Fun in the sun!

Jill & Jon getting ready for a jeep ride in Sunny Palm Springs.

Eric presiding over the marshmallow roasting with Mace, Luke, Zach & Zoe.

Eric very safely giving all the boys & Cali a ride around the block. They are lucky I was inside when this began....

Eric's twin sisters-Kari & Jill, with their husband's, Jake & Jon, enjoying the weather & the view from our home.

Our nephew Nate 'Mr Incredible' Schwietering enjoying some sweets by the fire.

The kids at a very organized dinner event.

Our night out with Eric's sisters & the out-laws!! We had such a good time, we went to Riviera for drinks, Matchbox for dinner, the Falls for tableside Bananas Foster & the Pub for more fun. Many thanks to the grandmas for watching all of the boys & letting us go out & play!

More of the Day

Eric, Jon & Jake enjoying a Chirstmas drink in front of our 4 star lodging accomodations.

A good game of 'skins' on Christmas day with the boys.

The big boys 'showing' the little boys how to work the Wii. Who looks like he is having the most fun? Must be Jake with his gift to himself!

Me & Jules

Prepping the family photo...


Got it!! The Hershbergers, Gleasons, Rossis & Schwieterings. We are only missing the girls, Alaina & Julia.

Congratulations to my little sis Miss, Big E & Jono!!! Baby Drew arrived December 28th happy & healthy at 7lbs 12oz. My parents are there now visiting & I can't wait to see pics & get my hands on the squishy little boy in March.

Christmas Eve & Morning

Waking up Christmas morning with 6 little boys, oh-I mean 5, sorry Jake....was so much fun. Kari gave them all matching jammies on Christmas eve so they looked so cute. Mason got his speed racer helmet.

The air hockey game from Emily & Iven was a huge hit, even the adults got into it.

The chaos of unwrapping....(Luke & Mason actually had to wear different jammie pants, lucky for them they inherited the no-booty just like their parents-ha!!)

Uncle Jon helping Lukey with his coveted Power Ranger Jungle Fury Helmet.

Wow, Santa was here!!!

Uncle Jon seems like he's trying to convince Ty of something.....

The five cousins the night before Christmas in new matching jammies, how cute are they!!!

An Early Christmas

We spent last Saturday night at my parents and Santa made a special visit so we could celebrate a few days early since Eric's family would be joining us for actual Christmas this year. My dad continued his tradition of reading the boys 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' and they ate it up. Luke actually got a bit worried and asked if Santa could just leave the presents on the roof and then daddy could get them with his ladder. He wasn't too keen on the idea of Old St Nick creeping around while he was sleeping.


My 6 year old giving me some love. I know all too soon it won't happen so much so I have to enjoy every bit of it.

Our attempt at a family photo at my p's.

Ty's last soccer game was last Saturday as well. We had a pizza party afterwards and he got his much anticipated trophy.

S-N-O-W!!!

After two good days of rain this was the view from our driveway on Thursday. I couldn't resist grabbing my camera.

On Friday one of the dad's had gone up the mountain and brought down a truckload of snow, a novelty here in Palm Springs. The kids waited patiently and then....

....snowball fights!!!

They loved it but after about 2 minutes started asking for gloves.

Ty and his buddy Dean.

Snow in the Park

Our local park had a snow day with lots of man made snow, Santa, fire engines, jumpy houses & games. I took all of the kids down after Ty's soccer game & they had a blast!!

Ty & Roman were very interested in the big fire truck.

Mason & Luke loved petting the chickens.

Ty, Jamie & Dean.

My little climber.

Happy Birthday Ty!

Ty's birthday was last Sunday and now my oldest baby is 6. Seems super old to me and each year he is so proud of his new age. This one comes with more interest & coodination in sports, reading & writing, loose teeth, more complicated social relationships (girls are digging him), he has his own best buddies and lucky for me he can still be my snuggly and sweet boy who wants to be loved. Happy Birthday to my Big Boy Ty!!

Ty's class sang happy birthday and I brought in cupcakes. It is so fun to see the kids all interact in school, I love to just step back and observe.

Ty's kindergarten class.


My parents came over for Ty's birthday dinner of requested steak, noodles & my special salad dressing (thanks Iven!). He also asked for my special 'yellow rice' (which is rice-a-roni...I know, you are thinking, what an incredible cook Courtney must be) but I figured one carb was enough. We had a great time and topped it off with chocolate pudding cake with whiped cream. What a cool 6 year old I have.

Birthday in the park

Our neighbor Roman turned 6 last month and had a party in the park, it was a beautiful day and the kids all had a great time running around playing games.

A great time until Daddy tells them they have to get in the end of the line behind the smaller kids for the pinata......

Lukey showing off his prizes.

Mace too.

The theme of the party was Bolt the Dog and they all got cookie filled dog bowls so Eric gave them a little bit of Cali training.

Vino & good friends.

Last Saturday we had our annual wine 'tasting' party and it was a great success. Eric & I had fun getting ready for it and we had a great time at the party, thank you everyone for coming and making it so much fun!!!

My Merrill Peeps.

My Bank Peeps.

Friends enjoying themselves around the firepit. It was a wonderful night to be outside.

Snow!!

When we were getting ready to leave KC last Saturday the kids got an unexpected treat-Snow!!!

Thanksgiving in KC

My family & my parents flew to Kansas City to be with my little sister and her family this Thanksgiving. They moved from Boston about a year ago from a townhome to a HUGE beautiful house that my sister had decorated so well, I am was so envious of the 4000 sq feet, wonderful interior decorations, multi levels...etc....I can't say enough, when you come from a home of 5 people and one large dog in 1700 sq feet, it's pretty hard not to feel a bit green. She has done such a great job, I feel so proud of my little sis!!

Miss, Jono & 'Big E'. (We had to get the boys out of the habit of calling him 'Baby Ethan' so 'Big E' worked great and Ethan loved to say it too

A boy after my own heart, Luke licking the whip cream thingy.
The kitchen, yes-I am a green monster.

Ty and Miss & Jono's niece Amelia, fast friends. (We found out the next day Ty had given her his number, I'll chalk him up to being very friendly.)

Luke supervising Jono carve the bird.

A very tough Big E

Eight months and you can finally see the bump, pretty darn cute.

Miss & the P's with the bird.

Ethan and his cousins. I was actually impressed at how well this picture turned out.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends & loved one & remembered to be thankful for what really matters.