Tryin' for a good family picture ...

Will post more pics later, but here's our attempt at a good family picture ... Ellie was having nothing to do with it!

Okay, so maybe it didn't work (for that last shot we put her bottle near the camera which is why she got so mad).  It doesn't matter, that Ellie Belly still is one cute girlie!

a beautiful hike in Santa Paula ...

Today we went on a beautiful 6-7 mile hike to the Punch Bowls in Santa Paula with Matthew's Boy Scout Troop 406.  We kind of took our own trails for part of it, but did make it.  Here are a few pictures ...

So proud of that boy!

This Reading class assignment was not an easy one, but my boy and I tackled it, and it turned out pretty darn well! 

Bagels, bagels, bagels ...

We love bagels in our household, so I thought I'd take a stab at baking some today ... they didn't turn out half bad.  We have some Parmesan cheese ones (Matthew's favorite is Asiago cheese), some Everythings, and a couple of plain.  Matthew and I taste tested a Parmesan and it wasn't terrible.

Ahhhhh ...

The dogs love the sunshine after a wonderful rain ...

That Tiger dog loves his daddy!

Yup - Tiger loves to be touching his Dad as much as possible - and when it gets late into the evening, he also protects him fiercely! 

The Band Boy (again!)

This was the boy at the Fillmore Middle School Winter Concert - he looks so grown up all dressed up in a tie!

Yay - we got our Christmas Tree!

With the forecast of rain, we were a little worried we wouldn't be able to get our tree this weekend, but there was a break in the rain yesterday afternoon, and so here it is!

And, that green jacket I have on has been worn for many many years for our trek to pick out a Christmas tree.  I haven't worn it for quite a while, but decided to put it on just for this occasion. 

The Marching Band Boy Part 2!

Matthew was in the Annual Fillmore Christmas Parade today - it was so cool to see him marching down the street with 97 other members of the Fillmore Middle School Marching Band!  Here are a few pictures of that boy who is growing up waaaay too fast ...

This first picture is of the whole group marching ...

Now the boy ...

And our Fillmore Parade would not be complete without ...

a bright yellow hummer owned by our local Edison's Up in Arms (the storefront says 'guns, ammo, gifts').  Yup, our local gun shop!

Next, we had 14 of these (but I only included a few pictures) ...

Gotta love this local parade!

And, last but not least ...

Santa on the Fillmore Fire Department's Fire Truck!

It was an awesome parade - good job Fillmore!

Some antiques, and an antique cat to go with it!

I caught Mindy Lou sitting outside sunning herself yesterday - she was hanging out amongst the other 'antiques'.  She is, after all, about 23 years old - that pretty much classifies her as an antique don't you think?!

The Marching Band Boy!

Tomorrow, Matthew will be in his very first parade as a member of Fillmore Middle School's Marching Band!  Here's a preview shot of him in his 'uniform' (sadly, they don't have enough band uniforms, so they had tshirts made up).  I'd say he looks pretty sharp!

And, he's going to be in the Winter Concert next week - for that he has to wear a tie!

Check him out in these preview shots!

 

I'd say that boy dresses up pretty well!

More pictures?! Yup!

Oh, that Ellie loves her Papa, and she thinks her Grandma Lisa is pretty okay too ...

She was pretty intent on what Uncle Matt was eating ... she's a very curious cutie!

 

Hanging out with Papa some more is pretty fun ...

  As shot of Beth and Kona - we all relaxed outside in the morning the day after Thanksgiving - it was beautiful!

 Katie and Beth ...

 

It was a really nice Thanksgiving - and we have so much to be thankful for!

Just a whole BUNCH of pictures!