Kennedy and Natalie

This is Natalie and her friend Kennedy that she finally got to meet. (Thanks to Trace for the pictures) They had fun for the one night they got to spend with each other, as you can see.

Our Natalie

Kids are a pleasure to have in the house. All the whining and crying and problems fade away when they do something that just makes you laugh. Natalie was playing hide-and-seek with dad the other day and she went and tried to climb into the towel cupboard by the oven (which we didn't think she could fit in). Well she fits mostly in but her bum still sticks out. She didn't get stuck but thought she had a pretty good hiding spot.
She wanted to take pictures the other day and luckily dad had an old camera he bought in Brasil that he let her use. Now she goes around the house taking pictures of everything and everyone. She even wanted a picture of dad taking a picture of her.

Christmas Leftovers

Here are a few leftover pictures and video that managed to evade detection last week while updating Christmas stuff. Enjoy.

Natalie got this little motorized jeep last year and Granddad got a battery for it to make it work. So now it works, but Natalie is never there to use it. luckily it got warm enough one day to go out and ride it around in the snow. She is learning how to steer though (she has a hard time steering on a tricycle too, kind of expects it to steer by itself) Fun for everyone. Too bad we didn't have room to bring it back...



Natalie rode the jeep all the way to the park with mom and Granddad and they made a snowman there in the playground.
Princess Natalie with some of her Christmas presents.

The middle name controversy (Revisited)

Dad here. The baby is soon to come and we have agreed on a name. A first name. And middle name. When I posted the poll for the middle name I thought it was a good experiment in backwards thinking to see what people would prefer without knowing the first name. It kind of worked but there was much backbiting and gnashing of teeth because we didn't put forth a first name. I could see people writhing uncomfortably at their computer, wringing their sweaty hands, thinking, "I need a first name! I can't do this without a first name! I don't think I can choose! Which one, which one?! It doesn't make any sense! What do they want from me!" If you need psychiatric help because of my little experiment, please let us know and we can help you find someone. Well, now that the mob has swelled and died down, I put up a new poll for the middle name again, only this time with the first name "Emily". So please, feel free to choose what you think fits best, and please don't ask us which one we picked or that will ruin the experiment. I just wanted to add some spice to your blog-viewing experience.

By the way, if you are just joining us, we just posted about a months worth of stuff. So when you get to the bottom of the page, click on the "older posts" link and you will be thrilled to find more wonderful things of joy and happiness. Go Cougars!

Our funny little girl

Natalie is learning to do so many things and has a wonderful personality( That's not boasting, it's the plain truth). Last night she got out of the tub and mom wrapped her hair up in a towel and she came out to where dad was playing the piano with the headphones on (digital pianos are great to have in an apartment) and she wanted to play. So she put on the headphones and went to town. She looks like a pro. The video has sound, but she has the headphones on so you can't hear the masterpiece she's playing. Sorry.

Gratuitous Beach Pictures

It's great to visit Utah and play in the snow but to be honest we really love living here in California too. It was a long drive back and as soon as we got home Natalie went through all her toys and was amazed to see them again. We should have hid her toys for a month and wrapped them up for Christmas.

It was so nice this week that we had to go out to the beach. We know everyone is sick of seeing us at the beach, but it's so much fun! We've always said, feel free to come visit us. Plus, everyone here thinks 65 degrees is chilly so there's practically no one at the beach. Natalie even tried to sled in the sand on her behind. Watch the video...

Natalie kept pretending to eat the sand, we don't know where she got this from...

Our Aquarium

While we were in Wyoming dad went through some of his old stuff and dug out his old aquarium. We brought it back with us and got two Cherry Barbs, and two Neon Tetras for Natalie's room. She loves to watch them swim around and eat. Since we can't have a dog it's the next best thing, right?

Sledding Fun

We headed out on one of our last days in Utah to try some sledding. Unfortunately it had been warmer and the place we went to, the snow had melted mostly. We found a little hill with some ice and snow on it and managed to sled some. John had the ingenious idea of putting a hamper basket in the tube so the kids could ride int he tube without falling into the hole in the center. Fun for all!

Mini golfing

We decided to get out of the house and go miniature golfing! It was great fun and Grandpa and John and the boys all came. We went to Trafalga and played a round of eighteen, topped off with some Skee-ball. Natalie can't quite get that pesty ball all the way up the ramp yet but she tries her hardest. This was Natalie and the boys first time playing mini-golf and they had a grand ol' time.

The back nine was particularly taxing so we had to take a photo-op break.

Snow fun

We love being where it's warm, but there's nothing like going out in the fresh snow and making a snowman and having a snowball fight. Natalie enjoyed herself playing with Calvin, Ivan, and reed outside.

Fun at the Pratt's house

On the second leg of our vacation, we visited the Pratt house in Utah. It was really great to be back in Utah, to see the beautiful mountains, be around great people, and visit with family. It really made us miss living in Provo. How could anyone not love living here! We had some delays and change of plans to get down there but we finally did and were able to see Jen and Jared for a day. Natalie loves to see Madeline and Aliza. We got to meet little Rachel who has the cutest smile. Joe and Liz were there, and John and Lisa and the boys were there too. We arrived New year's eve and partied on down till the wee hours of midnight-thirty. Then most everyone went to bed, though some stayed up to play games and talk. We can't say how great it is to see and be with family you love.

As an aside, we also saw many of our dear friends. Among them was the Gibsons. Adam was one of Mike's old roommates and has been in Iraq for the last year. We finally got to meet Kennedy and they met Natalie for the first time. It was really good to see them. We will post pictures later (we didn't have our camera and Trace took the pictures so we're waiting until she posts them...hint-hint , wink-wink, nudge-nudge Trace ;) The Gibsons are the best and really treated us well while we were with them. And Adam, thanks for serving our country.

Dad with Natalie holding Rachel

TV monsters watching their new Strawberry Shortcake movie

We had another session of opening gifts for those who weren't there for Christmas. It was mayhem and happiness all in one. Thanks for the gifts!

One happy Family

We had a great time at the Grand-Parker's house and were sad to leave. We managed to load up all the stuff into our car and trudge on down to Utah for the next leg of our vacation at the Pratt's house. We have to say that we both have the best parents money can't buy. To Grandma and Granddad Parker, Thanks! We really appreciate everything you do for us. You guys are the best!

Playing in GR

So we tried to go out sledding when the temps reached a balmy 30 degrees or so. But we waited too long and the wind kicked up when we headed out. Natalie still had fun going down the hill with Granddad. We decided to head over to the park since we had been cooped up all week and tried out the new playground equipment the city put in. It would probably be really fun in the summer time. It was nice though to have snow on Christmas.

Natalie the climber

Natalie has started to discover that she can get into and onto places that are just her size. At Grandma's house she loved to climb up the back of the sofa and lay on the window sill and look outside. She loves to climb on everything and anything these days.

Christmas at the Parker's

So we had a pretty great Christmas vacation up in Wyoming. Yeah it was wicked cold (I think we've become accustomed to the warm weather here in Cali) but it was really good to spend time with Grandma and Granddad. Christmas day was epic, with Natalie receiving more presents than everyone else combined, ala Grandma and aunt Janetta. We didn't think we'd have any room in our car to take Natalie home (but Grandma was more than willing to take Natalie off our hands...)

Granddad and Natalie reading on Christmas Eve

Impatient elf on Christmas morning eager to open presents

Natalie lost her "Sally" car in Wal-Mart a while back. It had been a present from Tanner before we left to CA and she loved to play with it. Whenever we watched "Cars" she had to have it by her side. She was devasted when she lost it at the store and after she learned her lesson about taking toys to stores, we told her maybe, if she was good, Santa would bring a new Sally car. Well she was and he did and all were happy.

Natalie practicing her numbers with her new presents