Spending Time With the Mouse

For Wyatt's birthday my mom and dad visited and we all went to Disneyland and California Adventure for two days, we had a great time.  My dad's birthday was the 13th, the actual day we went, and so we made him wear a birthday button too.  It was hilarious we thought we might get some special privileges by having two birthday people with us, but actually all they got was random hellos from strangers, talk about seeing my dad uncomfortable!

Our namesake.

Dumbo, the one ride Wyatt actually loved, all the others he could care less.

Hanging out in Mr. Toad's car.

More interested in the honey pots than the cameras.

The first day we were there was like summer, the next cold, here we are in front of the tree on Main St.

The next King Aurthur pulling the sword from the stone.

The infamous Casey Jr. Train Ride, where years ago I damaged my knee, this time around there was just a really annoying worker, who was obsessed with doing her job "right".

Wyatt enjoying a birthday treat, which thankfully I got most of!

Celebrating Wyatt's 1st Birthday

Before it was even Wyatt's birthday, Monica stopped by to drop off a present.  His name is Scout, an interactive talking dog.  Wyatt loves him, especially when he calls him by name!

Since Wyatt's birthday was on a Thursday and his party wasn't until Saturday we celebrated a birthday lunch at The Old Spaghetti Factory.

Even though he doesn't look excited in this picture, this was a big event for his big day, a forward facing car seat!

Kevin and I got him a 3 in 1 trike, for now he just chills in it while we push him around, pretty soon he'll be peddling.

The boys at Wyatt's birthday party.  Ed and Michael, Justin, and Wyatt and Kevin.

Everyone hanging out playing.

Wyatt opening presents.  This was a good precursor to Christmas, by then he knew what to do and he knew there was good stuff under all that paper.

I decided to make a little video of him waking up on the morning of his birthday.

And here is one of him eating his chocolate cupcake.

Thinking of What Matters Most

I'm sitting here in Dallas with my family thinking of all the beautiful blessings we have in our lives; the blessing of wonderful babies, the health of our family, the stability of our jobs, and most of all I'm thinking of the blessings of a Heavenly Father who loves us so much that he sent his only begotten son, Jesus, to save us so that we may return to him someday, and a Savior, who loves us so much, that he would indeed come to our rescue.  I was watching the LDS Christmas Devotional online trying to focus on what matters most during this Christmas season.  I'm glad that I did, if you haven't seen it, you should make time, it truly brought the spirit of Christ to my heart.  And speaking of what matters most, I love this video, its so simple and so true.

Christmas Fun In San Diego

Over the past couple of weeks we have been getting excited for Christmas by attending some fun Christmas activities around San Diego.  First, some friends and I went to Coronado for a few hours, where they had Santa and were making snow.  This is a picture of little Benjamin, who was not afraid of Santa, unlike Wyatt, who will have nothing to do with him.  So much so that he even saw a grocery bagger at the supermarket wearing a Santa hat and started to cry.

The kids playing in Coronado down by the water.
 

Next, we headed up to Balboa Park for December Nights, it is only two nights a Friday and Saturday, but is packed, about 100,000 people attend each night. We went with our friends Monica, Susan, and her little boy Benjamin.   The Organ Pavilion was beautiful, there were singers performing in front of a huge tree.

Hanging out in front of the "Grinch" tree.  Wyatt looks like he's straight out of an 80's exercise video because it was so cold and he hates hats, I had to cover his ears with something!

The boys watching a very weird mime performance.

Finally, we made our way to Sea World, they had a really cool ice skating ring set up, Wyatt loved watching the skaters.

Very unsure of what this ride will bring.

The Sea World tree, notice Kevin has his little Christmas treat, cotton candy!



Thanksgiving in Utah

We were able to spend a whole week vacationing over Thanksgiving, it was wonderful.  We started off our trip by flying into Vegas.  Mimi and Tia met us at the airport and we head to the Hard Rock Hotel.  Kevin and I had plans to see Garth Brooks that night, while Mimi and Tia babysat Wyatt.  Kevin and I ate at a very fancy Italian restaurant in the Encore hotel right before the show.  The show was amazing, Garth did a tribute to all the artists who inspired him and his music, it was very personal, and at the end he even took requests from the small audience.  Wyatt enjoyed the night with Mimi and Tia and we enjoyed the night by ourselves!

Once we got to St. George we decided to head up to Zions the next day.  It was freezing cold, luckily I had my parka, Kathleen loaned me some gloves and Wyatt was all bundled up like he's never been before.

A view from the bridge crossing over from the lodge to the Emerald Pools hike.

Here are the girls and one little burritoed guy, we made it!

Kevin took a picture of this buck hiding in the snowy woods.

The next day we went to visit Grandma Jean and Grandpa Kay.  Both Wyatt and Sammy loved the long, steep stairs...dangerous.

Four generations of magic.

All the sisters and the babies, Jamie and Sammy, Kim and Cooper, and Me and Wyatt.  When other kids are involved, Wyatt doesn't look at the camera, he's too busy checking out his cousins.  I don't know what my excuse is.

This was hilarious, check out Mimi's face.  Wyatt loved the marshmallow, Mimi did not.

Showing off Tuachan, but it was so cold!

Hiking in Snow Canyon, notice again how cold I am.

Enjoying the views with my baby.

Just the daddies and the babies, once again, Wyatt is wondering what Sammy is doing.

Playing at the park with Grandma Dana.  He loves tunneling.

My mom rented this beautiful cabin in Pine Valley for us to enjoy for Thanksgiving, it had lots of room for everyone to play and enjoy themselves.

Heading out for a walk in Pine Valley in the blistering cold.

Cooper and Wyatt playing at the cabin.

The cabin had a ping pong table that everyone enjoyed.  My mom and I were the worst players, so we decided to have a show down, and boy was it ever a show, Kevin was laughing so hard while filming us.  I love how uncoordinated we both are, like mother like daughter!  And by the way when did everyone learn to play ping pong so well?

 

Wyatt also did a lot of walking with help from everyone.  I feel like any day he is going to take off on his own, I can't wait!

Scared of Santa

A picture says a thousand words.  This was taken right as Wyatt choked up some pretzel and right before he tried to claw Santa's eyes out.  Oh what a memorable first Christmas this will be!

Thankful

Today Wyatt, Bella, and me decided to go walk by the bay.  We headed out just in time to see the cruise ship Carnival Splendor dock with all those unlucky passengers trapped at sea in a slow moving boat eating only Spam and Poptarts.  The passengers were lined up on the decks of the ship waiting to disembark clapping and cheering that they had finally made shore.  To top it off it's Veterans Day so all of the veterans and current serving military personnel participating in a parade by the harbor today were down there as well.  We watched the passengers on the cruise ship cheer and the veterans cheer back, it was so cool.  The passengers were yelling "thank you for serving" in unison down to the veterans.  These passengers made me think, how grateful I am to live in this country.  I am sure it has been stressful for them on the ship and for some of them they showed on this Veterans Day they were thinking of someone else, someone who served our country.  It's something we should all do, especially on this day, and especially in this month of gratitude, Thanksgiving.  Thank you to all who served and currently serve to protect our country, our way of life, and our right to worship as we see fit.  We truly are blessed to live here in the US and at this time.

Colbie Caillat Concert Minus Jewel

Kevin surprised me with tickets to a Jewel and Colbie Caillat concert.  Well it turns out Jewel was sick and didn't show, but Colbie put on a great one.  First we started the night at the Hard Rock, across the street from Petco Park, where the concert was held.  Notice the "Reserved" sign at the table we sat at.  Right when we were leaving the server told us they were moving everyone from that area because VH1 was going to start filming there, hilarious, probably for one of those crazy reality shows.  Man I wish I could have met Real and Chance or Bret Micheals, or whoever was there.  We had such a fun night, the weather was beautiful and the music awesome.  What a nice surprise.

SeaWorld With the Thimons

For Halloween we were able to head to SeaWorld with some friends of ours down for the day from Laguna Beach.  Their two girls, Ella and Olivia, and Wyatt had a blast decorating cookies, petting the dolphins, riding some rides, and watching a show.  Kevin, Josh, and I had a blast eating the decorated cookies!

Captain Destructo On the Loose

Wyatt has been a handful, he is everywhere and into everything.  And he likes to either destroy something or make a mess of it.  Here he is eating some pasta.

...And shortly after taking a bath, loving the "slide" action the tub offers.

Last week was so hot we decided to hit the beach, it was 98 degrees at Mission Beach, that's crazy!

He knew how hot it was that day, he got right into the ice chest and pulled out a cold one.

Just last night he discovered the fun of a squeaky drawer.  Every time he pulled it out and it squeaked he laughed, but of course right when I go to get my camera he gets sick of it, hopefully there is enough on the video for you to get the idea.