December 2011

JAPANESE FRIENDSHIP GARDEN:

We went to Balboa park to see the street performers and the gardens.

CHRISTMAS DAY:

We had Christmas on Sunday and had to open Santa's presents and then go to church. Lainy got a Strawberry Shortcake clubhouse and Seth got a toy vacuum.

CHRISTMAS EVE:

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph played by Aubrey, Seth, and Elaina on Christmas Eve. It is a tradition to read Luke 2 on that night.

SAN DIEGO TEMPLE AT CHRISTMAS:

We made it to the temple in the month of December and got to see the Christmas decorations there.

CHRISTMAS CARD LANE:

In Rancho Penasquitos, we liked the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer display.

HO HO HO:

Aubrey Elle got to dress up like Santa for Christmas this year.

THE MISSION INN:

The Mission Inn in Riverside was uncrowded when we went to see the Christmas lights last year because it rained. This year, it was really crowded. There was an ice rink, and reindeer on display. Rain has its advantages though, because we couldn't get into many parts of the hotel due to the crowds.

SNOW AT SEA WORLD:

Elaina ate the snow. Seth slipped in it and hurt his bum. It was fun to play in the snow in Southern California.

SEA TURTLES AT SEA WORLD:

We love turtles in our family so we loved this exhibit.

OUR CHRISTMAS CARD PICTURE:

We got a passable picture of the 5 of us at the ward Christmas party, where we enjoyed the traditional fare of ham and funeral potatoes.

DECEMBER NIGHTS:

We got there early with our 3 kids this year and we didn't stay there as late. This is the one religious display of Jesus Christ's birth at Balboa Park. At least the ACLU hasn't gotten rid of this one yet.

November 2011

AUBREY ELLE CARTER:

She is 11 days old in this picture. She may have come nearly a month early, but she is not behind developmentally.

HOTEL DEL CORONADO:

We made it to the Hotel Del Coronado to see the grand Christmas tree. Seth made the trip challenging, because he kept running away thinking, now is a perfect time to play chase.

SAN DIEGO TEMPLE:

We have figured out a way to keep my once a month goal of making it to the temple. I go in and Neil watches the kids outside while I am inside.

THANKSGIVING IN LA:

We were glad to be able to go to Thanksgiving with my sister Marilee. Aubrey was old enough to make the

trip. Here is Lainy in Aunt Marilee's back yard. They even had a few fall leaves on the ground.

THE TUNNELS:

Our kids love playing in the tunnels by the pond near our house. Here they are with our neighbor's daughter.

PREEMIE JAMMIES:

At 4 days old, Aubrey fit just fine in these preemie jammies. Now, they fit our baby doll.

GETTING WEIGHED:

Minutes after birth, Aubrey weighed 6 lbs 5.5 oz. She was healthy and could eat and breathe on her own. Yay!

October 2011

HALLOWEEN:

For Halloween I was on bed rest, but I got to attend our neighbors' Halloween party. Here I am, sitting in the chair by the garage. In addition to the party, the kids got to trick or treat in the local area. I don't know if Seth likes that skeleton.

TRUNK OR TREAT:

Though I was on bed rest, I cheated and went to Trunk or Treat at the church. Elaina was Tinkerbell and Seth was Superman. Daddy was Elvis and I was a cowgirl.

BED REST:

Yes, this couch is where I spent most of my time

while I was on bed rest. In some ways, my kids got more of my attention because I wasn't going anywhere.

DRESSED UP FOR CHURCH:

Don't Elaina and Seth look dapper in their Sunday best?

PUMPKIN PATCH:

We finally found the Lavender Farms' pumpkin patch in Fallbrook. We went there after the ward pancake breakfast and brought Minna and Cynthia Mills.

JULIAN:

We love the quaint town of Julian, an hour east of San Diego. We decided to go in October since the baby was due in December. Good thing we did because I went on bed rest 4 days later.

CARLSBAD BEACH:

Yes we went to the beach in October with my friend Carolina and her daughter Natalie. I like the beach best when it isn't summer. Fewer crowds and clearer skies.

PAPER DRESS:

We like to read the fairy tale "Three Dwarfs in a Wood", where the mean stepmother makes her stepdaughter wear a paper dress in the snow. Lainy is just wearing a paper dress in the doctor's office.

SETH'S BIRTHDAY PARTY:

We invited our neighbors, the Parkinsons, and our friends, the Mendeses, over to decorate creepy cupcakes and candy corn (like the Corduroy Halloween book) for Seth's Birthday. It takes a lot of black food coloring to turn frosting black.