a COWBOY who's 3!

This incredibly handsome and amazingly sweet boy, turned 3 years old on December 27.

We wanted to make his week extra special, (the guilt of having a Christmas baby is really setting in...) so we took him to Knott's Berry Farm!

and he rocked out on his new microphone from Papa and Grammy...

and played at the beach...in his underwear

but the REAL fun came on Friday, Dec. 31st, when it was time for his HORSEY PARTY!

We took him to a local ranch that we visit often with 10 of his friends to ride and feed horses!

and, of course, our awesome friends-the Wenkers-were there taking amazing pictures

Jack.......................................Keegan

(check out their outside legs!)

Jackson in "horsey heaven"

no horse party is complete without a romp in the dirt/manure pile

well hello there Fred.

"dude, I'm telling you--his name is Pete!"

Yee-HAW!

a great family picture...one that captures our lives at the moment, happy, beautiful So. Cal,..and all things HORSE.

Christmas in Cali

We spent Christmas in our own house this year! It was a first for us since before having kids, and SO much fun! Jackson is at the age where he is just grasping the Santa concept so this year was especially exciting.

Our Christmas season started off a little rough...

We've gotten a 10+ foot tree every year we've lived here, this year was the prettiest we've ever had!

A letter from Santa--we never did this in my house growing up so it was really fun for me to see Garrett get so excited about writing the kids a letter!

Gracie LOVES Santa

Christmas dinner=a pizza picnic in the living room

My cowboys "doin' their jobs, catching bandits!"

Gracie girl opening her gifts....only took her like 15 minutes per gift!

our cowGIRL!

the main thing he asked Santa for--a HORSEY present!

2 happy kiddos in their new rocking chairs from Grandma and Grandpa

A trip back HOME!!

We just got back to California from a near 2 week vacation back HOME to Indiana and Ohio!

Garrett and I both agreed this was the most relaxing and fun trip we've had back home in a long time! The kids enjoyed their Grandparents, Garrett's brother, Kevin, got married, and we had a TON of snow to play in and have a "white Christmas" while we exchanged gifts!

For weeks Jack has been asking (more like telling) his Grammy to make chocolate chip cookies--they did, right after he woke up our first day home!

"popping" the eggs in!

bedtime stories after bath

Grace loves her Papa--she would crawl up on the couch and sit right next to him, it was so sweet!

My mom took us to Christmas at the Zoo--indoor sharks, penguins, a dolphin show, train ride, and LOTS of awesome lights!

"Let it SNOW!"

The kids and I left Indiana and headed over to meet Daddy in Ohio--where there was even MORE snow!

helping Daddy snow blow, and shovel the driveway!

"Hi! My name's Chubby...."

Building a Gingerbread House with Aunt Kelly and Grandma!

shoveling more snow....

We all went out to dinner for Grandpa's birthday!

the picture below is best named as "Garrett's Heaven"

The kids and Grandpa's nightly routine...Cheez-Its, jammies, and cartoons!

Kevin and Ali's rehearsal dinner

Wedding Day!

Ali was a beautiful bride and Kevin was so handsome, so proud of them both. It's crazy to think I met them more than 6 years ago, and now they are MARRIED!

these crazy kids were the flower girl and ring bearer...cute as could be too!

The kids were spoiled by both families...got a lot of gifts, but my favorite gift out of the bunch was from their Aunt Kelly. Jack's different mustaches---HILARIOUS!! Thanks, Kel ;)

Move over Partner...

There's a new Sheriff in town!

My Cute Cowboy

This kid cracks me up...the shopping for new horses, farms, and cowboy gear has begun! Christmas and Jack's birthday are just around the corner!