Round 2

After a failed (and I mean failed as in raw burger) experience at Rubys with Emma (which besides raw burger, was a very successful GNO!)... We were given a gift card to try it out again. So knowing better, we went for scenery verses food for round 2 (we also went for breakfast, which was a good call). It was a really beautiful day and a day that made me very grateful to live in sunny SoCal!

LOVE Day!

Preparations for the big day!

Valentines Day at Preschool...

a special valentine for Miss Kristin

Taylor celebrated Valentines at Music Makers, she also celebrated it with her best friend... SUGAR. All week long.

My VALENTINE on our date to Dave and Busters... I'm so lucky to have him!

Six

Is the age that Chris promised Emma she could get a dog. Months and months ago this promise was made in passing. She has yet to forget and I'm pretty sure she will hold him to this! But in the meantime, we will puppy-sit! We had my friend's dog, Sinatra, for just a few days and we all fell in love. Even Chris. I forgot what a dog person he is!

Grandma Lora got a new dog, yes, that is a dog...a maltipoo. One of the cutest little things I have ever seen. And best thing about little Bear is that he keeps Lora "smiling all day long" (in her own words!).

We can't wait to puppy-sit him!

Sun-BEAM!

It's official. My baby is all grown up. She loves being a Sunbeam, her eyes could not get any bigger as she listens to the lesson, flips through her scriptures and sings the songs. And I get to a have a front row seat to this each week! The last weekend of January, she had her first Primary Activity, her first time singing in Sacrament, and her first prayer in Primary! It is official.

(Isn't this a great pose!? She's a natural.)

P.S. And to top it all off, Taylor is finally going to Nursery... happy! I'm sure it has nothing to do with her teachers filling the room with balloons each week!!

Lions and Tigers and Bears... Oh My!

I told you this was coming... a daddy/daughter date to the San Diego Zoo. Without Taylor and I there to hold them back, they rushed around and saw every animal, every show and exhibit. You name it, they saw it. And loved every minute. These two were definitely cut from the same mold... (and yes Mom, I double checked that saying with Chris before writing it!)

(An unexpected perfectly timed picture capturing Emma as she spots the Rhinos for the first time... her favorite of the day!)

Blast off!

Before taking my Mom to the airport to fly back to England, we checked out the Great Park and went up in the Great Orange Balloon! I forgot until we were there that my Mom has a fear of heights but it seemed like an appropriate way to send her off! And you wouldn't believe how excited Emma was... at one point after asking Chris (for the millionth time) if he was "so excited!"... he answered, "If I wasn't before, I sure am now!".

I was not looking forward to another goodbye but after spending that time with her, I realized how much she loves the mission and the missionaries and how much they love and need her (especially the Mission President!)! A lot more than we do, as hard as that is to admit! It is such a great work they are a part of. And now we have all these fun memories to hold on to until we see them next!

xoxo

Like old times...

Thankfully, my mom was able to get home in time for her Dad's funeral so we had an unexpected visit with her. To make the most of it, we took a quick trip to Arizona to see my sister's families. Sonic drive throughs, lunch at the park, and a few GNOs. It felt like old times but with a twist! We loved every second of it... except the second when Tay got the flu! But it was great to just be able to give her a hug and watch my kids snuggle up to her like no time had passed! It was wonderful!

The PERFECT way to spend our last morning in Arizona...Take a P-Day and keep all the kids home from school and go BOWLING! Grandma showed the kids how it's done by bowling a few STRIKES! What?

Grandpa

(Grandpa at 92, his 3 daughters, and almost all his Grandchildren)

It's been a few months now since the passing of my Grandpa but I could not go on without mentioning what a great, smart and talented man he was. He had me laughing up until our last visit in September. He had the most dry sense of humor of anyone I knew yet he was so generous, he would have done anything for anyone. Two of the best qualities I think someone can have. We miss him, we love him yet we are grateful to have an understanding that Families Are Forever and we will meet again.