Yummy chunk-o-love and her family

We finally got to meet this little yummy chunk-o-love,

Caysa Noel

She is so yummy... she almost makes me want to have another one.  But not quite.  With all the little neices my sister-in-law are cranking out... I can love them, spoil them, and not have to feed them or potty train them.  Best of both worlds.

Brett, Emily, Jonas, Makai & Caysa came to town for a couple days.  It was Emily's birthday, so I made yummy mint brownies... and these two licked the beater.  Don't you love Makai's eyes...fixed on the frosting?  Was he wondering what these two were doing?  Or wanting in on the action?

A good 'ole cousin game of duck duck goose

Brett, Em, & Caysa snuck away to The Cheesecake Factory to celebrate her big 3-0 while the boys stayed back and enjoyed our New Years Eve celebrations with...  good 'ole movie night.

For the time that Caysa was here... what we mostly heard, was "No, it's my turn!" and  "Can I hold Caysa?"  Emily was a good sport to let Caysa play musical laps with all the doting girls.

We only wish we would have all felt well enough to join B&E and caravan down to the Rose Parade.  Thanks for coming, even if it was a reaaaally short trip!

Family Visits

September 2010:  We consider her like family... because she once was:)  We got to spend a couple days with CareBear... the kids ate it up and so did I.  Our Pottery Barn Outlet visit is always a treat too.  Our visits are just never long enough.

September 2010:  And then... a week later, Ama came with Kelly... 

the kids all crave her special attention, loves, and hugs. 

We can never get enough of Ama.  

We wish she would move to California already.

 ...so we can share more sillies like this...though, she looks like she's in pain.  

She'll kill me for this picture.

FINALLY...  Mom helped me tear apart and recover my $25 Craigslist  matching vintage chair finds... complete with nail heads.  I painted the legs antique white.  LOVE THEM to pieces... a way more complicated project than we anticipated, so mom had to stay an extra day... oh darn:)  Accessory pillows yet to be completed.


BEFORE: 

DURING:

AFTER: 

 Pure Lovliness
October 2010:  It's always a treat when Uncle Wayne's trade shows and work conferences bring him from Boston to San Diego.  This time we met him at his hotel and of course had our In & Out, then enjoyed the new Mormon Battalion Museum in Old Town. 

Discovered that our ancestor, James T.S. Allred's musket, 

which he carried on the march, was displayed at the museum.

nose-check... no bats in the cave

November 2010:  It has become one of our favorite vacation traditions for Mark, Tallie, and family to meet us at Doheny Beach for some good 'ole beach camping... in an RV, of course!

 This time was a little more special, as Mark was 

preparing to leave for a new job half-way around the world.  

Just a few photos I captured of their family:

We have been super lucky to have amazing beach-weather in mid-November.  Doheny is our fave.. the campground and surroundings... 
as picturesque as they come.   This year we got a beach-front site 
and we won't do it any other way again.