An Afternoon at the Beach

Family Picture

Dolphin Harbor

The dolphins felt like blubber. They swam fast and powerfully. They moved their tails up and down to swim fast through the water. Their dorsal fin cuts through the water and is great for holding on. Dolphins like to copy peoples behavior.

They breath and make noise through their blow hole.

This is Brooklynn and Ripley shaking hands.

Good-bye hug.

Landscapes of Miami

Horray for Sunbeams!!

Malia is 3 and with the new year, she was moved from the Nursery class at church to the Sunbeam class. Since I have been her nursery leader for the last 18 months, she has been saying that she doesn't want to be a Sunbeam and wants to stay in the nursery with me. Thanks to a convincing older sister and a Dad who escorted her to her new class, she stayed in class the full 2 hours AND had a great time! She has two teachers. One is a mother with young kids, the other is a woman with grandchildren. I think it's the perfect fit for her first time in a 'big girl class' without her mom!

Feeling proud of herself when she got home from church!!

New Year's Eve Eve

Friday night, the weather was perfect. A warm 58 degress at 6 p.m. We called Mark's grandparents and sister to see if they wanted to get together for a pre-New Year's party. Of course! We went to an all you can eat buffet by grandma and grandpa's house. We then went to temple square to see the lights. A perfect night!

The gang by the Christus

A cute picture Mark snapped of the two of us!

Jeffrey watching the nativity

The sheperds' scene of the nativity

Bethlehem scene

Malia's favorite friend- grandma. She held her hand most the night.

Grandpa was excited to be out and about with family

One of my favorite pictures of the evening

Brooklynn had a great time telling Grandpa jokes and being silly together.

Another one of my favorite pictures of the evening! Mark's sister and grandma.

Sometimes you hang onto traditions just because they are traditions. We all drank hot chocolate even though we weren't cold. Every other year we've been freezing and we get hot chocolate. So, the visit wouldn't have seemed complete without a cup.

After seeing the lights, Grandma and Grandpa decided to come over to our place to play cards. (They enjoyed coming over to our house to play cards when we all lived in California. Great memories!) Mark's sister and her famiy decided to stay too. We cooked up some hors devours and brought out the soda. Good thing we had quite a bit on hand. We ended up playing cards until 1 a.m. ! Silly Grandma said she was going to drive her and Grandpa back to their house. Nope. Not that late at night. I made a quick run to Wal-mart for more sheets and pillows. Good thing they are open 24 hours a day!

We ended up having quite the party!

The nephews playing cards.

Girl's Night

Brooklynn and I had been planning on getting a manicure together, but with the entire family sick with head colds we never made it. So instead, I brought home some press-on nails. The girls were so excited. First we soaked their nails, then cleaned and filed them. Then we applied the 'fake nails'. The girls were in heaven!

Brooklynn's Manicure

Malia's choice

Showing off her nails

Enjoying the feminine side

Posing for a picture

Of course, Malia's nails lasted for 20 minutes. She had two sets applied. She was having too much fun tapping her nails, scratching the dog, etc. Brooklynn also had fun, but decided that the nails get in the way of her practicing her flute and her typing. So, after a few days she took them off. She is going to try again when she is 12. It was fun while it lasted!!