Pretzel Making at Home

Haley and I were craving pretzels so we decided to find
an online recipe and try to make some ourselves.
As you can see Haley is ready to head to Cold Stone with
hat and apron on, but she was kind enough to take a picture
of our venture before she ran out the door.

Connor and David had a lot of fun making and eating their
own pretzel. They were fun to make, delicious and eaten
before the rest of the family had a chance to sample them.

Here is Haley with a long piece of dough ready to be twisted.
It takes some practice to do it like Aunt Annie.

Haley's Pretzel Twisting Video

Shaun and Keiths Surf Trip

Here's Shaun heading out to catch some waves.

It always feels good to get your fist ride in!

Shaun tackling the white water.


Keith in the water shooting footage w/new waterproof camera.


Check out these cool video shots of Shaun riding waves in Santa Cruz.

Red and White Dinner

This is Haley's Valentine Dinner creation; Fruit Pizza.
Haley has become an amazing cook and cake builder.
We are lucky to have her around and will miss her when she
heads off to college.



Every Valentines Day, we have a red and white dinner. This year we had pink dinner rolls with pink butter and red strawberry jam, pink pot roast and pink mashed potatoes with tasty pink lemonade to wash it all down. No one wanted to try the red beets this year so we snuck in some green beans with the white califlower just to be healthy.



Keith got me some beautiful red roses and the kids loved their treats from Grandma and pa along with the traditional Valentine balloons that they tie to their chairs. The tradition goes that the balloon that stays up the longest is the most loved child. It has been nearly three weeks and they are still floating high so we decided to set them free. It was fun to watch them fly away.

Disneyland Fun

Indiana Jones was amazing. Connor drove our jeep and got us around and through all the dangers without injury. We humored Keith and went on the Small World ride for the first time in many years. I think we were all relieved that we could sit a rest while we floated through the never ending chorus of "It's a small World."



Connors favorite ride was the new Buzz Lightyear arcade. It was an amazingly fun ride. We went through so many times, our arms were sore from shooting the targets.



When the kids were little, we literally ran from ride to ride, pushing strollers and hanging on to hands. We always were there when the gates opened and stayed until the lights went out. This trip went at a much slower pace and everyone was ready to head home before the park closed. We even had time to stop and enjoy the scenery. What's going on?

Newport Coast Villas and Disneyland Trip Feb. 6th-9th 2010

Bathing beauties by the pool at the Newport Coast Villas

Jen enjoying the luxury room she shared with Haley

Haley playing ping pong by the pool

Family dinner at "California Pizza Kitchen"

Keith and Connor pondering their next moves

Riding Bikes along Newport Beach

Ready to "Pump Gas"at California Adventure Park

Jen practicing for her drivers test at the "Autopia"

Tea Anyone?

Connor attempting to pullout the "Sword in the Stone"

Connor"s trip to Alcatraz with the Scouts--January 20, 2010

Connor and Keith on the ferry over to Alcatraz. They were with a group of 27 Scouts and leaders.

Watch out kid, you'll shoot your eye out!!

Connor is admiring the entrance to the main prison block house where Al Capone and other famous gangsters were locked up.

Keith took this great shot of Connor with San Francisco in the background. It's only a mile and a half swim in 52 degree water with 6-8 knot side currents! Any takers?

Al Capone's cell with all the comforts of home. Connor decided he liked his own room back home better.

Connor shot this of Keith with the city in the background. It was a great trip although Connor concluded that Alcatraz was interesting to visit but he wouldn't want to live there.

Family Temple Trip--December 29, 2009

All of us Together at the Oakland Temple for baptisms!

Haley and Laura relaxing after the baptisms in the visitor center.
Connor and Laura checking out the displays.
We celebrated our Temple baptism Trip by eating out at "Fuzios". It was the first time in six years that we had the whole family together! Everyone agreed that performing the baptisms and confirmations on behalf of over forty of our own ancestors on the Mills side made the experience extra special. Grandmother Mills had submitted the names and was thrilled that we finished these ordinances for them.