to learn with my new art easel!

Everyday I practice my ABCs and Mommy & Daddy are teaching me shapes and numbers now. I can say "1 and 2" (in Spanish, of course) and "oval" and something that sounds like "circle." I'm also learning colors and can say a word that resembles "blanco" ("white" in Spanish). I'm having so much fun! Thank you Auntie & Uncle for this great early Christmas gift!!!

I also love to learn the names and sounds of animals. Mommy has been teaching me all about "Noah's Ark" and I can say just about all the names of my little book except ostrich, hippopotamus and crocodile (those are kind of hard, don't you think?). For November and December, Mommy and Daddy are focusing on the most important story of all time, Baby Jesus' Birth. I'm learning new words such as "angels," "donkey," and "Mary and Joseph." That's what Christmas is all about. I can't wait to celebrate Christmas with Uncle & Auntie and meet Cousin Nolan! THAT will be a special time!

Veteran's Day at the Fresno Zoo

Today we went to the Fresno Zoo and Bri was happy to see two Indian Elephants ...

a big "afa" (aka giraffe) ...


a familiar animal: sese (aka zebra). She's been singin "giddy up zebra" at Sabbath School (and during the week at home) since she was about 6 months old. She LOVED looking at the "seses"...

After two hours of walking around the zoo, Daddy and Bri took a ride in the Carousel. Bri, an adrenaline junkie at heart, begged to go on the horse but was surprinsingly serious during the whole ride. Maybe she was thinking: "this little horse sure runs fast..." Fun times!

First ponytails and playing with Leah

Adorable ponytails!
Looking serious for just a second ...

playing with Leah on Tuesday afternoon

King David

Argentine tennis sensation, David Nalbandian, now at the top of his game, won the Paris Masters and Rafael Nadal (#2 player in the world) came second. Nadal's words after the game: "David is one of the best tennis players in the world. I've never seen him play like this. I have no excuses." King David, as he is called in Argentina, is coming back big time and has recently beat Roger Federer (#1 player in the world) TWICE. Aguante, Rey David!!! We love you!!!

More Halloween fun

Fun times in the bouncy house

A little "furry" chicken resting after jumping all around ...


Cascade having her hands full of popcorn

Our little angel getting a handful of healthy snacks. Luckily, she didn't have candy this year!!!

Halloween Fun

Here is our little angel (wings included) all dressed up and playing with her other friends at a church gathering on wednesday night

there were fun games for kids and parents ... here's Brianna checking her friends out and trying to figure out this game

Bri and best bud Cascade, dressed up as "A little stinker" skunk ... they looked TOOO CUTE!!!

Bri getting acquainted with "Queen Esther"