January 2010

Seth is a flirty babe. Look at that smile! He has given me many hours of entertainment and joy with that smile. By the way, Grandpa likes him too.

My 41st birthday dinner at the Rancho Valencia Restaurant in Rancho Santa Fe. Fortunately, my birthday falls on Restaurant Week. Unfortunately, this means bye-bye to the Cheesecake Factory tradition.

The January birthday bash for Shawn, Kendell, Denise and I. Here you see 16 year old Shawn holding his buddy Seth, who likes Eskimo kisses, according to Shawn.

Elaina likes playing with the big girls, Haylee, Rachel, and Katie on the trampoline. The dachshunds, Ryder and Freckles, came along too.

January is the month we committed with my sister Liz to run 3 times a week. Two short runs on Monday and Wednesday and one long run on the weekend. Liz is training for a marathon. I just want to fulfill my birthday wish of getting back in shape. I get my birthday wishes. Seth is evidence of that. Here you see me pushing the double wide stroller along the bayside of Coronado Island with the bridge in the background. I am waiting for Neil to take the 2nd shift with the stroller. I enjoy running on Monday and Wednesday mornings without the kids.

This is why they call this place Sunset Cliffs, because of the awesome sunsets.

WHEN TODDLERS ATTACK!!! Elaina was not in a good mood that day. However, I did find out that it can actually feel good to have your hair pulled.

Looking at that early morning sunrise out of our bedroom window before that morning run. You can see the Redonda Mesa, a mountain in Mexico, in the background.

Seth taking a bath in a sink at the Circus Circus hotel in Las Vegas.

New Years Day at the Gateway mall in Salt Lake City with Pam, Seth, Lauren Anderle, Maddie, Lisa, Paul and Lauren and Elaina. We had corned beef and cabbage that night for dinner. This is supposed to bring the good luck of the Irish. I had rutabagas for the first time, and all I can say is, corned beef makes vegetables taste good.

2nd Christmas in Utah 2009

Gardner Village and the snow.

Neil is standing next to the elves and holding Seth in the back pack.

Elaina's big present from her aunt and uncle in Sandy.

"What's all that white stuff?" Elaina enjoyed touching the snow, but immediately tried to shake it off when she found out how cold it was.

Temple square my mission has changed so much.

Elaina finds it is much more fun to have Uncle Paul and cousin Lauren carry her around temple square.

Seth the red teddy bear.

Elaina at my neice Elisha's house under construction in Logan. It was in the single digits there.

Elaina sitting with her aunt Leslie in Ogden.

Christmas village in down town Ogden. Elaina didn't understand how useful mittens are in cold weather. We put them on her anyway. She did seem to cry when she got cold.

Walking to church in the snow, good thing it was only 2 blocks away from aunt Leslie's house.

Christmas Day 2009

Christmas day at Grandpa's house.

La la la, la la la la Elmo's world. Elmo loves babies.

Seth gets a toy for his car seat. Grandpa got him a remote control car that scared Elaina to tears.

Grandma and Grandpa have the neatest merry -go-round.

Christmas Eve 2009

Angels in lab coats, acting out the nativity.

The 2nd cousins came to visit: Falene, Gavan, Aiden, And Denise.

Grandpa holds Seth, the Ho Ho Santa. We celebrate Christmas Eve by eating Sandwiches and junk food. This was a real treat growing up, because we never got to eat junk food. Of course we credit this tradition to Grandpa who was given the task of buying food, one Christmas Eve.

Rachel holds Elaina wearing the scarf from Rachel's Aeropostal teddy bear.

Christmas in California 2009

The San Diego Harbor boat parade, viewed from Coronado Island.

We visited Christmas card lane for family home evening.

Elaina learns how to hug someone her own age. The question, is he ready for such affection.

Yes the two of them also like to practice the piano together.

Our family Christmas card photo for the year 2009.

Elaina loves Christmas lights. We visited the Belardo lights display several times.

Seth's baby blessing day in his white outfit. He was blessed to be obedient and learn from his elders.

Kendell hosted a Christmas party and we won this lovely "white elephant" gift. Oh well Elaina likes it.

Lisa Boswell is holding Seth in his Santa outfit with the reindeer hat.

Seth is sort of smiling. He is good at smiling when you hold him and smile at him.

December nights and the singing Chrstmas tree. Elaina jumped up and down and yelled, "happy, happy, happy" when she saw the lights.

Shawn holds Elaina in her Christmas pajamas.

November 2009

Thanks Giving day started off with Father Joe's 5K race for the hungry at Balboa park. Neil, Pamela, Elaina, and Seth participated in the race along with about 9,000 others.

Keith, Kelly, Greg, and Haylee ran in the race too.

For a family home evening activity we went hiking to the place of a former fort where there was a monument to the Mormon Batalion. Then we went to old town and watched a concert.

Elaina discovers her head in the kitchen in the Tierra Santa house.

Our first visit to Scripps aquarium. Elaina looks through the glass at the kelp beds.

We are now a family of four, now if we can just win a family four pack of something.

We went out for the first time since Seth's birth. Fortunately, we had Rachel to depend on our trusty baby sitter.

Early in November we went to the parade of tall ships in Oceanside.