California Dreaming

We went to Santa Rosa for a little over a week in January.  It was SO MUCH FUN!  We got to see lots of people, welcome my baby brother home from his mission, and just be home.  It was so awesome (even if we did get the flu).

Lydia was entertained on the plane with Roy's iPhone. 

We found a play place in Coddingtown Mall, went on walks, went to the school playground, hit up Train Town in Sonoma, and went to the Snoopy Museum.  It was just so fun to spend time with grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins.  I loved seeing how much fun my kids had and how happy they were being there.

 Like true boys, Sam and cousin Logan bonded over mulch and mud.

Abby rolled off her bed and onto Sam's mattress one night. 

See that guy next to Sam?  Yeah, that's my brother, the returned missionary.  Yes, he's riding on a carousel.  We were quite glad to see that he still knew how to have a good time.

Nothing like some technology to further the bonding. 

Psychiatric help?  More like psychiatric inducers! :) 

Snoopy and Abby sharing cookies. 

Grandma Z, we took this one for you.

Can you tell that Santa Rosa is proud of it's Snoopy heritage?  I love finding all the fun statues around town and passing on the Snoopy and Charlie Brown love to my kids.  My cool Aunt Carla and Grandma gave Snoopy dolls to Abby and Sam to remember their visit and they sleep with them pretty much every night.  My favorite game they play with them is when Abby is Snoopy and Sam is Snoopy-doo.  I just love hearing their creativity. :)

December Happenings

I was getting a little overwhelmed because I haven't posted a lot recently.  Then I looked through these pictures tonight and realized it's because we've had non-stop fun.  So here's for another photo dump, but this time with some explanation:

Seeing Santa and his elf and a night at Christmas Towne (Busch Gardens):

Roy took both Abby and Sam on a go-kart.  Abby was happy to race her cousins and cheer on the sidelines, but Sam was beyond thrilled to ride in Lightening McQueen with Daddy.  He just wanted to go faster the whole time.

It took a few days to decorate our Christmas tree, but that just gave the kids time to get creative with decorations.  Sam is displaying his cars and Angry Birds as ornaments:

We do a family movie night on Fridays with our dinner.  For the month of December, the kids got to open a new movie each Friday (thanks to $4 movies on Black Friday).  It was fun to watch them anticipating the whole day what movie we would open and watch.  I love Sam's squinty-eyed smile.

We went to a concert at the high school where they had high schoolers walking around in Disney costumes while the band played Disney music.  It was awesome!  They even let the kids go up before and explore the instruments.  The kids all loved it!  It was a highlight for Abby to meet Belle and Ariel.

 One of the churches nearby does a Bethlehem Walk every December.  The kids enjoyed the whole thing, but the petting zoo of stable animals was a highlight.

We made gingerbread houses and, for the first time, it was more fun than frustrating. :)  It probably helps that I made the house ahead of time so the frosting was all hard and the houses didn't collapse.  The kids were especially proud of their snowmen made from marshmallows.  They got huge creative points for that one because they worked together to come up with a plan for not just putting it together, but being sure they had all the face and buttons...even a carrot nose made from a sprinkle.  Love these kids!

Just regular old moments of down time:

Christmas Eve and Christmas morning:

Abby was super thoughtful and got Sam an eagle to match the one she had.  He wanted one for himself for a long time and Abby really impressed me with knowing that was just what she would get for him for Christmas. 

Abby's birthday celebration:

And thus the Lego obsession began...more on that love later.

Fall Photo Dump

Some of these pictures may be repeats, but they make me so happy!  We had a fun fall.

Family Christmas Letter 2012

Here is our family letter we sent out to some of you.  I already know I didn't get it out to everyone we wanted (sorry), but we had a busy December and January so it just didn't happen....but now you can read it on our blog and check out our newest family picture:


The Zwahlen family survived the year of the Mayan Apocalypse with only two catastrophic changes.  We didn’t move and we didn’t change jobs. J

Abigail loves preschool, Music Makers, playgroup, and playdates especially because they all involve new and old friends.  We are continually impressed by her compassion and love for everyone she meets.  She manages to balance this uncanny maturity with Barbies, Tinker Bell, Princesses, and telling jokes.  She loves having a little sister (more on that later) and thinks her brother is ok.

Samuel has spurned the diaper and the crib much to his mother’s delight.  He loves Cars, Angry Birds, Music Makers, Kindle, playgroup, and insulting his father.  His favorite insults include, but are not limited to, “you have a big nose” and “goodnight stinky pants.”  Sam absolutely adores his little sister and thinks his other sister is ok too.

Lydia Jane was born March 21, 2012.  She is an angel.  Abby and Sam wear her out every day and she is by far our best sleeper.  Lydia loves to participate in Abby and Sam’s playtime by shrieking and trying to scoot to be close to the action.

Michelle loves being a mom.  Having 3 kids 24/7 leaves little time for anything else.  Michelle does teach Primary at church, preschool, leads Music Makers, and dabbles in new crafty things (thanks, Pinterest).  However, most of her day is filled with keeping her three little bosses happy.

Roy loves his job.  He is grateful and feels blessed to have found work he enjoys.  He loves the policy, politics, the crazies, and the lunatics (much worse than the crazies).  BIO  keeps giving him interesting projects to do and sending him to interesting places.  This year included a trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, checking one item off his bucket list.

Our family hopes this year brought you peace, prosperity, and the love of family, friends, and associates.  Happy New Year!