Blogging Drought...

Well, it's official! I am ending my very long blogging drought. I guess I just needed a break because I really had no motivation to post anything, even though so much has been going on. So get comfortable, grab a snack and/or beverage and enjoy the longest post ever... :)

In October, we had our women's retreat at the Oaks....I love these ladies:

A little get away to Pleasanton for Ruger's first dog show...

Kirsten and Ruger with his 4th place ribbon...so proud!

Nope he's not spoiled at all...

Ruger's puppy school graduation...we started the class with 15 and only 3 graduated!

My parents just had a new home built - so excited for them! Derek and Dalton were very busy with installing custom closets in the Master and mom's sewing room, hence the victory pose below. :) The highlight was my dad's garage epoxy flooring and custom cabinets (picture at end of post)...

Dalton with Ruger on my parent's golf cart...what fun!

Brooke has become quite the cake decorator and made Dillon a special lemon Ducks cake!

Ruger's second dog show in Long Beach...isn't that huge blown up dog great? I told Derek that would make some great "yard art" for the property, ha! He didn't agree...

This was so special...we got to meet one of Ruger's brothers! They liked each other instantly. :)

I know this is blurry but Ruger looks so perfectly "stacked" here! Here is Jeannie (yellow jacket) working her magic...

Every Christmas we get my Dad a calendar with a picture of the boys. Here are the country boys with their rifles which my Dad gave them last year...

Another beautiful cake creation by Brooke! She made this for our youth group Christmas party that we had at the house...

Here's Dalton showing off some Christmas goodies...

Nothing brings guys together than a new tool set! Dillon's first "real" tool set... :)

The boys and my dad bonding over guns...they love it!

My dad, the gangster...ha!

My mom and Grandma in the new kitchen...

My dad and I with matching sweatshirts and dogs... :)

Our college bound boys. Lord willing, Dillon to Colorado State in Fall 2011 and Dalton to Fresno State in Fall 2013...

Here's a portion of the cabinets in the garage and check out the amazing floor!

Other happenings:

• I am still plugging along in the Credential Program with my hardest quarter thus far behind me...thank the Lord! This quarter I have an online class only which is a nice change of pace. At the end of this quarter all I will have left is my student teaching...yay, the end is in sight! I've decided to take the Spring quarter off due to Dalton graduating from High School and preparing for Dillon's move to Colorado.
• I passed the RICA! Which is the hardest standardized test I have ever taken! It's purpose is to make sure that future teachers know how to teach reading. It lasted four grueling hours and I cried when I was done....such pressure! I also cried when I got the results...Dalton didn't know what to do with me! So that's it...no more California state tests...HUGE relief!
• Dalton, prior to surgery, has been golfing every chance he gets. Derek, Dalton and I have a meeting with the College of the Canyons golf coach in two weeks...very exciting!
• Dillon finishes his last semester at College of the Canyon beginning on February 7th...he has had a very long Christmas break and has been sleeping in way too long! We are in the early stages of planning a Colorado trip during Spring Break.
• Derek is crazy busy with cabinet work and loving it!
• On New's Year's Eve I was able to spend "alone time" with some of my favorite people: Mike, DeAnn, Kristen and June Bug. They drove down to Valencia and we spent the entire afternoon together at Towncenter. What a blessed time that I hope to repeat throughout the year...hint, hint! And we are all anxiously awaiting the new arrival in a matter of days...can't wait!
• I made over 100 pints of jam this year! I know, crazy! The people at Derek's work are head over heels and I had orders for over a hundred. I seriously, lost count.
• Currently in the process of preparing the house for re-painting...eeks! Lots to do and I must be patient and remind myself, "It's a process and it takes time. It will be worth it in the end!" I am such an instant gratification person...ugh!

Well, if you read through this whole thing, I am impressed. That is everything in a nutshell that's been going on in these parts. I feel inspired to update more often and thankfully I have more time now so that's it....the drought is officially over! :)