Michael and Allie's Winter Concerts

Michael played violin in his concert and Allie sang in a choir concert. In the picture of Michael's concert he is in the back row, far left. In Allie's picture she is standing in the front row 2nd from the left. They are blessed to perform in such a beautful audiorium. Their school building is truly amazing and filled with history. This is the auditorium that was restored a few years ago.

December in full swing

Well, things are getting busy at our house. We start "mom's 12 days of Chirstmas" this week. Michael and Allie have an Orchestra concert and a Choir concert. Alex is still in soccer and Pete and I are hanging on by the seat of our pants most days:) Really- despite the business, we do love this time of year and watching the kids get so excited!

A couple of Thank You's and news I wanted to post....


Thanks Trish and Sherry for a wonderful girl's night out,,,,,and I love my shoes (and outfit)!!!

Thanks Walt and Pam for making me feel so special. I love being a part of the "McNeill family"

Thanks Cassie for "kid containing" a very lively bunch!

Thanks Megan for a fun party and a chance to catch up with all the people I love!

CONGRATS to Kaitlin and Ian on your engagement!

and YEAH Jenny and Kevin on the soon to be number 3!

Hope everyone has a good week and gets some fun time with your families!

Pete's Chirstmas party pic

Alex playing soccer

Here are some shots of the fast boy in action! He is having so much fun this season. He gets all giddy when he wakes up and remembers it's "GAME DAY"!!!!

Allie and Michael "cleansing"

Allie and Michael are sharing a different bond than they have before. Pete and I think it has to do with going to their own school and sharing that "new" experience together. But they have started giggling over private jokes and talking with each other in their rooms while they hang out, and it is pretty cool. Alex is still included so don't feel bad for him:)

For those of you who know the twins, you have to admit they have never really had the "twin thing" going on. In fact, last year most of the class didn't know they were related until Christmas. So it is a cool thing to watch your kids be friends! As well as Michael and Allie having some cool bonding times, Alex and I have enjoyed some alone time this year. The car ride to and from school has given us some special talk time.

So here is a picture of that "bonding". They came out and scared me!

Ending in Santa Cruz

Carmel Tree Lighting

Who gave him sugar?

more fun from the room

The kids enjoyed spying on divers, sea lions and other hotel guests ( did I say that? )

"Why can't I wear it?"

There were five in the bed, and the mama said, " can we have a suite next time?"

Allie was all excited about the robe, and Alex was feeling left out!

Around the Town...

Monterey Bay Aquarium

We're back

We're back....what a fun busy weekend. I'll post more tomorrow. This is where we ended the weekend. Now, I have to say..... Santa Cruz can't hold a stick to Ocean Drive in Carmel. Well, as for this tired mama, I'm off to bed (gotta love your own bed!)

Michael in the center

The line up

Michael is in the red socks, getting ready to run for the catch.

Allie and I running to take down Steven

The TACKLE football game

Now, this is the game the boys have been waiting for. A bunch of our friends started this a few years ago. We all play a tackle football game Thanksgiving weekend. Adults, and kids. Of course the adults take it easy on the kids, but it still gets pretty entertaining! No one got hurt, and everyone had a blast. Allie and I joined in this year, while Pete was our photographer (still injured:) What a fun day!

Here is one of the boys getting eachother. Michael has on red socks and Alex has black shorts.

Look at me mom, I did it!

Allie was a little more hesitant to make the leap off of the ladder onto the roof- but she did it! Then she managed to stay up and help the whole time, while the boys attention span wasn't quite as long. Good job Allie! You get the job of light strand straightener

the boys thinking of all kinds of things they aren't allowed to do!

We're on the roof!

Allie putting clips on the gutter

Thanksgiving day Turkey Bowl-"I'm a big boy now"

They finally got to play with the big boys. This was quite a big deal to Alex who has waited patiently on the sidelines since he was, I don't know, Two. Unfortunately Pete couldn't play this time around from a sprained calf muscle that happened in a soccer game a week ago. The boys had a great time!

don't worry-this is just dress up for school!

Michael and Allie had "spirit week" a few weeks ago. They participated boldly in each day's theme. (including michael wearing pony tails on crazy hair day!). This picture is from "I want to be a rockstar day". Scary how old they look. Notice in the next picture how short Michael's hair is compared to a few weeks ago.

A little catch up...

I know I've been quite the blogging slacker lately! Sorry. Here are some misc. pictures from the last few weeks, or days. Enjoy!

scroll down to read, these pics are a little out of order:)

Over the stadium

This one's for you, Michael

Tim and Sabrina

A visit to see my brother and sister in law in Pullman, Washington

Alex's speech

this is a little dark, but Alex is in the white shirt ready to give his speech for shool treasurer.

Allie's volleyball party

Michael in action

Kacia and a little bit of Kevin

pics from my birthday....

Michael in the new house

To catch you up....

We're all moved in, our sale closed last Friday....many thanks to the best agent in the world!!! We are excited for this new phase in our life. The kids have enjoyed playing in leaf piles,,,which we now have, and the weeping willow tree leaves a lot of fun branches to snap your brother with:). I have enjoyed the big neighborhood to run in(especially with all the leaves right now) and Pete and I are enjoying sleeping and exhaling after a very busy 2 weeks.

Allie finished volleyball, Michael finished soccer, and Alex starts soccer today!

I went to see my brother and sister in law in Pullman last weekend.It was a nice break for me after a busy week. The time down to sac and the flight gave me good reflection time. I had never been to WSU and it was fun to see their life, and where they both teach. It was a beautiful campus! Cold-but brilliantly sunny! We walked all over the campus, went to a Shakespere play, Tim cooked a wonderful gourmet dinner, we went to a "grad bar" that had amazing jazz music, and they gave me the VIP treatment at a restaraunt that their friend is a chef at. I got to see Sabrina's class and Tim's office and where he teaches. It was so nice to get a glimpse into their everyday life! and yes, I came back with red and grey surprises for the kids (he he, Pete:))

I'm home off this morning (the first in a while!) So.... a run, a little coffee, computer time and I think I hear the couch calling me to come sit and read.

Hope you all are having a great fall! Here are a few pics,,,,more later! Love you all, Bre

The Nomadic Golden Family!!!

Yes, sometimes I feel like we are nomads-despite my desire to have one house that I die in, God seems to have other plans. So, the official news is that the sale of our house is set to close next week! After much prayer this summer, Pete and I listed the house with Kevin (my brother in law) the house sold in a month, and has been in escrow for about a month. That time frame is nearly a miracle itself in our market! God has laid it on our hearts to try to pay down Pete's students loans and live debt free . After much prayer and advice, we decided to take advantage of the depressed market and rent for a year or so to do that. We have felt God asking us to submit to His leading. It has been a hard decision, in that we loved our house, and were so blessed by what it provided for our family. But we are excited to see what God has in store as we submit to His plan. Over the past year, Pete has felt a desire to be in ministry. We have no idea if that is where we will end up, but we are trying to put ourselves in a position to be easily used by God if He opens up that door. The California housing market has gone through a big down slide this year. We had happened to buy at the highest point of the market a few years ago. Good timing! We are hoping to be able to take advantage of the lower prices and end up in a cheaper mortgage. But for the next year, we are renting a house a few miles from the twins school. It is in a beautiful neighborhood, and provides a little more space. God even blessed us with landlords that go to our church. So please pray for us as we make this adjustment. Pray for God to move where He wills us to be, and for us to be obedient and have hearts that He will use. Pray for our emotions as we pull apart the roots we have to this world, and seek to place them solely in our King. As for now, you all have to pencil in our new address for a year or so......I'll post pictures later next week!