Ode to Bubbles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyQ-cW35F2o

Isaiah got a kick playing with his cool bubble toy, as well as watching this cute Sesame Street video (over and over and over and over and....)

Ethan and Isaiah - Cousins and Buds

We love Ethan! He is such a wild and crazy guy! Here are some cute pics from our recent picnic at the park with Luke and Isaiah's adorable cousin...

Silly Moments at the Toslands

More Silly Isaiah Moments (Naughty is also an adjective that could fit here)

Nap time for Isaiah is often just a time he spends in his room playing dress up or practicing his potty training (yeah right). This day, he came out of his room naked (fortunately, his shirt is covering the fun) and in this construction hat. I started laughing hysterically and grabbed the camera. What's so funny about Isaiah is that the kid never once breaks a smile.

Its hard to see here, but that is marker all over our computer monitor. Yes, it is quite exciting. My little man is officially a toddler artist. Once again, all you can do is laugh and embrace the Kodak moment.

Silliness is of course extremely contagious, and who better to catch it from than the King Of Silly himself - Ethan. Put these two boys together and you get hours of entertainment (better than cable TV, people). Last week, we got to hang out a couple of days with Ethan at the park. He and Isaiah went bug hunting and caught a rolli polli (I'm sure there is a better spelling for that). It was the highlight of our day.

Isaiah is a good big brother, teaching his brother right. Luke wants to get in on the action now. This morning, he gleefully flung his bow of cereal down on the ground. The sight was beautiful, cereal gliding across the room and splattering against the wall. It brought a proud tear to my eye.

Fresno Blower Massacre

Basketball Season Ends

And just like that... basketball season is over. After a record breaking season of wins and league championship, the Eagles' season ended this week after a Valley Championship loss to Mission Prep (San Luis Obispo) and a State Playoff loss to Sierra Canyon (LA). We are still so very proud of these girls and the best coach in the world. Watch out next year. Go Eagles!



Here are some links to articles and pictures about the games.

State Playoff Game
http://www.fresnobee.com/sports/hs/basketball/story/442111.html

Valley Championship Game
http://www.fresnobee.com/sports/hs/basketball/story/433580.html

Pre Game Highlights
http://www.fresnobee.com/sports/hs/basketball/story/431302-p2.html

On Line Photo Gallery of Valley Championship Game

http://www.maxpreps.com/Galleries.aspx/ImageList?PhotoGalleryID=d899a260-7b42-47fa-ad3b-520606b60c41&EventName=Fresno+Christian+vs.+Mission+Prep+(CIF+CS+D5+Finall)&SaveReferrer=true

Next Stop... Selland Arena

We're going to Selland Arena, Baby!

The Eagles won their 2nd playoff game Wednesday night against Bakersfield Christian (see the FC Paper "The Feather" for more details. http://www.thefeather.com/?page=articles&id=54141

Tomorrow, Friday the 29th of February, we are playing in the Valley Championship Game at Selland Arena at 2pm. We are playing against Mission Prep of San Luis Obispo. They have won the Championship 15 years in a row, so it would be really something to de-throne them. Please say some prayers for the team and come show your support if you can. This is some pretty exciting stuff that is making this very long basketball season for our family very worth it. Go Eagles!

We'll keep you posted.

Team FC - Basketball Playoffs

Friday night, the Fresno Christian Girls Basketball Team had their first playoff match up against Strathmore. The Eagles earned a number two seed in this year's playoff schedule, so we enjoyed the benefit of playing on our home turf.

Team FC Family... Coach, Coach's Numero Uno Assistant/Wife, and the two team mascots.

Isaiah and Luke enjoyed the company of their cousins and fellow Eagle fans at the game. After the game, the kids climbed up in the couch in the student section of the bleachers (coined the "Nuthouse").

Even Luke was showing off his team spirit with a brand new FC shirt. He somehow slept through half the exciting game.

Coach Tosland has his very own cheering section. Our fan base included... John and Christi (Mema and Papa), Uncle Doug, Auntie Tiff, Mason, Julia, and Ethan.

The Final Score... Fresno Christian 62 and Strathmore 25. What a game! The Eagles took control of the game from the very first quarter. They are so much fun to watch play. They are quick, energetic, and full of talent. Very well coached, I must add.

Now that the Eagles have one their first playoff game, they will continue on. Their next game will be this Wednesday night at home against Bakersfield Christian. If they beat Bakersfield, then its off to Selland Arena once again for the Valley Championship Title.

Go Ealges!

And in this corner... MASON TROUT!

Mason wrestled this weekend in both league and section playoffs for the Maple Creek Huskies. He wrestled his way to second place in league - a great ending to an excellent, undefeated season for this good looking six grade muscle man.

His cousin, Isaiah couldn't be prouder. Mason even let Isaiah wear his prized 2nd place medallian made of solid gold, I mean aluminun.


The whole fam came out to support the champ. The tourney took place at good old C-Dub, our alma mater. The gym was sweaty, the air was smelly, but the entertainment was priceless.

Happy Valentines Day

This beautiful slide show was designed and composed by the beautiful and talented Julia Christine Trout...

A Time To Laugh

Full of Laughs...

Luke is the giggliest (if that's a word) baby we know. The kid is so ticklish, you can't help but torture him. You can even get a laugh out of him just by looking at him sometimes. Its really fun. Isaiah gets a kick out of trying to make him laugh and then getting a huge grin on his face as a result. When you got one smiling and one laughing it really melts your heart. This really helps on those days when you have poop on the floor (potty training in progess), spit up all over your shirt (my regular perfume), naked children running around the house (thus our PG&E bill), and a house that looks like a hurricane came through it (picture sticky apple juice and crusty playdo all over). Lucky you, we pick and choose our kodak blogable (another new word) moments carefully. Do you really want to see Isaiah running around naked and pooping on the floor? Don't answer that.

"a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,"

Ecclesiastes 3:4

Winter Birthday Boys

Its that time of the year for Tosland Birthdays. Isaiah turned 2 on December 21st. Josh turned 34 exactly a month later on January 21st.

Where else could you find him but in the gym practicing basketball on his birthday? The boys and I showed up at the end of practice with a cool basketball cake for Coach and his team.

Isaiah had a wild toddler style birthday party last month with some of his buds. They bounced, ate, and played, and partied all day long (actually just from 10am to noon, but same thing for a 2 year old).

Just wait until August... Luke and I will be partying it up!

Just Another Night With The Tosland Boys

Tonight, we had a little party in Isaiah's bounce house. We gave him a little blow up bounce house for his birthday (he turned two on 12/21 - pictures to be blogged soon). Luke and Isaiah love to goof around in the bounce house with Daddy. Its part of their relaxing bedtime routine. To our utter delight, Isaiah and Luke really like each other. Luke's eyes literally light up when he sees Isaiah. Like a good big brother, Isaiah loves to help Mom take care of Luke. It will be so much fun watching them grow together as buddies, and eventually trouble makers. Hope you enjoy this little peak into playtime at the Toslands.

Christmas 2007

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Get your own

Luke and Mema

Luke is full of smiles, especially in the arms of his Mema. What a charmer!

Disneyland

Luke is 3 months old!

Birthday Party Circus Blast

Last weekend, we were invited to what turned out to be the birthday party of the century. Our little friend Ruby turned 1, and did it in style. The circus themed party included a petting zoo, amusement rides (including a ferris wheel), bounce house, pony rides, carnival booths, pirate ship, face painting, and more. That's not to mention the great eats, including mom's favorite cotton candy. Isaiah got his first taste, and let me tell you... like mother like son. Cavities here we come. Isaiah had a blast hanging out with his cousin Julia and her cousin Tyla. Luke was a party pooper (literally) and slept through the entire party while being held affectionately by his Auntie Tiffany. We stayed all day, had a blast, and came home and crashed. Nothing like a good sugar high.

Enjoy the pics...

Birthday Party Circus Blast

May the Force Be With You!

Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away...

The Rebel Force right before their trick or treating adventures...


Master Yoda and Little Luke Skywalker...


Cute, I am.


Luke even had his own Lightsaber.

Mom couldn't go trick or treating without sporting some kind of disguise. Bad hair day to the extreme...

Hope you had a great Halloween! We are still coming down off the sugar high.

The Fire

Thank you to those who have been praying for my parents in San Diego. Their house has been saved! What a blessing. Here are some pictures from their yard and the story from my mom.


My mom in the backyard at 3am right before they left the house.


The view from the side yard.

From Nancy Trout...

GOD is wonderful. Terry and I are overcome with gratitude and humbleness that the Lord saved our home. IT IS HIS!!!

Okay, here is the story for those that missed out.

At 11PM, we could see a far away glow in the direction of Ramona which is east of us. At 12:45 AM, when Terry went to bed, the fire must have gone into a valley as the glow had greatly diminished.

Nancy awoke at 3 AM to the phone ringing and a wrong number! Hmmm, the Lord works in mysterious ways! She noticed how light it was outside. Thinking Terry might have left a light on in the family room she went down the hall and was shocked to find that the fire was on the ridge line directly across the valley. Those were the earlier pictures. It took only about 1/2 an hour before it was coming down the mountain towards us. At about 3:45 AM it was in the valley that our backyard looks over. You'll see the pictures. We could hear the sickening sounds of the consuming fire and feel it's heat as it came nearer. It was time to GET OUT.

Yes, we took the 'old' Nintendo, the game cube we could replace! Lots of clothes, pictures, files and the computer tower. Funny how 'stuff' really becomes just stuff when you start thinking what is important and what is not. The surf boards, guitar and Mom's china was left. STUFF!

We sat at McDonald's from about 4:30 am until 7:00 am. Than we got gas for the cars and went to see if we could get up to the house. NO.
The air by then was unbelievable, and the winds were really howling. It was very hard to breathe. It was thick and orange from the rising sun. Pictures of what daylight looked like are included.

About noon, we decided to try and find a hotel. We drove clear to Oceanside looking for rooms, everyone was evacuated and already booked. Finally, Terry's secretary found us a room at Welk resort in north Escondido, just off the 15. The air there was clear. Even though there were fires on both sides they were far enough away to feel safe. Yeah sure! Awoke early, and at 8 AM pounding on the door gave us another evacuation order. Okay Lord, you gave us both a really good night sleep and we'll go!

Heading with both cars towards San Diego to Terry's office, he changed his mind and headed to 2811 Sunset Hills. San Pasqual was still blocked but Ryan was open and we turned up it to head home. Houses were ok, we both thought.... maybe...

Rounding Sunset Hills we began to see the scorched earth, the burned trees, however still not home damage. We can't even begin to explain the overwhelming feelings that came when we pulled up to our home. It's a mess and pictures show it. We checked our neighbors and they were both gone. The fire had swept through all the ridges and gullies between homes. The firefights kept the fire off structures, what wonderful people firefighters are! Our neighbor to the west still had some hot spots smoldering and we went over and hosed down those and used the shovel. We checked out other places in the neighborhood also. Across the street you can really see the fire damage, yet again so close to houses but no damage to them.

The yard is a mess, the house is full of ash. Who cares! Not me!!!!!

The CDF has helicopters still flying over to make sure that there are no flare ups from hot spots. We are spending the night tonight and feel safe.

Thank you to everyone for praying for us. We are grateful for your love and concern. Enjoy the pictures... IT WAS AN ADVENTURE OF THE GRANDEST SCALE!

Please continue to pray for the winds to abate, the fires to be put out and that lives and houses will be spared, like ours!