The Kaweah Oak Preserve

This weekend we decided we were due for a little adventure, so we headed out to the Kaweah Oak Preserve. It is always neat to see the valley in, what may seem like, its natural state. The Yokut Tribes were once the largest tribe in North America. Tulare Lake was a large factor in that it made the surrounding area fertile. The lake once reached from as far east as Kettleman City, to as far west as Lemoore. This made it the largest freshwater lake in the United States. Eventually the damming and destruction of the lake and the Yokut people changed the landscapre dramatically. The Preserve we visited has attempted to recreate a similar landscape, and minus the abundance of water, have done a pretty fair job. In whatever season we visit the preserve, it is always beautiful.

Giving Emery a lesson about oak galls.

Emery loves cows and was very excited to discover these guys.

Not so sure about the oak galls.

Emery was a great little hiker and loved walking along the trails.

17 Months

Emery is 17 months now! She seems to think she is quite the big girl these days. Her new words that we wrote down (I feel like there are more but can't remember them) for this month are: Grandpa, yee-haw, ready, apple, hey-o, potty, ta-da, purple, and blue. She recognizes when we get to places she's familar with (Grandpa and Grandma's house, the cousin's house, etc) and she gets so excited in her carseat, kicking her legs, exclaiming, and pointing.

 

This pictures are from a couple afternoons at the Nickell cousin's house playing outside.

She and Natalie were so cute playing together in Natalie's little tent. I love that she's old enough now to do things like this without any prompting.

Emery decided she was big enough to try out one of their scooters. No one told her what to do she just watched the cousins and then did it herself.

Christmas Day

We started Christmas morning bright and early by going to our church's Christmas morning service at 7:00am. Jonah and I led the carols along with Pastor Bruce. (Once again sorry for any blurry pictures but my lense is probably going to be broken for a while)

 

Evan got to light the last Advent Candle and Pastor Bruce read the kids a book and when Emery saw her cousins up on stage she wanted to be up there as well so her daddy took her up.

 

The Nickell kids played and sang Little Drummer Boy  together. They did a great job and everyone enjoyed the performance.

Cousins in Christmas pjs.

Back at our house we hosted Christmas for Jonah's family so we waited for his siblings to arrive between 9:00-10:00am.  There were TONS of presents.

All the Trevino cousins.

Getting ready to open gifts.

 

 There was wrapping paper and presents everywhere!



Everyone had to leave around 2:00pm so we cleaned up a bit real quick and then headed out to my parent's house for round 2. 

All the Chandler cousins.



Being the youngest Emery got to open the first gift, her cousins were happy to help her.

We decided to do Secret Santa this for gifts and it seemed to work out really well. Jonah got Evan and gave him Squigz. Evan had requested these and was quite pleased.

Playing with the Squigz.

Daddy reading Emery and new book from Pastor Bruce.

Emery got new pj pants to match her cousins.

 

All in all it was a very blessed and happy Christmas celebrating together with the people who are dear to us.