Happy New Year!

Our new year celebration consisted of an invasion from several Buckeyes. Bo and Sarah came out for a visit followed by Grandma and Grandpa Bishop. It was great to finally meet Sarah since we had heard so much about her through our family. She is a special gal and seems to be one that is perfect for keeping Bo out of trouble! They seem to be a good fit and we are excited about the commitments that they will be making this summer. May your marriage exemplify Christ's love for the church and may your ministry in marriage be fruitful!

We took Bo and Sarah on a trip to Hollywood to take in the sites. Who knows... perhaps we'll be walking the red carpet someday to see one of Bo's films. Or maybe we'll walk down the alley to throw a few coins in his tin cup ;) Ha! Love ya bo. Just don't make a homemade costume and charge people to have their pictures taken with you!

We also crashed the scene at the Santa Monica Pier. It was a great evening of sushi, shopping, and the scrambler. Let the good times roll.

And of course Lyndi always loves visiting the pier. She is going to love roller coasters someday! Until then, the kiddie rides will have to do.

Our Christmas with the Bishop family was held on New Year's Eve. We enjoyed a simple Christmas with the family and enjoyed watching Lyndi open her new presents. For Christmas this year Lyndi helped daddy bake a birthday cake for Jesus and we celebrated his birth together. It was a special day for daddy.

OK, this is where things get a bit crazy. I think Grandma Linda had to much sparkling cider on New Year's Eve. Things got a little out of hand... and it was only 10pm. Since this time, Linda has been living with us in transition to moving out to California and I must say that she has been a HUGE blessing to us. Heather has been able to work days and get off of the graveyard shift. I've up'd my hours in my M.Div. program to 17 hours and am looking forward to graduating next summer. So two cheers for Linda... one for each horn stuck in her ear! :)

Not sure who this guy is. I think he was a whino that walked in off the street after hearing about the amazing steak dinner that the ladies made for us. Anyway, we took him in, fed him, and then shipped him off to the land of hairless nuts with no commercial value (Ohio). :) Yes, this is Grandpa Fred enjoying an evening of rest and celebrating the New Year in his own way. This is also Grandpa Fred at work... and when he watches the football game... and.... Ha! Love ya Fred! Sell the house and come home to us soon. We miss walking over your slumbering body! ;)

Back home again in Indiana...

It was great to make a trip back to Indiana and see the family once again. It seems to be a yearly ritual and our short taste of what consists of a Mid-Western winter. Below I have posted some of the pictures from our adventure to Indiana.

This is a picture of Lyndi with her new friends: Khadijha and Al. It was the first Christmas that Lyndi was "aware" of what was going on and loved unwrapping her presents. It was a fun and exciting time.



Somehow I was the one appointed to take the kids down to a small local park to play with the kids in the snow. It was fun. I almost lost Khadijha when I spun the merry-go-round a little to fast. She has a strong grip! :)

Lyndi loves the swings and she seems to have enjoyed them even more with a snowy scene to enjoy. I had the task of keeping 3 children swinging as I ran back and forth between them. I had a great time though!

We also had a chance to visit our friend Melissa and her boyfriend Jerry. We had dinner at at a place Heather and I used to frequent, La Charreada, then we drove through the walkway of lights and had coffee at the Tree of Life where Jerry and Melissa had the urge to cuddle vegetables and sit in the kiddy section of the store. :) Good times.