Choo Choo!!

Over Thanksgiving we went on Amtrack from Martinez to Old Town Sacramento with Mom, Dad and Travis. We had a great time. Alex was so cute on the train, he was loving the ride. The museum is reall awesome. It was fun to walk through the old trains and see their sleeping quarters, dining cars and the kitchens. There were train enthusiasts with their tables set up and trains running around, all decked out for the holidays. We walked around the cute 'town' and saw some cute shops. Of course the favorites were the candy store and the fudge. We also got to watch them make salt water taffy on an old machine. We had a great time, thanks mom and dad!

Here's the latest surgery's pictures. They removed the hardware from Rod's arm, taking out the metal stuff and screws. He's recovering great, the best part of which has been not going to work for a whole week! We've basically been partying all week with good food, movies, and family outings to Red Rock National Park and these cool desert demonstration gardens call Springs Preserve. Prepare to be grossed out:

Disney or bust!

Here's a few pics from our trip. We had such a wonderful time! Thanks mom and dad. The kids will be talking about it forever!

The girls looking out the window of the shuttle to Disneyland. Caitlin was clapping her hands exclaiming "Disneyland!" How cute are they?

Is the shuttle here yet?

I think Brett wins the facial expression award.
What a group!

It's a good thing Travis has so many helpers with his slice of cake. I mean, what would he do? sidenote: I DID NOT take any of my brothers cake. (I think it was gone by the time I set my camera down.)

A little Thunder Mountain anyone?

Whittle Halloween

This year we had a Dracula (3rd year in a row..makes it easy on me!), Belle, a skeleton and Superman. I didn't get a picture of Alex, shame on me. Pretty much imagine him with a red cape and there you go. Here's Audrey with her 2 primary friends. After the ward party we went to our friends in Fall River who actually live in a small neigborhood and trick or treated.

Call for pictures

I want to see pictures of the Whittle's on halloween and pictures from Lund!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARRIE!!

Happy Birthday Carrie! You are a great sister, daughter, mother and friend.
You're a great example to all of us of conserving a little more and being more self-reliant... :)
We love you!

Carrie is always happy and in a good mood, and she makes everyone around her happy.
She is a fantastic sewer, and she is a great cook and baker!

Rod's making kinda a strange face... but it's still a cute pic!

Why do you love Carrie?!

Good-bye, Grass!

A few pics of our finished, grass-free yard!!

We're still not quite done: there will eventually be a metal roof supported by the tree trunks, with a deck built between the trunks, over the rock currently there.

Lady banks rose vining on a yard-sale chair. In the spring it will be covered by white roses.

This is the girls garden, currently it has lettuce, carrots and peas sprouting. (courtesy of Rod the builder)


More garden for me (again, courtesy of Rod the builder)! Peas, carrots, lettuce, and onions reside here.

Rod's "piece de resistance": a child's bench with planters built into the sides. I planted succulents in them, it looks awesome. The girls love it- a little bench just for them! Rod built this bench crazy fast- one night if you can believe it!

One of my favorite things about our yard is that all the bark came from our cut-down trees! Eco-friendly and free!!