Ella (and Eric's) big moments in December!!!

Congrats to Ella and Eric, for winning the Redwood City U12 Championship!  Then, they played 4 more games against all the teams in the Area from San Francisco to RWC, and won that the following weekend!  Then, with a team member in a cast, and Ella injured, they played 4 more games and came in 2nd in the Region, meaning teams from Nor Cal, Washington, Nevada and Oregon!  It was a terrific season with an amazing end.  They had so much fun and really supported each other!  Eric, Ella and Anna all have found a soccer family in the community!

Ella after getting her boot to help secure her leg and ankle, so it can heal, so she can do Winter Select!

Ella joined the Young Women at Church!  She is a Beehive in Karen Schofield's class.  She loves it and has already completed 2 personal project goals...that-a girl!  how do you spell that?

She had a blast with 5 of her friends at the movies and arcade to celebrate her 12th Birthday.  She also got on the Honor Roll at school.  Thatta girl!

We love our Ella and are immensely grateful for her sweet and fun personality, caring ways, and willingness to try hard in school, sports and church.   We love you so much and are so excited to see all you do in Year 12 of your Life!  XOXOXO  Ella!!!!!

Thanksgiving 2015

Fall 2015

Colton started Pre-K on this day, and this was Olivia's first week of second grade at John Gill, Ella's first week of sixth grade at North Star, and Anna's second week of freshman year at Sequoia.

Walking to school with Greta and Jane

Colton at Carillon

Colton with Lena at Redwood Church Preschool

Olivia started AYSO!  Eric is the Assistant Coach

We ran the Palo Alto Moonlight Run!  Olivia kept up with me doing the 5K with no training!  How did she do that?  She is only 7?!  Ella, Lindsay and Kassidy were amazing running the 5K at great times, but the real athlete was my dad, who came in 7th for his age group running the 6K at age 71!!!!  I was amazed.  We all ran the last 1/2 mile together and crossed the finish line together!!!!!  I need to get that picture!

Can't believe I don't have a single picture of the big girls on Halloween!!!!  Oh well, everyone had an incredible time trick or treating in the neighborhood with their school friends, eating Mexican food and walking the gorgeous streets on a beautiful night and enjoying our fun friends in our neighborhood.

Oh man, a few more years of Lemos Farm with my babies at Halloween time.  And then Half Moon Bay after that.  Please don't grow up little kids.

When it rains, it is worth taking a picture in a drought!  Also, she keeps my camera full of photos of her busy life mothering her dolls and Barbies.

One of the most exciting days of our lives was watching Ella score 4 goals to win AYSO Championship game a few weekends ago. I can't believe I don't have footage of her charging down the field, doing tricks and shooting the goal.

The fans and family!

And onto the Area AYSO tournament this weekend.  I am sooo proud of Ella!  I love and adore her so much!!!!  XOXO Ella and my family for fall!!!

Pictures from our trip to St. John, Canada and New York City for mom's 70th Birthday Party!

Romantic pictures before dinner at Botticellis

that's eric

that's me

What a cute town St. John, Canada is!

Lots of American History in the beautiful cemetery and churches

Eric on Canadian tv explaining our diversion to Canada from Bermuda because of Hurrican Joaquin!

shopping for records in St. John for Eric

cute market!

back on the cruise!

why not celebrate my birthday coming 2 weeks later?  the desserts are free,  but the singing and hat...got to do it there

This is what I have learned from Eric from Day 1 of our honeymoon:  it's all about the food and the view, and here they are together in one glorious shot

Statue of Liberty and NYC skyline

Part 2

I lost Eric who had to go home to responsibilities

Teejay and Rachel took us the neatest museums and restaurants - mmmm

Shopping in NYC-thanks for the new purse mom

Canal Street - we didn't really like it very well but we loved the McDonalds

9/11 Museum and Reflection Pool - so happy we got to go experience that .  I'll never forget it.

Only 2.75 to ride the subway????  No wonder people don't have cars...didn't realize you can see all of NYC so easily...so different than the Bay Area where you sit in a traffic jam to get anywhere

I loved the Brooklyn Bridge - so much history and that NYC skyline - wow

Central Park is my new favorite place

I didn't see this, but my mom and dad continued on to the Hamptons and saw Martha Stewart's house through the gate.  shout out to you martha, i love you

HUGE THANK YOU to Eric's parents who watched our 3 kids while we were gone.  Our kids didn't want to leave being with them when Eric came home.  Also, a huge thank you to Dina, who let Anna sleep there 3 nights to make it easier to get to school and seminary!  XOXO  We're so lucky to have such great friends and family!!!!