December 2013
FAMILY PHOTO: Failed attempt number 62, still produced no positive results. We just can't get everyone to look at the camera at the same time, so we chose the picture the adults looked good in.
AUBREY LOVES CLIMBING TREES
DECEMBER NIGHTS, BALBOA PARK: An old woman gifted Seth this snowman spoon. If she only knew how much Seth loved it.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT THE SAN DIEGO MORMON TEMPLE: Another failed attempt to get everyone looking at the camera.
SETH'S FIRST CONCERT: Seth started pre-school this year. He loves his teacher Mrs. Craven, but he seems a little nervous to sing in front of people. The antlers were great. It made him easy to spot in a crowd.
CALIFORNIA SNOW: If you go to the mall in Tememcula and are standing outside the escalators at 8pm, snow falls. It looks like snow, it falls like snow, but it is made of suds.
AN UNEXPECTED SUNSET: (above) We made a bad turn on the way to the boat parade and got to see a sunset that looked like molten lava. Not all bad turns are bad. (below) SAN DIEGO CHRISTMAS BOAT PARADE OF LIGHTS
CHRISTMAS EVE: Seth and his cousin Thomas had fun together roaming around the Americana mall in Glendale, CA
AUBREY IN FRONT OF THE FOUNTAIN AT THE GLENDALE AMERICANA MALL
Grandma and Grandpa Ricks at the Americana Mall with the clock tower in the background.
ELAINA THE CONDUCTOR: Elaina pretended to conduct the fountain at the Americana Mall and was so enthusiastic that she fell in.
SETH AS SPIDERMAN ON CHRISTMAS MORNING: Superhero toys and clothes were Seth's favorite this year.
AUBREY AS ARIEL ON CHRISTMAS MORNING: The girls both got princess nightgowns for Christmas.
THE LUXOR, LAS VEGAS. We always stop at a different hotel on our way to Utah for our post-Christmas trip. The kids love the different bizarre decorations such as this colorful sphinx.
AUBREY "I CAN'T MOVE MY ARMS" AT CHRISTMAS VILLAGE, OGDEN, UTAH: We had to bundle our kids up like the little boy in "Christmas Story" to keep them warm.
2ND CHRISTMAS IN SANDY: Aubrey approves
UNCLE PAUL, AUNT LISA, AND COUSIN MADDIE
"DO YOU WANT TO BUILD A SNOW MAN?" Someone built Olaf so I had to take a picture of him on my jog.
TEMPLE SQUARE: I served my mission here and it looks fabulous at Christmas time.