Oakland Temple Trip

We were fortunate enough to take everyone up the Oakland to attend the temple:  baptisms for the youth, endowment session for the adults while Emma was playing with other supervised kids in the church adjacent to the temple.  No longer having temples 15 minutes away, we realize what a sacrifice it is for us to make it to the temple but still important to make the effort as often as possible.  It was a great day, beautiful weather & a strong spirit.

Teenager Alert!

On May 24, 2014 we woke up to find a teenager in the house!  Hard to believe our little guy is not so little anymore (well, hasn't been in a long time).  Standing at 5'6" he's now the 2nd tallest in the family with Emma not far behind.  Here's a look at how Stephen spent his first day as a teenager:

 Testing out his "new" clubs

 (Look sideways..."13" in cupcakes)

 Teenager's healthy party diet...pizza, soda, cake

Buddies celebrating

We ended the night with a trip to the movie theater to watch "Captain America:  The Winter Soldier"

Whew!  It's hard work being a new teenager's mom but I LOVE HIM!!

Lover's Point

Every spring, Lover's Point, which is just down the street from where we live, turns into a magical carpet of purple flowers.  I dragged the kids after school one day to take a few photos.  The "carpet" isn't soft so the grimaces may make sense...

e sense..

San Francisco Fieldtrip

Stephen & his 7th grade class went on a fieldtrip to the San Fran. Science Museum for the day.  Stephen took along my camera & this is some of what he saw...

6 years old & getting cuter

Emma could hardly wait to be 6 & we couldn't wait either.  Her birthday fell on a Saturday so we had the whole day to play.  Our ward had an Easter breakfast & egg hunt that got the day started for us.

 Good morning 6 year old!!

Emma & her friends for a tea party

San Diego

Part 2 of our trip. We headed further down south to visit Sea World for the day.  It was the winter hours so the park closed early, but by then we were ready to exit.  We enjoyed more sun & heat, awesome performances and rides.

Had to stop by and see the San Diego LDS temple

Southern California

For the February President's Day week-long holiday, we headed down south for our family vacation to Disneyland & San Diego.  It was so nice to get away, enjoy the heat & sun, and just be together. 

 Newport LDS Temple

The Magic Kingdom

Greg was too big to fit in the teacup with all of us.  I don't think he minded.

 Emma's favorite parade float...all Disney Princesses

Look who dropped in for a photo op

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas...

Nope, no snow, not even frost or fog for our 2013 Christmas.  The sun is shining, the temperature is about 68 degrees.  The only way I know it's Christmas is what transpired this morning...

 Waiting for the "go ahead"

 Checking out the stocking stuffers

 Getting down to business

Yep, looks like Christmas made it to our house again this year...

Merry Christmas!!

Candy Cane Lane

A time honored tradition - walking through Candy Cane Lane.  Every year the residents in a nearby neighborhood decorate their homes & yards & put on a light display like nowhere else.  Everything is voluntary (don't think about their power bills!) with some help from the community (Santa Claus visit).  Candy Cane Lane is a favorite with the locals...and us!

Taking In the Sights

During a week long of fall break we decided to do a little sight-seeing:  some close, some not so close.

First up was the lighthouse down the street from our home - Point Pinos.  The view is breathtaking as it faces the ocean keeping boats safe from the rocky coast.

 

 Next stop was Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA

The "house" took 25 years to complete all the building, additions, etc. & cost $30 million during the 1920's - 1930's.  A modest home for W.R. Hearst to entertain his A-list friends.  The property boasted a zoo, 2 pools, tennis courts, cottages & in home theatre.

Care for a swim?

The insides are just what you'd see in any castle in Europe - considering most of the insides came from castles & churches in Europe.

Next on the tour is the Mystery Spot

 The Mystery Spot is a gravitational anomaly located in the redwood forests just outside of Santa Cruz, California.

No, my camera is not tilted.  The shed is straight but the ground is sloping.  Hard to explain.  You just have to experience it for yourself!

Stephen & I were part of the experiment since we are about the same height.  He'd stand on one end of a board & I on the other end.  Inside mystery spot I was significantly taller but when we switched places & I stood outside the "spot" Stephen was much taller.  Weird, right?  Welcome to the "Twilight Zone"...

Giving Thanks

Emma's kindergarten class worked hard for their Thanksgiving program of poems, costumes, and coming up with their own Indian name.  Emma, aka Rainbow Flower, recited poems that taught colors, numbers, being thankful  while dressed up in her Indian head dress & necklace, banging on her drum.  What is she thankful for?  "My family".  Awwww

Little Dancer Girl

 Emma decided to try ballet.  What began as 1 6-week session turned out to be 5 6-week sessions.  She loved ballet so much that we continued the entire way through.  At the end of each session the parents are allowed to view a class, seeing what the dancers learned.  We were lucky that, although each session is taught the same techniques, the teacher added a bit more so Emma was able to really learn the positions plus a bit more each time.

 Plie'

Love that flexibility!

BOO!

This year we had a princess & a ninja take over Emma & Stephen for Halloween. Stephen stayed consistent as the silent ninja, while Emma decided to switch things up a bit.

 Ready for the ward's Trunk or Treat

 Began Halloween as Cinderella...

 

...And ended Halloween as Rapunzel

Kindergarten class parade around the school

Either way both kids had fun on a very warm evening of trick or treating & getting to know our neighbors.

Butterfly Parade & Bazaar

The annual Butterfly Parade is held every October in Pacific Grove to welcome back the Monarch Butterflies to PG for the winter.  Pacific Grove is nicknamed "Butterfly Town" for this very reason.  The 2 elementary school children dress up in costumes - whatever their grade decides on - and marches in a small parade.  The honor of the butterflies goes to the kindergarten classes of both schools.  They work very hard making their wings & antennae headbands, learning about butterflies & insects and creating their own butterflies in class.  This is our first year experiencing the parade and our own Emma got to be a butterfly!

 March of the Monarchs

After the parade a bazaar is held in the back of an elementary school with lots of carnival type games, bounce houses, bake sales, snow cones & other yummy & fun booths.