A few more random California pics...

I found a few more pictures I had downloaded onto Sam's computer. We love California and we love these people. Not in that order.

Sometimes I forget how beautiful the ocean really is. It was nice to get a little reminder.

The boys got a nice look at a lovely pelican.

Silly boys that love each other.


More people that we love.


Max and Scarlett are the cutest little friends.







When we finally did head home it was on the red eye. We arrived in Chicago for a layover at 6 a.m. (3 a.m. to us!). We let Sam sleep in preparation for his interview the next morning while we made ourselves at home on the terminal floor.











All right...I am officially ready to move on.

Happy 4th Birthday Maxo!

As tempted as I am to just jump to blogging about what is going on right now in our life, I really can't skip Max's birthday otherwise I might really give him a middle child complex.


If December is a hard month to have a birthday, I'd have to throw the beginning of January in with it too. In fact, in some ways I think it is a little worse. Since we normally travel over the holidays it seems like we have always been coming or going on just getting back on January 6th in the past. Whatever the case, we have never really celebrated Max's birthday on his birthday and even after the fact it has been pretty weak. This year, since we were going to be in California on his birthday with family I wanted to break that trend and really celebrate his big day. In fact weeks before his birthday I asked him what he would like to do for his birthday. His answer was always changing so I had a hard time making a plan. Finally a few days before his birthday when I was questioning him again about the plan he said, "It's OK Mom. I'll just let you decide everything." That is Max for you. He really can get excited about most anything and at least when it comes to a birthday party he's not too particular. We ended up celebrating it twice (making up for the years when we didn't do much at all.) The day before his birthday we were in Long Beach and celebrated with my parents and cousins on my side of the family.

I still wont say that Max has ever had a real party, but we did play pin the tail on the dragon so it was close. Max was the first to do the pinning and made sure his went right where it belonged. I don't think he totally got how this game works because he was insistent that no one else put their tail near his.


I think Max's favorite part of the game was being "in charge".


Strangely enough the only thing Max did really decide on was what cake he wanted. He said he wanted the cake that had pineapple circles on top. I assumed that would be pineapple upside down cake, but thought it was a little odd because I don't think he'd ever had it before.

I thought for sure he was going to be disappointed, but I was wrong. He loved it. I guess 4 year olds do like pineapple upside down cake.


We also had punch balloons so I maybe it was a party after all. They were a hit with all of the kids. Even Ruby quickly figured out what to do.


Luke and his very sad black eye. (Thanks to Reed we all now know that using a rock as a discus is always a bad idea. )


The next day on his actual birthday we were in San Clemente and got to celebrate with Toby whose birthday is the same as Max's . Unfortunately I left my camera behind and have no pictures to document that part of the celebration. I can say though that Max was thrilled with the shared occasion. In fact I'm pretty sure he enjoyed it even more because it was shared. I love that about him and so much more. Happy Birthday my big 4-year-old boy!

The rest of December...and January too.

This catching up stuff is for the birds. I am really going to try to move forward fast because if I don't I may be stuck in 2010 forever. Here we go.

On Christmas afternoon, after we had enjoyed the morning as a family, we rushed out the door to catch a flight to L.A. Thankfully we beat the snow and were able to depart as scheduled. The next 2 1/2 weeks were spent enjoying California's mild winter weather, but more importantly our extended family. Being able to spend time with family is really the only reason we make this trek so frequently. Here are a few photos from 2 1/2 weeks of wonderful family time.

After a long day of Christmas Day travel we were able to wake up the next morning and spend Christmas Sunday in Long Beach. Ruby looked adorable in her Christmas dress. My Nana made it for her and I thought it turned out just perfect.


After a day in Long Beach we headed to San Clemente. We were extra lucky because while we were there all of Sam's siblings also arrived to spend a few days in California. It was lots of people and lots of fun.

Football at the park...





and lots of cousins to play with.




After the park we enjoyed dinner at a place I had been wanting to take Ruby pretty much since she was born.

After a few days in San Clemente we headed back to Long Beach to spend time with my family including bicycle surry rides along the water at Shoreline Village. I love that my kids love to be with their cousins.


It looks like Issac and Ruby still have some warming up to do.


Part way through our ride Reed and Luke took over as the drivers. It was quite a funny and swervy sight. I was quite impressed that they could get it moving at all.


I don't take enough pictures of my parents, but since I did this time, here they are...



We took a break halfway through our ride to enjoy the beach and try out some new camera techniques.




I love how Max kept his helmet on the whole time while playing in the sand. He loved that thing.


A few days later we headed to the Long Beach Aquarium. Watching the scuba diver feed the sharks was definitely one of the highlights.


Even Ruby enjoyed it.

At the "touch tank" I think I was the biggest wimp. Both the boys had no problem petting the sharks and sting rays.


After a few days in Long Beach we packed up for San Clemente again. (wow I feel tired just thinking about all this back and forth business). It is a hassle to do so much flip flopping, but being able to squeeze it all in makes it worth it.

One of the funnest things we got to squeeze in while in San Clemente was family dodge ball. Watching and playing were equally fun.





I love this picture of Ruby and Lacey. It pretty much sums up the reason we come and what makes all the craziness (not pictured) worthwhile.

Phew! That was long, does that mean I can move on to February???