Family Pictures 2010

Yay! We finally got some family pictures taken! We hadn't since Micah was born. It is SO difficult to get 6 people together on the same day to take pictures. Talk about stressful... But I'm so happy we did and love our pictures. It was difficult to choose ones to post here but I tried to pick some of my favorites.
The location is the Carmel Mission.

Shelly did a great job on the pictures. Her photography website is posted below and she does do photo sessions in Utah also.
http://shelsphotos.blogspot.com/

Oblivious to the World...

I caught Linnea and Albert scheming about hiding my book under the bed so I wouldn't get wrapped up in it. I have a habit of getting into a good book and becoming oblivious to the world....including them! Anyway, this is what I'm doing now. I'll get back to you when I'm done.

Wish I Could Strip Down...

Yes.... it's that hot here.
In my house, the thermometer read 83 degrees this afternoon.
Outside, not sure but really hot.
We're not used to this heat.
I had to strip down Micah and give him some water to play in while I barbecued portabello mushrooms and chicken because I didn't dare turn on the oven.
Then I took a shower. Thirty minutes later, I really needed another one.

Aquarium

Because my blog is as much for our family history as it is to share with you, I must once again include aquarium pictures. I know they are repetitive but we love to go there!

Isn't Gavin a cool kid? Yes!

Micah is amazed by the penguins!

Micah loved all the hands-on activities for babies. Water is ALWAYS a hit.
(Better to play in here then in the toilet!)

Micah is standing on something that feels like a water bed.

This particular trip we walked down! First time! Our street actually runs into the aquarium but its about a mile and a pretty big hill returning home. They did great though and I'm sure we'll walk there again.

What happens when the house is too quiet....

The house was entirely too quiet so I went in search for Micah...

First Day of School

I had to take Jacen's picture separately because the other kids were still in their pajamas when Jacen left for school at 7 a.m. Next week he'll be leaving at 5:50 a.m. though when he starts early morning seminary!

Today is the first day back to school!
Jacen is in 9th grade so high school here we come!
He didn't seem at all nervous. I remember being nervous going into high school. Jacen was calm and cool. Linnea is in 5th grade--her last year of elementary school here. Gavin is in first grade. I'm kind of ready to get back into a structured schedule. The kids are happy to see their friends again. Micah and I will have lots of mommy-baby time together.

Do you Really Need it?

Look how much sugar are in these drinks! And water? None.
It really should make one think twice about grabbing a sugar filled drink.

photo credit: Judy Vu

I saw this posted on this blog: http://adailydoseofdieting.blogspot.com/2010/08/sugar-soda.html

While we are on the subject, I am only 3 pounds away from my first weight loss goal! Yay!

Earthbound Farms

We love going to Earthbound Farms in Carmel Valley. It's beautiful and fun for the kids. We hadn't been there in a while so one day after swimming at the Carmel Valley Pool, we stopped there.

Micah and Gavin

My little Indian, Gavin.

Micah loved the shiny rocks embedded in the stepping stones. I love Gavin's interest in Micah here.

Micah LOVED seeing the chickens wandering around. He just loves birds of any kind. If I had space, I'd consider buying chickens.

Sweet Linnea sharing the painted images with Micah inside the tee pee.

My Boy

Micah was being really quiet in Linnea's room so I went in to check on him.
This is how I found him. (:

Summer Swimming

Gavin and Linnea had swimming lessons out in Carmel Valley this summer. It was quite a drive--25 minutes one way--but the valley is beautiful the weather is sunny so it was worth it. They turned into little fish in the water, and look like little Indians out of the water. (I wish I could tan like them!) Micah enjoyed some time in the water as well and loved the playground next to it. Jacen came out with us a few times when he wasn't at Grampa and Grama's house or Chris' house. Fun summer swimming times!

Gavin jumping in from the diving board. The first time we went to the pool he was really nervous about jumping off the diving board. His cousin, Carter, helped him feel more comfortable and offered to help him. Jacen stayed in the water on the side to help him if needed. Gavin tried it and then he was hooked. He LOVED the diving board and even learned some tricks on it.

Peek-a-boo Jace! He would pop his head in and out of the water--first playing with Micah and then trying to dodge the camera.

Lovely Linnea taking a break in the sun.

Jacen's famous hand!

Micah--I have such a hard time getting him to stay still long enough looking at the camera. He loved swimming and then the rest of the time we went to the park next to the pool.

Dallin (Tera's 5 year old)
Making a Splash!

Carter (Tera's 9 year old)

Gavin is taking a break eating carrots and hummus.

(I feel bad that I don't have a picture of Maila to post. She is Tera's 7 year old girl and we enjoyed summer swimming with her as well. I only had one picture but her eyes are closed from the brightness of the sun! She's a sweetie though and loved spending the time with Micah especially!)

Dolphins

Today Linnea, Micah and I went for a nice Sunday morning walk down to Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach. It was a beautiful morning with just the right amount of sun but still with a mist that is so common here. We saw a bunch of people watching the water from the beach so we stopped to see what they were watching. There were three dolphins swimming only 20-30 feet off the beach! I was SO excited! I have lived in the Monterey area for 12 years and am always walking or running the coastline and have never seen dolphins. They were jumping in and out of the water and coming up head first and then we'd see tails as they dove down. They were having so much fun, looking like they were playing. It was captivating and we had a difficult time leaving. I kept looking back to catch a glimpse of them again. I told Linnea as we were walking away, up in the golf course, that I felt like that was a gift from Heavenly Father--being able to see those dolphins. Linnea said that if it hadn't have been Sunday, she would have swum out to them. She totally could have! They were so close! But I'm sure their are laws against that sort of thing. Someday....

I'm so grateful for this beautiful planet that we live on and all the creations we get to share it with. Dolphins are one of my favorites! I'm remembering now that when I gave Linnea her birthday interview and asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, she responded that she wanted to be a dolphin trainer. How fitting that she could be with me to observe them in the wild and marvel with me at their magnificence.