Yuma Territorial Prison

While we were in Yuma, we did what Yuma tourists do... we checked out...

Forest Home!

Forest Home, a conference center in Forest Falls, CA, blessed us with a pastor's retreat... two nights accommodation in a great little cabin with a view of the camp's "lake." Our family had a blast!

The view from our cabin

whiffle ball!

Happy 8th Birthday Kaylin!

Our beautiful girl turned 8 on October 2nd!

Before getting ears pierced...

Enjoying the results of getting ears pierced!

Matching with cousin Avery

Lots to Celebrate!

We went up to Pittsburg, CA to see Grams and Papa... there was lots to celebrate!

Happy Birthday to niece/cousin Riley!

Avery, Riley, Kaylin, Trevor (L-R)

Happy Birthday Grams!

Throughout the weekend, Trevor rang the gong and announced, "Let the party begin!"

Happy 60th Big Papa!

In addition to all the birthday fun, we enjoyed lots of fun times hanging out together!

A couple innings of softball....

and rides in Papa's '69 El Camino...

Station #7

On January 17, 2011, our family got to visit Chula Vista Fire Station #7 and meet two of the three firefighters that responded to our 911 call for Trevor's accident. Here's my blog entry about the accident - God's Gracious Protection. A very nice couple from our church helped us out by arranging for the visit and they took photos and video so that we could remember the day. Thanks Tom and Karen! We were glad for a chance to meet these firefighters, thank them for what they do and give them a chance to see a happy ending! Thanks to CVFD and these firefighters who took time with us that day!

Trevor meeting one of the firefighters and giving him a thank you card

Meeting the Captain of the crew that responded

Here we are telling the story of that day

Heading out for a ride on Engine 51

The kids ready for the ride!

I'm not sure who was more excited... me or the kids! I got to sit up front in the Captain's seat! =)

Their reaction to lights and sirens!

Talking after the ride

Here we are with two of the guys who responded that day... we missed meeting the other one because he was home sick.

With the crew that took us for a ride

Station 7 was dedicated on 9/11/2003 and so the front of the building is a very nice 9/11 memorial. It has the names of all the firefighters who died and also a list of the Chula Vista firefighters who went to help in the aftermath.

High Five!

Engine 57 was the one that responded to our 911 call

Joel & Rachel Garman!

My cousin Rachel married Joel Garman on January 15th. We love you both... congrats!

Kaylin was the flower girl and Trevor was ring boy!

Beautiful bride and my beautiful daughter! Obviously cousins huh?

A silly face shot!

A White New Year!

After celebrating Christmas with family in Pittsburg, CA, we headed east on Highway 4 into the Sierra Nevada mountains to spend New Years with some dear, long-time friends, Scott and Amanda Ferreira and their kids. Their family has a cabin at 5,000 feet elevation in Dorrington/Camp Connell (above Arnold) which is near Big Trees State Park in Calaveras County.

When we got up just past Arnold, I put chains on the good old DGC...

...and we went about 6 more miles up Highway 4...

...to Camp Clayton!

The kids all enjoyed lots of great snow play! (Front to back: Grace, Kaylin, Clayton, Trevor and Ben)

T.J. and Amy making snow angels:


T.J. and I built/created this snow man that he promptly named "Frosty:"

It snowed ALL day on Saturday and Sunday... and while our kids had played in the snow before, this was the first time they saw it falling! (Kaylin and Grace pictured)

This is how Trevor spent much of his time when we were all outside... fully snow-geared up, reclined in the snow and feeding himself snow! (here his is pictured with Ben)

BIG THANKS to the Ferreira family and to Amanda's parents for sharing the cabin with us again!