San Diego Zoo

During our visit to Southern California we took a day trip to the San Diego Zoo.  Us and the rest of the world decided to go to the zoo on this particular Friday, December 28, but it was still a great time.  Just took us about an hour and a half to find parking.  It made us appreciate paid parking lots.

A huge bonus was Jim's sister worked their over the summer as an Intern, so it was like we had our own personal tour guide.  It was great! :)  Thanks Alison pictured below with the kids and the giraffes!

Here are a few other fun pictures from the day.

Evie with the Rhinos in the background.

Both kids saying hi to the adorable little guy below.

Mommy with Elaine showing off her zebra pants with the Zebra's in the background.

Here's another fun picture with both Jim and I and our little peanut, Elaine peeking out.

Daddy and Evie and the Polar Bears.

Notice an exhausted Evan in the foreground of the picture above and a close up below.

We visited the park right after Christmas so they still had a lot of fun decorations up for everyone's enjoyment.  Jim's mom took these fun pictures below.

A big thrill for the kids while visiting the San Diego Zoo was the chance to ride in the Sky Tram.  Here is Evan beaming with joy!  He talked about doing this ride all day.

Here is a picture Jim took of Evan, Elaine and I in our cart, #31.  Jim and Evie were in another cart right next to us.

Last I leave you with two adorable pictures of the kids.  Elaine with big brother, Evan.

Evie with her new little polar bear friend she got from the gift store.

We all had so much fun at the park.

But the good news was the fun didn't end there; to make our stay even more special we stayed the night in the San Diego Embassy Suites.  The kids were overjoyed!  They love staying in hotels.  Here they are getting tucked in at night, while Jim read them a bedtime story.

Then on Day 2 as we prepared to pack up and get ready to head back to Riverside to visit with Grandma Knight and Aunt Alison some more.

We had a real nice time visiting San Diego and look forward to more adventures in the future.

Eight Months Old

Elaine turned 8 months old on Friday, March 8.  Here she is on the day in her cute little blue outfit with a heart.  This outfit sure has people fooled though, seems I always get a "Is that a Boy?" comment when she wears it.  Don't you see the heart I have to say and pink. :)  Plus she is way too pretty to be a boy!

-Elaine is crawling.  This has slowly been happening for the last few weeks, but right at 8 months she officially got it.  She is so proud of herself and you can find her all over the floor discovering.  With this continues to come lots of bonks, but she recovers pretty quickly.  We are so proud of you Elaine!

-She just started squealing she loves to do this at night especially when we are all getting ready for bed.  It is is the cutest thing.

-She loves to laugh and thinks many things are funny at 8 months.  Some of her favorite things to laugh at are her brother and sister.  They always do things to make her smile and giggle.  Mommy and Daddy are pretty good at it too.  She enjoys peek a boo and tickles.
 
-Elaine is a Mommy's girl and prefers to be with me if I am in the room.  It is pretty special to be her Mommy too.  I love this little beauty more than words can say and appreciate when she follows me around the room with her eyes and stops crying when she is in my arms.  Cherishing these moments!

-She enjoys riding front ways in the strollers now.  Such a big girl.

-She also finally has her own room and bed.  We moved her in right when we got the big kids their new bunk bed.  Here she is looking adorable sitting in the crib with her babies.

-She is becoming a good eater and is enjoying her baby food (both fruits and vegis), oatmeal, rice cereal and puffs.  She is a very messy eater though and must have control of the spoon.

We have the best little girl and thank God for her everyday.  Stop growing up so fast little one.  We love you and Happy 8 Months Elaine!

Christmas 2012

We had a very special Christmas 2012.  It was Elaine's 1st Christmas 

and also our big kids could really understand what was going on this year and couldn't be any more excited!  

Here are the kids in their coordinating jammies on Christmas morning.  They were all so happy!  Especially when they came down the stairs and saw all the gifts.

This year's celebrating began early as we got to be with Pops on Sunday, December 9.

Here are Daddy and the kids with Elaine as she opens her first ever Christmas present from Pops!

Then we got to celebrate with my family on Christmas Eve.  In the day time the kids were able to open a special present from Mommy and Daddy (their new Christmas jammies).

Then we all got spiffed up and went to Creekside's Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.

 
After we traveled to Sacramento and had a delicious dinner at Outback.  Then back to my parent's place for presents with Grandma and Grandma Thompson, Grandma Shirley, and Uncle Rhett and Aunt Debra.  When the kids saw the gifts they were giddy!  We were able to get some real cute pictures of them together thanks to my awesome sister-in-law Debra. This is one of my absolute favorites.  :)

Some of the highlights from Christmas Eve included these neat keepsake rugs we made for everyone with the kids foot prints and hand prints.  I was really proud of how they turned out.  They were a lot of work, especially trying to get those prints made of the kids (seemed easier than it was, but good memories).  I also was able to perfect my puffy paint skills.

This picture cracks me up because it shows Evan proudly showing off his super cool new Spiderman gear too.

This is another great picture.  Aunt Debra looking like Santa with all the gifts they brought for everyone in her blue bag.  We all loved it and were able to capture a fun picture.

Evan and Evie enjoyed every moment of opening up presents and were really working together.

Here is the whole family admiring some delicious candy Daddy received from Aunt Debra and Uncle Rhett.

This is a sweet picture of Grandpa helping Evan put on his new Captain America mask.

We all had a wonderful evening.  Especially our newest little Christmas Darling Elaine.

Christmas Day was a whirlwind of fun as the official day that everyone was counting down to was finally here!  

Here are the kids opening up presents that morning.  

And Elaine enjoying the festivities too.

Here favorite gift this year at her first Chrsitmas were all the pretty and shiny bows.

Here she is munching away at one with Daddy and Evie too.

Yet again, another picture where Elaine can be munching on a bow in the background as I admire a new book that we got for the kids. :)

The super big highlights for the big kids this year were their gifts from Santa.  Evan received his big boy scooter.  Complete with new Spiderman helmet from Evie.

Evie got her special pink bike that she asked Santa for too.

Last but certainty not least, we had Christmas with Grandma Knight and Aunt Alison on December 28 in Riverside.  The kids loved that Christmas was still happening.  They were thrilled to open more presents!

Elaine was having a good time too and especially liked her new babies that she received.

Here is Evan with Grandma Knight's new rug.

As with tradition we gave all the Grandma's Elaine's footprint ornament.  Here is Grandma Knight seeing if Elaine's foot had already grown in size.

Here is Aunt Alison posing pretty with a new Owl Wallet that we got her.

Finally, I leave you with a cute picture of Evie in her Sweetie outfit she got from Grandma Knight. She immediately had to put it on.  It was love at first sight.

What an amazing Christmas we had.  Thank You very much to our family for all their kindness and generosity this year!!!  We love you!