Junior Prom

I know, more dance pictures.  I'm the one who has to keep buying dresses!  Ashlyn had the opportunity to attend Junior Prom last weekend.  She was asked by a boy at school who is in her Anatomy class, Ryan.  It was a bit strange sending her out with someone we don't know or whom we had never met.  However, he was super sweet and seemed like a really nice guy (he seemed so nervous picking her up, it was cute).  She looked beautiful - it's fun to get all dressed up and feel like a princess for the day.  They had a great time - the making of more high school memories.

Exploring beautiful Northern California

My sister, Anna came to visit for a few days a little while back.  Craig was in charge of the kids that weekend and they didn't have school Friday so he decided to take them to Lake Tahoe for the day to play in the snow.  Bryant has never seen snow (that he can remember) and the kids were anxious to have some snow playing time.  Luckily California had finally received some rain so we knew there would actually be snow.  The kids had fun sledding, building a snowman, and throwing snowballs at eachother.  They also enjoyed a little Costa Vita in Sacramento on their way home - always a highlight.

The same day the kids were heading east to Tahoe, Anna and I headed north thru Napa to Mendocino.  We spend much of our first day in Napa shopping, eating, and checking out the vineyards and the culinary academy.  Unfortunately the grape vines had all been recently pruned so it wasn't as picturesque as usual - but still an incredibly beautiful day.

No trip to Napa is complete without a stop at Taylor's Refresher (now Gott's) - pure eating heaven!

After Napa we headed to Mendocino on the northern coast of California.  We stayed in a really unique hotel called the Stanford Inn - an eco-resort where they grow their own food and have a award winning vegan restaurant.

 Saturday we enjoyed a hike thru the redwoods to a waterfall.  We also visited Glass Beach where the sand is made up of millions of tiny, smooth pieces of glass (it used to be a trash dump area so all the glass that was dumped into the ocean is now washing back up).  We visited a lighthouse and learned about life of a lighthouse keeper and the workings of the light.

 Such a scenic place!  Anna said it reminded her of being in Scotland.  Sunday morning we drove back down along the coast to return to San Francisco and drop Anna off at the airport.  It was a quick visit but super fun to explore a new place and spend some time catching up.

 Craig and I often comment that we feel we live in the most amazing place.  Where else can you have the family playing in the snow while mom and her sister are walking along the beach, not too far from home.  There are so many impressive places to visit and spend time right within a couple hours drive.  We love it here!

Basketball

Just finishing up a great season of basketball.  Our family loves basketball!  We had four players this year - made for a busy, fun time.  They played in four different leagues - we had find what was best for each player (no coed, no Sunday games, etc).  Ashlyn's games were during the week but the rest were on Saturdays.  We will miss basketball Saturdays.  Luckily Breann is starting a club team so we will still get a few games over the next three months.

Ashlyn played for the high school JV team.  It was such a great experience for her and a great way to be involved in her new high school.  She had an amazing coach that made it a formable life experience.  Sad to see it end (well, in some ways - not the take over your life, have practice on every day including holidays and breaks aspect).  Note her jersey number - #21 - the same as her dad :).

Mormal

This past weekend Ashlyn attended Mormal or 'Mormon Prom' - a regional, formal dance held at the Oakland Interstake Center on Temple Hill.  She was asked by Brody Rasmussen, a friend from our ward. The theme for the dance was Roaring 20's.  A group of friends met together before for a dinner, made by the boys (they had also decorated - so cute).  Such a fun night - great memories created.

Random happenings

I'm trying to keep this blog updated (I do count it as my family history/journal attempt) but I'm not doing a very good job.  Here are a few things I indented to blog about over the past month or so but just haven't gotten around to it.

Ashlyn FINALLY got her drivers license.  We did everything as fast as possible but it's a 6+ month process here.  License test day didn't come without a funny story.  We bought a second car a few months back that Craig has been using when he is home and that we intended to be the 'kid' car when Ashlyn got her license.  It's an older Honda Accord and has been a great little car.  However, over Christmas it would randomly not start sometimes, particularly when it had been stopped and restarted multiple times.  This problem was random and lasted for a few weeks but then seemed to have gone away.  The day we go take the test, we are parked in the test start area - she is so nervous - the guy comes out and asks her to start the car - it won't start.  She keeps turning the key and the engine screeches but it won't hold.  I ask the guy if I can get it going, would he still let her take the test.  I knew from experience that if I gave it some gas right after starting it and then hurry and throw it into drive it would go.  I drive it around the block a few times and then come back - leaving it running.  The DNV test administrator reluctantly lets her take the test.  Her test was super fast - I think he was so scared the car was going to break down somewhere along the route that he just wanted to get it done with quickly.  A very stressful situation that luckily ended with a driver's license in hand.  And, of course, it hasn't had any problems since!  It's so nice having another driver - a bit scary sometimes - but so helpful.

We've had a few Monday holidays over the past month.  A few weeks ago we decided to spend one of these in San Francisco.  I hadn't taken the kids into the city since we've moved back.  It was a beautiful day and it reminded me how much I love San Francisco.  We played at the beach with friends and then just cruised around China Town and Embarcadero.

A few years ago I decided I was getting close to ready to return to school for graduate degree.  I began working with a few charitable organisations in Singapore so that I would have some experience to help me with admission.  I did quite a bit of research and chose New England University in Maine - they offered a top online program that fit my needs, particularly with flexibility (they will let me do my fieldwork internationally if we move oversea's again).  I was accepted into Masters of Social Work program and began in January.  I LOVE it!  It will take me four years to complete (and then an additional two years to license in CA).  I look forward to doing my 'school work' each day - I love the readings and the analysis of subject matter and the group discussions.  It's hard getting used to all the writing - but I did get an A on my first paper (thanks partly to Ashlyn's proof reading - now there's a role reversal)!

Right after we moved into our house, a friend of mine was visiting and suggested I stain my stair banister dark.  I thought it was a great idea and decided once I was settled I would take on the project.  It was quite a bit of work but dang does it look good.  It's fun having a house again that we can improve and change (it's been over 6 years since we lived in a house we owned).  Still trying to decorate (no curtains yet) but it's been fun to watch in transform and become 'home'.  

Christmas 2013

In many ways it's been nice to be back in the states for Christmas.  It's a little easier to feel the Christmas spirit with a chill in the air and it seems easier to fulfil our own Christmas traditions here.  Craig has been home for the whole month which has been a major bonus.  Our build-up for the holiday included attending MS orchestra concert, HS choir concert, school play, community concert, and temple lights.  Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Larsen, one of our Christmas traditions is the set up of our Lego Christmas Village.  Each year they add a new set to our festive display.  This year we had to remake the whole thing due to breakage during the move.  Many hours were spent by all on the living room floor finding pieces and working together.

The kids had the chance to sit on Santa's lap at the ward Christmas breakfast and let him know what they desired.  For Bryant: Bobo Fett costume and rainbow loom.  Alexa: American Girl horse and rainbow loom.  Dallin's answer (yes, he sat on his lap too) - a Lamborghini Aventador, matte black (Santa made sure another color would be ok if matte black wasn't available :).  

 Bryant was priviledged to be a wiseman at the ward Christmas celebration (the one in the red vest with gold crown).

 Our traditional Mary and Joseph hike on Christmas Eve is something we have done without fail, in multiple states and countries, for as many years as can be remembered.  We have fun reminiscing every year, remembering all the places we have hiked over the years.  This year we stayed close to home and hiked in the hills right around us.  A beautiful day and incredible 360 degree views.

The joys of Christmas morning!  

At this time of year we are forever grateful for the opportunity to celebrate Christ and spend precious time together as a family.

December Birthdays

December is an unusually busy celebration month at the Bruschke's - 3 birthdays and Christmas.  We start the month celebrating Ashlyn and Dallin.  They were both born December 1st but we usually give them their own day and celebrate one the day after (it's hard to eat that much cake).  December 1st fell on a Sunday this year so a bit uneventful (and we returned the night before from Thanksgiving in Southern Cal).  We celebrated Ashlyn on Sunday by inviting some friends over for cake (her choice: lemon).  Gifts for a 17 year old - new basketball shoes and much wanted Northface jacket.

 Dallin took a Monday night celebration, the next day.  His cake choice - carrot.  Gifts for a 15 year old - bus ticket to Idaho to spend a week with Singapore friends and money.

Bryant's birthday is three days after Christmas - a week of gifts for this poor kid.  We actually celebrated the 26th cause dad, Breann and Dallin were all leaving.  His cake choice - chocolate.  Gifts for a 7 year old - Lego Wii game, Lego book, and a 'hoody'.