June 2011

Our 4 year anniversary at Dana Point which had the same view of the place we stayed on our honey moon.

Pasadena city Hall, a place I use to go jogging around, when I lived in La Canada.

Elaina loves fountains

Seth loves fountains and he even fell in this one.

A view of city hall and the fountains.

Elaina at the Chinese garden at the Huntington Art Gallery.

The Japanese Garden at the Huntington Art Gallery.

The Rose arbor at the Huntington Art Gallery.
The statue walk often scene in movies filmed at the Huntington Art Gallery.

We went to the Carlsbad beach fest.

May 2011 Neil's Birthday

Corona Del Mar, a place I use play in when I lived in Orange County.

Neil's room mate Brian finally got married in La Jolla. I guess the fact he caught the bouteneer at our wedding did him some good.

Neil at the Wedge in New Port Beach, walking with Seth and Elaina in the waves.

The fairy ride across New Port bay from Balboa Island to the Fun Zone.

We started off the day at the New Port beach temple. Neil watched the kids while I was inside.

Laguna beach, the best place I could think of to take Neil to on a Sunday, and on his 50th Birthday.

We ate Monte Cristo sandwiches while an 85 year old man talked to us for an hour and his Corgie dog yapped in the background.

The family celebrated a big birthday party with a swim party at Denise's house.

Seth got plenty of attention from Ryder the doxon.

May 2011 Elaina's Birthday Celebrations

It was one long celebration for Elaina's 3rd Birthday. She got to attend a princess tea party. Elaina is the one in blue.

Neil got back from his guy's trip to Capitol Reef National park. We picked him up from the airport and went to Balboa park. Here we are in Dr. Seus land ( the cactus garden in the park).

This is the Botanical garden in Balboa Park. Here you see the biblical use for fig leaves. No wonder Adam and Eve used these leaves to cover up with.

We also visited my favorite restaurant, the Cheese Cake Factory for Elaina's Birthday. We have to go at least once a year for some ones Birthday.

We went swimming in the wading pool for Elaina's Birthday party.

We also decorated cupcakes.

On the first Monday of the month we had family home evening at the old bridge off the 76.

Easter Pageant 2011

In April we made our way to Arizona for the Easter Pageant. Of course on the way back we had to visit our friends in Blythe, the Hermansons.

We had to visit with Wendy who lives a couple hours outside of Phoenix. Here we are in a nature preserve.

Rapunzel Rapunzel let down your long hair. This tower at the shopping center near our hotel became our Rapunzel tower.

I went to the Mesa, Arizona temple while Neil watched the kids outside.

The Easter pageant was spectacular. I loved seeing the angels on the roof. Elaina still remembers the pageant even now, 4 months later.

They had hammocks to rest in at the hotel where we stayed. I looked at this picture and thought those 2 babies came out of my belly and there is another one in my belly waiting to come out.

April 2011

Here is Seth at the Getty Villa in Malibu, California. We brought our niece Maddie to see the replica Roman Villa and enjoyed some time at the Santa Monica Pier.

We had our first Easter Egg hunt at our house. I think Lainy really got into it.

Cousins Rachel and Shawn helped hide the eggs. They didn't make it too difficult.

Maddie came to visit us for Spring break. We had to take her to the Yogurt Palace and then to our little Fallbrook town square.

My friend Jenelle Cardon from Australia came to visit us in April with her mother from Texas. It was fun to have house guests and Elaina loved having her son Kai, a friend her own age, to play with.

Seth is in heaven on this beach in San Clemente. There are rocks everywhere for him to throw and eat.

Elaina is just happy to be at the beach.

March 2011

March was an eventful month. I got to go on a trip to DC. It was nice visiting my friend Anita. This is a picture of Anita and her son Aaron dressed up for church.

I went out to DC to go to my friend Rebecca's wedding. After 11 years of dating, it finally happened! It was reassuring to see her husband's enthusiasm at the ceremony.

While I was gone, Neil ran our favorite 10K race around Fiesta Island in San Diego. Last year, Neil beat my brother-in-law Ross. This year, Ross (after running a marathon last year) beat Neil. In the picture you see: Neil, Ross, my niece Becky, my sister Kelly, and my niece Haylee.

Yes it is OK for a boy to wear beads, as long as they are KING OF THE MARDI GRAS BEADS. As non-Catholics, we celebrated Fat Tuesday by wearing beads and masks.

Our year-round passes to Disneyland expired in March, so this was a our last visit to Disneyland and California Adventure. We went on the Monsters Inc. ride. Unfortunately Elaina had not seen the movie and the Monsters succeeded in scaring her. She did let Sully take a picture with us, however.

February 2011

We had snow in the mountains outside our house in February, a rare occurrence for San Diego.

Dad decided to celebrate his birthday with everyone at Rubio's. Seth appreciated the soda.

Mom and Dad both celebrated their February birthdays at my sister Kelly's house with her famous yellow cake with cocoa frosting.

La Jolla Shores kayakers and paddle boarders on a calm warm ocean day.

Seth and Elaina playing in the sand at La Jolla Shores.

Chinese New year celebrations in the Gaslamp Quarter of downtown San Diego.