There's been so much merriment lately that I hardly know where to begin! We had a glorious 3 week break from Brad's school and crammed in as much action as we could handle. I'll try to keep this post concise but since I consider this to be our family journal, I also want it to be complete. I'll just let the pictures tell most of the stories.
Galla with Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the Ward party. She thinks that all Santa gives is a candy cane. We'll let her believe that for as long as we can! (Finn was home sick from his six "Happy 1st Birthday" shots).
Zoo lights! We went on a cold and rainy evening (which is pretty much every evening here in Portland) with our friends the Olsens and the Trujillos. I was quite impressed with how many lights they put up. It was pretty cool and we had a good time. Galla's shoes were completely soaked when we left, but she was still in high spirits.
Christmas morning! This little smiley guy was having fun sitting on his presents!
Galla, on the other hand, definitely wanted to open her presents and loves her Princess laptop (which has one volume setting: annoyingly loud). I'm sad that I didn't get a pic of the two of them together with their cute Christmas pajamas, but we were in a little bit of a hurry to catch our plane. We flew on Christmas day and watched from the big airport windows the SNOW coming down! It rarely snows here, so a white Christmas is pretty cool, but we were just hoping it didn't cause any delays...Cali-FUN-ia was waiting!
We flew in to Sacramento and went straight to my parents' cabin up by Pine Crest. My whole family was there except for my brother, Joseph, who we just got to see in the airport because our flight came in about an hour before his flight left. We got to experience a winter wonderland at the cabin and had fun doing snow activities. Here's Galla sledding (pulling the sled back up the hill). I'm glad that Galla somehow seems to be unaffected by cold.
Brad and Finn playing in the snow. Finn didn't like to keep his boots on, so he didn't get put down too much. (Auntie Kesha and Cousin Laura in the background).
The cousins watching a movie (minus my Finn and my sister's baby Joseph)
Galla wasn't so sure about ice skating, but she made up her mind after a face-first fall on the ice that it wasn't for her. This picture is pre-fall.
Finn also took his turn around the rink.
This picture is post-fall. She was sad, but after she ran into the ice skates that my mom was holding and got a black eye, she was even more sad. It wasn't her day and I don't think she's the next Michelle Kwan.
On to some warmer festivities! After we dug our way out of the snow (apparently it's impossible to drive in the snow and ice if Brad forgets to take off the parking brake), we drove over to Santa Cruz where Brad's family rented a house right on the beach. Brad's whole family was there and it was so fun to lounge in the sun. Galla and daddy love to play on the beach and run from the waves.
Hooray for the sun! We really miss it in Portland.
Miss Galla--queen of the beach!
Mr. Finn--king of the beach house!
Brad's whole fun family. We got to ring in 2008 together!
Our little family. We had a great break and, of course, are happy to be back home and in the swing of things. Brad will be done with school next December so we start the final countdown: the last January....
Galla with Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the Ward party. She thinks that all Santa gives is a candy cane. We'll let her believe that for as long as we can! (Finn was home sick from his six "Happy 1st Birthday" shots).
Zoo lights! We went on a cold and rainy evening (which is pretty much every evening here in Portland) with our friends the Olsens and the Trujillos. I was quite impressed with how many lights they put up. It was pretty cool and we had a good time. Galla's shoes were completely soaked when we left, but she was still in high spirits.
Christmas morning! This little smiley guy was having fun sitting on his presents!
Galla, on the other hand, definitely wanted to open her presents and loves her Princess laptop (which has one volume setting: annoyingly loud). I'm sad that I didn't get a pic of the two of them together with their cute Christmas pajamas, but we were in a little bit of a hurry to catch our plane. We flew on Christmas day and watched from the big airport windows the SNOW coming down! It rarely snows here, so a white Christmas is pretty cool, but we were just hoping it didn't cause any delays...Cali-FUN-ia was waiting!
We flew in to Sacramento and went straight to my parents' cabin up by Pine Crest. My whole family was there except for my brother, Joseph, who we just got to see in the airport because our flight came in about an hour before his flight left. We got to experience a winter wonderland at the cabin and had fun doing snow activities. Here's Galla sledding (pulling the sled back up the hill). I'm glad that Galla somehow seems to be unaffected by cold.
Brad and Finn playing in the snow. Finn didn't like to keep his boots on, so he didn't get put down too much. (Auntie Kesha and Cousin Laura in the background).
The cousins watching a movie (minus my Finn and my sister's baby Joseph)
Galla wasn't so sure about ice skating, but she made up her mind after a face-first fall on the ice that it wasn't for her. This picture is pre-fall.
Finn also took his turn around the rink.
This picture is post-fall. She was sad, but after she ran into the ice skates that my mom was holding and got a black eye, she was even more sad. It wasn't her day and I don't think she's the next Michelle Kwan.
On to some warmer festivities! After we dug our way out of the snow (apparently it's impossible to drive in the snow and ice if Brad forgets to take off the parking brake), we drove over to Santa Cruz where Brad's family rented a house right on the beach. Brad's whole family was there and it was so fun to lounge in the sun. Galla and daddy love to play on the beach and run from the waves.
Hooray for the sun! We really miss it in Portland.
Miss Galla--queen of the beach!
Mr. Finn--king of the beach house!
Brad's whole fun family. We got to ring in 2008 together!
Our little family. We had a great break and, of course, are happy to be back home and in the swing of things. Brad will be done with school next December so we start the final countdown: the last January....
8 comments:
You came to Cali and didn't even visit! Next time you are visiting your parents, drive on south to Madera! We would love to see you and the cutie kids!
what a cute family! Sounds like you guys had a busy, yet fun christmas break!
Ahhh! That last picture of you guys all staring out at the waves melts my heart! California is calling you. San diego, california to be exact. come live in Del Mar with us. RIGHT NOW!
The sun and the beach look so NICE! I'm a little jealous. And your kids really are beautiful kids.
I loved spending every moment with your family! Love the pictures and we had so much fun.
love you
mombin
Hooray! I am so glad we finally got an update. It looks like you guys had so much fun. We need a girls' night so I can really hear all about it. Aaaaaah! The last January! Not fair! Ok... I guess you have paid your dues.
woo hoo! final countdown! im glad you posted pictures. its funny too see how cold and rainy it was in Portland and how SUNNY it was in Cali! looks like you guys had a good break. skating..fun!
What an awesome Christmas, snow and the beach, great combo. Sorry Steve couldn't help you get your pictures back, that is a huge bummer. And I agree with Dani about the girls night. :)
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