Christmas Presents!

Here's a shot of Adley's two favorite presents. Elmo from Grandma & Grandpa Egg and the Latches Board from Grammy & Grandpa S.

Mommy has asked to hold Elmo but is thwarted at every turn. I think she likes him!

Thanks Rhonda!

Thanks Papa Vern!

Opening presents - a favorite pasttime. What could it be?
A Thomas the Train DVD! Choo-choo!

Elmo, Elmo, & Adley with our Christmas Tree.

Adley, Elmo, and Elmo watching Elmo's World on DVD - another favorite present from Mommy & Daddy.

Christmas Eve

To Borrow From A Friend:

Christ is Born! Christ is Risen! Christ is Coming!



12/24/08 - Adley & Mommy went ice skating...right outside our front door. Our sidewalk has about 1-2 inches of ice, and its solid. Even though we were wearing boots we had to tread pretty carefully. At first, it took some convincing, but once Adley got the hang of walking in the snow she didn't want to go back inside. We enjoyed the fresh air!

Enjoy these photos from Christmas Eve. We arrived at 6pm to get ready for the 6:30pm service. Adley wore this beautiful dress that Grammy bought so long ago. We've all been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to wear it. Its beautiful from the front and the back! Thanks Grandma!

Merry Christmas!

Snow Fun! - Sort of...

This was our first trip outdoors after the "wintry mix" storm the night before.
Take note of the icicles on the picnic table and the fact that there are no footprints for Adley. That's because the snow is completely iced over and she's not heavy enough to break through.

All in a hard days work!
(Never mind the fact that it takes two mitten'd hands to hold the shovel and there's nothing but smooth ice on the ground).

We broke off a piece to show you how much precip the storm brought us. (It was probably a bit more but the rain mix melted a little of the snow before it iced over again). Then we headed inside for some hot chocolate.

Sacramento Trip - Part 3

Did I mention we took lots of pictures with Grammy and Paka?

More photo opportunities with Paka, Uncle Henry, Aunt Eileen & Grammy.

Then, Jordan and Stephanie came to visit. We haven't seen them since last summer so they were surprised at all the growing up Adley's done. We had a good, quick, visit. Thanks for coming guys!

Quick, get the camera! She's sitting still!

Grammy & Papa Vern. Adley can clearly say "Papa Vern", probably better than she can say any other name. He's a lucky guy.

Grammy taught us some bad habits to take home. But the also had fun too. Grammy let Adley watch her Mommy & Daddy's wedding video which she loved!

"If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?"

Uncle Gary came over to play "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" on his ukelele. It was a beautiful solo until Adley joined into make it a duet with her Barbie piano. Thanks Uncle Gary!

Then it was time to take the show on the road.

"Where do we go next?"

Sacramento Trip - Part 2

We saw lots more aunts and uncles including Uncle Henry. Now that Uncle Henry and Aunt Eileen have moved to Sacramento we can see them more often. Yea!

We found Mommy's old tea set and poured tea all around.
(Adley does a great job of imitating the sound effects for pouring too!)

We took lots of pictures with Grammy and Paka...

...especially in our new dress that Grandma bought us.

Adley ate popcorn for the first time. Yum!
Of course, its Grammy's truffle oil, white popcorn, so how could you go wrong?

Mommy got a burger from In-N-Out - Animal Style, of course!
Adley loved the pickles.

More tea parties! Grammy shows Adley how.
Adley poured Paka a cup of tea and just as he started to drink it Adley says "NO! -- Sugar!" She's learning from the best!

Even Melissa had tea!

Sacramento Trip - Part 1

We're back from our trip to Sacramento for Jeff & Mallory's wedding. We had a great time.
Get ready for all the highlights of our trip.

We helped Paka pick up some of his leaves. (It was the lease we could do since so many of the leaves came from the tree with the swing). Since the weather was so cool, we thought we'd skip the swing this time, but when Adley got out of the car the first night she pointed to the tree and said "Fwing!" Each day after that as soon as Paka got home from work she'd run to him and say "Paka! -- Fwing!" So Paka knew what he had to do.

Then we picked up the leaves to throw them.
Fun!

We had tea parties with Grammy...in china cups!

We spent time with Aunt Cecil who came all the way from Connecticut.

And we ate lots of tangerines right off the tree. Of course, they taste better when Paka is holding you and Grammy is peeling them, removing the seeds, cutting them up into bite-sized pieces and feeding them to you off a toothpick.

Don't worry she's not too spoiled YET.

Then we figured out that you could throw the tangerines and they would roll across the floor. More Fun!

We saw lots of Christmas lights and this Santa who kept waving his hand and freaking us out.

Flower Girl?

Happy Birthday Katelyn

Here's Adley enjoying her first party (as a guest) - Elmo themed, of course...

and then telling the birthday girl how much fun it is to be 1!

Congratulations Jeff & Mallory

It's official. Jeff and Mallory were married in a beautiful candlelight ceremony this evening followed by a softly lit cake and champagne reception. The newlyweds are on their honeymoon.

Adley's portion of the festivities went very well. She did a fantastic job of walking down the aisle with her basket of roses and she said "Happy Wedding" to Uncle Jeff and Aunt Mallory in the receiving line just like we practiced.

It was a sunny day, worshipful ceremony and smooth reception attended by so many family and friends. We are blessed to have been a part of it. Pictures to come!

Welcome to the family Auntie Mallory!

The Cradle Rocks!

"Thanks for making such a great cradle, Grandpa Al!

I climbed in all by myself!"

Scottie Dogs...one more time.

November 2008
How great is it that this outfit still fits!

January 2008

Three Little Piano Players

Three little piano players...

...having so much fun!

Two stopped to check out their portraits...

...and then there was one!

Thanks for coming over girls! We had a great time and took a long nap that afternoon! Bonus!

Another new outfit?

Thanks Shawn & Wendy for picking this one out.
It was a birthday present that Adley is just now growing into.
This was the only shot we took at the Confirmation Banquet 11/13.