The Sun Shines Again in SoCal

I knew I hadn't updated our blog in awhile, but I didn't realize it had been almost 2 months! If you have seen any of the news this past week, you'll know that Southern California has been hit hard with 4 big rain storms back to back. It began raining Monday and didn't stop until Friday night. We had over 4 inches in Escondido. Our pool is filled to the brim. Today the sun came out and I sent the children outside to play. The fresh air and sunshine felt great. Of course there is also lots of mud and leftover rain puddles for the children to play in. . . Here are a couple pictures of the storm with the wind blowing our palm trees and our pool full of water and hail coming down.


We had a good December with Josh's birthday on the 7th, Eliyana's school Christmas program, various Christmas dinners and get togethers and the church Christmas program. Eliyana played a piano prelude before the program started and I brought out my trumpet after 15 years to play in the Brass Ensemble. Christmas Eve we took a red eye flight to Pennsylvania to spend Christmas with my family and also to visit with Josh's sister (Heidi) and her family in Hershey. We were treated one morning in Hershey to it snowing and about 3 inches of snow. We had a very good time in Pennsylvania with our family.
Eliyana, Caleb and Gideon on a ride at Hersheypark (Brrrrrr!):

Enjoying the snow:



Eliyana and Caleb's music recording session with Opa:

Josh's parents came down for a visit last week in conjunction with Westminster Seminary's annual conference and the 30th anniversary dinner celebration. While they were here we piano shopped, golfed twice and visited the zoo. It was a packed week. We found a beautiful piano for Eliyana and I have decided to also learn to play. I'm up to the skill level that Eliyana is at now and hope to keep up with her lessons each week.
Golf with all 3 children (I'm surprised we didn't get kicked off the course!):


Our new piano and a very happy Eliyana:

So that's the latest. I hope to not let so much time pass before I blog again.