Beachcombing #2

And just like that we are home again and our vacation is over. Goodbye sandy beaches and glorious ocean sunsets. Goodbye lazy mornings and unlimited daddy/husband time. Goodbye decadent breakfasts from Pacific Whey and delicious sliders from Yard House. Goodbye Shamu.

We won't be gone too long...

Sea World

We flew into and out of San Diego (even though we stayed up the coast in Newport Beach) which gave us the chance to hit Sea World twice. Seems a little overboard, right? Luckily, Sea World offered a Fun Card option so we could visit again and again for the price of just one day's admission (kind of like Lagoon's bounce-back passes...)

Also, my kids have very tiny legs. And I made them walk around the whole park for the sole purpose of wearing them out :) I sound like a mean mom! But I love how solidly Bentley and Caroline sleep when they are worn out. And we managed to successfully wear them out every day of our trip. Good thing all our tiring activities were also loads of fun or I really would be feeling some bad mom guilt...

At the Shamu show day 1. Can I just say that I loved it? Here I am 30 years old and it gave me chills. Why is it so fascinating to see those killer whales showing off all their tricks? One of the trainers in the Saturday show was so awesome. He dove down with his whale and then shot up out of the water and dove off of her nose like 5 times. Baby Olivia was sleeping in my arms and I disturbed her everytime he did it because I just had to cheer. OK, enough about Shamu...

discovering sea stars

and flashy flamingos


Shamu show day 2
We came prepared to sit in the "soak zone."

Enjoying the kid rides at the Sesame Street Bay of Play


We also saw the sea lion show, shark and dolphin exhibits, and touched the smooth backs of the bat rays (well, Cares and Joseph and I did anyway--Bentley was fascinated by them but way too spooked to touch them :)

Funny fact: the last time Joseph and I were at Sea World was on our honeymoon. Who knew how much our lives would change in 10 years? Wow, we have grown up a lot...

A Room With a View

...and a fabulous pool

Oh, and these cuddly sissies too

Beachcombing #1

Our favorite evening activity while on vacation. If I lived here in Cali I think I would find myself at the water's edge everyday. It is beautiful and relaxing and the kids are completely entertained.

I Love to See the Temple

Today we visited the Newport Beach Temple.

Yes, we're in California (a lovely escape from the construction site we call home :)

an excerpt from this article:

Primary children sing, "I Love to See the Temple" (Children's Songbook, 95). Some parents take their children to visit temple grounds, wanting the youngsters to feel of the spirit of the place, to sense its sacredness, to develop a love for temples.

Without doubt, these parents want their children not only to touch the temple when they are young but also, as they grow older, to be touched by the temple.

Yes, temples can touch us as much — more so — than we can touch them. When we go to a temple, we touch its solid surfaces, but the temple touches us on a deeper level. It touches the spirit.

May we ever yearn to be in the temple, the House of the Lord, and may we always be prepared to feel its touch in our lives.

Progress

You guys were not kidding--drywall is the worst! At this point it is mostly done with the key word being "mostly." And that is good news and bad news. Good because the end is in sight but bad because it was supposed to be done today--meaning 100% finito so that our finisher could hang all the doors, place all the trim and closet shelves, and clean the space tomorrow so paint could begin on Monday. Alas, it will not be. And probably won't be for a whole week because of scheduling conflicts...the lightning speed basement has been derailed...

Even so, things are looking really good. I love seeing real walls up and getting more of a feel for the how the actual space will look in the end.

New pics from tonight:

looking up the stairs

view of the great room from the hallway

and from the east end

new bedroom for Bentley (see the color we were testing in the wall?
It's the Kwall paint named Elephant and I was worried it would be too gray...but it's not :)

the new office

A Letter

2 month stats:

12.2 pounds and 22 1/2 inches long

Dearest Olivia Ann--

You are now 2 months old...and as cute and cuddly as ever. Our whole family is completely in love with you. In fact, it is hard to keep your doting siblings more than 3 inches away from your sweet chubby cheeks and fluffy hair. Anytime you are awake they want to be near you and touching you and continually repeating "Hi, Olivia" in their sweetest voices.

Your white stripe is still as bright as ever although the rest of your hair is slowly lightening up and making the contrast less noticeable. Your eyelashes have grown so much in the past few weeks and will shape up to be luscious assets to your beauty as your grow.

Darling girl, you are simply a joy to have in our home. Daddy and I feel so lucky and proud that you are ours and that you are such a content and calm little soul. We feel a special connection to you since we, like you, were both the 3rd child born among our siblings. We are excited for you to find your place in our family and to enjoy the love and friendship of your older brother and sister (and a younger brother and/or sister too...all in due time :)

Last night you ate at 8:30 pm, went to sleep by 9:45 and didn't wake up until 5:15 am. It was your first time "sleeping through the night" and it made this mama very happy!

I love you little girl. I want you to know that although I have been a mommy to 2 other children already, you are just as special and new to me as my Bentley and Caroline. And you are beloved. You are learning how to smile right now and when any of us witnesses one of your grins spreading across your face we are completely mesmerized. Thank you for bringing so much joy into our home right from the very day you arrived. I thank my Heavenly Father for you every time I pray--He has certainly blessed me beyond measure.

--Mommy

**I actually wrote this entry on Monday but didn't want to post it until I had taken the babe to see the doctor this morning. Over the past few days she has still been a champion sleeper--eating around 8:00 pm, falling asleep around 9:00 pm and not waking until about 4:00 am. I think I am getting spoiled (or she is just learning "good baby tricks" from her cousin Connor...)

New Bag

Remember this post? Well, I finally found a new diaper bag (i.e. handbag with lots of great storage. Have I ever mentioned that I am a handbag addict? I love them. Handbags and shoes...all I really need to be happy ;)

Here's the lovely bag: (mine is actually bright pink but I couldn't find any pictures of the pink version online. I'll have to post some of my own photos of it sometime soon.)

I adore this colorful print inside the purse (the pink one has the same lining).

Now, I am falling in love with this vivid yellow...maybe I need to trade in my pink one...

And So It Begins

Basement Construction: It is both exciting and exhausting (and we are not even doing the actual labor :) Since arriving home from St George just one week ago I have had the framer, plumber, electrician, heating and air guy, insulator, and sheet rocker (just to measure--but he starts hanging walls on Monday) in and out of my house. And today, Joseph and I lugged the 3 kids all around Home Depot and Lowe's as we looked at sink vanities, faucets and lighting. We didn't even buy anything--just checked out all the options (there is only so much online research I can handle--I need to see and touch something tangible after a certain point!)

Progress after week #1
We are super lucky that things are coming together so quickly...thus far anyway...

view from the bottom of the stairs

new little bathroom

1 of the 2 new bedrooms

great room (for media and pool table)

view of the stairway from our kitchen--we cut out some of the wall in our main room to let in more light and connect the 2 levels a bit more.

Construction is messy. I will have major cleaning up to do once it is finished.

Oh, and today at Lowe's I got lost in some wallpaper books. I have realized that my style is categorized as "contemporary" according to the books and that I would love to hang a feminine print in Caroline's room. My husband hates the idea of wallpaper (he had a bad experience with a purple and black paisley print that he chose out when he was about 12 years old...I know--scary right?)

Wallpaper is like fabric--I could look at samples for days on end. I love these bright prints--too rich to fill up a whole room but fun to look at nonetheless--

Reminiscing

Easter 2008


Easter 2007

Easter 2006

I searched for pics from 2005 (aka Bentley's First Easter) and couldn't find a thing! Maybe, just maybe there are some on my old, old laptop hidden away in an iPhoto file. If any of you happen upon Easter 2005 pics that include my little man, would you pass them along? I can't for the life of me even remember where we were or what we did (if anything) to celebrate...