California trip

I can't believe I started this post two weeks ago. Unfortunately, it is going to be a much more boring post than I thought because I only have "hanging out" pics, my mom has all of the "sightseeing" ones on her camera. Maybe I'll post more when they are emailed to me.

Summary: It was wonderful to go to California and introduce Elena to so many people in Dan's family and in my extended family. I went to California for the family reunion of my dad and his siblings. Happy 60th birthday, Uncle Ken! Since most of my aunts and uncles live in the Bay Area, we reunited there. My wonderful parents bought me a ticket (with only a little bit of arm twisting) and we were able to be there for 10 days. Dan, of course, couldn't come because of school.

In no particular order, here is a quick list of events:

• We went to the beach and the Santa Cruz Boardwalk
  
• church with Uncle Norman's family in Vacaville
  
• the Monterrey Bay Aquarium
  
• the Exploratorium
  
• Pier 39
  
• the Oakland temple
  
• the Gilroy Outlets
  
• the hospital in Santa Clara to visit Dan's brother-in-law Kevin
  
• the pool
• a family talent show
  
• Kathryn and Michael's house
  
• Uncle James and Aunt Lori's house
  
• a family picnic in a park
  
• watching a lot of the Olympics
  
• kickin it with Aunt Mary's family
  

I'm sure we did more too that I just can't remember at this moment. It was a very full trip. I wish that we could go back soon. It was just as fun being there as I remember it being when I would visit as a teenager. We (Dan and I) both have such amazing and generous families - they pulled out all the stops to help Elena and I feel comfortable and well fed. :)

My cousin Michael and his wife Kathryn have two cute girls: Ambyr and McKenna. I wish that we could live closer to them - without having to pay CA rent. :) Elena had a great time playing with them. Although she's pretty ticked in this picture - it was late at night. We had a lot of late nights and she was a trooper, but this was the last straw.

Me with my cousins Rebekkah and Jennifer and two of R's kids.

From left to right (not counting me and E): Kathie (Dan's sister), Kevin (Dan's brother-in-law) and Barbie (Dan's sister), Caitlin (niece), Lydia (Dan's Mom). We had a great time together and we must have been good luck charms - jk - because Kevin's surgery went great.

Elena and cousin Caitlin:

I have an obsession with taking pictures of Elena sleeping. I have probably taken a pic at least once a month - if not more - her whole life. She was so dead asleep this particular night that after she fell asleep in the car, I was able to change her into her pajamas without her even moving.

This is who we were lucky to be able to stay with: Brian, Uncle Brent, Aunt Mary, David, and Jeffrey. The house was big enough so that Elena's sleep protests didn't bother anyone and the food was fabulous. Especially the salsa. The boys were really good with Elena too. She was a big fan of all of them by the time we left.

My cousin Kendall and Elena coming home from the pool. I love my Aunt Lori's neighborhood. I think it would be so perfect to have a pool and a park right across the street!

Lena, Ambyr, Shelby, and McKenna at the Seabright beach. Shelby does a great job looking out for and playing with all of the little ones.

I'm Back!

I feel like I have been gone the whole summer, when in reality I have only been out of town about 25 % of the time. When you are constantly either adjusting to being home or getting ready for the next trip, it tends to all just sort of run together.
It has been fun to be able to take off and help out with the Young Women (from church) or to go visit family, but it will be nice to stay here for a while. Now that the school year has started, I have responsibilities that require that we stay put. And that's a good thing. I am excited to be tutoring again (today was my first day for the 08-09 school year) and to watch sweet Caleb this semester. I'll post a photo of him soon. He's a cutie!

Here is a picture that someone took at a birthday party just a few days before Elena and I left on our trip to California. We rarely have a photo with all three of us together, so I am excited to post it.

I have already started an entry about our trip, but there is no way that I am finishing it tonight, so I thought I would publish really quickly to prove that we are alive and well. :)