San Diego vacation and Sea World

We just returned from San Diego for 2 week vacation at my parents time share right on the ocean!  We had a wonderful time and already miss the sound of the ocean waves crashing on the beach below.

We visited family and friends; took the kids for their first visits to Sea World and Disneyland twice each; played on the beach and swam in the pool; got a few date nights (Emily's nurse Beth and her daughter Kaya joined us for the 2 weeks); oh and got some much needed sun on our very pale white faces. (=

For those of you who don't know the story, Evan proposed to me at Sea World at the Dolphin Interaction Program, so it was rather sentimental to return with our kids.  And we got Tucker's name from the dolphin trainer who worked with us (we found out he is still working there but is now a Shamu trainer - too bad we couldn't get a pic with him and our Tucker!)

Here we are enjoying the Shamu show.  Tucker enjoyed it much more then we thought he would, clapping along with the crowd and mimicing Shamu splashing everyone.  Since we have been home, whenever he sees a picture of one of the animals he saw for the first time there, he says, "Oh, Sea World!" It is very cute. 

our HUGE Christmas tree

Several of you have heard about the Christmas tree we had this year, so here it is. We took Tucker to Apple Hill, in the local foothills, to a tree farm and bought an 18' tree (it lost some hight once we trimmed it at home though). We had a wonderful day outside that day and we all miss the tree in our living room - Tucker still says goodnight to the tree everynight as if it was still there. (= (Sorry about the sideways photo - I still can't figure out how to turn it.)

Carrie turns 30

On Nov. 23rd I turned 30 and my brother Paul turned 23. We celebrated the day at an indoor go-cart track and then had dinner as a family and with friends, Daron and Melissa, at Ruth's Chris steak house - yummm!

My birthday trip to Maine!

As an early 30th birthday present, Evan took meto Maine to see the fall colors!  It was unforgettable in in many ways.  Here are just a few of the hundreds of photos we took.

Emily at OT (Occupational Therapy)

We saddly say goodbye to Jen, Emily's OT for the past 8 wonderful months. She has brought new perspective and ideas to working with Emily and meeting her growing tactile imput needs.

fun pictures

(My apologies for the layout of this entry as it is the first time I am adding photos from my computer instead of straight from my camera and I am having trouble with the layout and rotation of the photos - I am happy for ideas from you blog geniuses!) Here are a few pictures from highlights of the past several weeks: 1. Tucker and I in our backyard pool 2.At the state fair holding a 3 day old lamb 3. Our dear friends, the Pitts family, upon return from Vietnam and adopting little Ian 4. At our new neighborhood park with our air rocket 5.Tucker in new PJs and tunnel toy 6. Tucker and his best bud Hunter 7.Emily thinks I make a great pillow 8.Tucker having a serious (pretend) conversation on my old cell 9.Emily sneaking a sip of Tucker's water 10.Our beautiful daughter and her favorite toy

update

ok, ok, I admit I have been seriously lax in updating this blog since Emily started school - I do have a few good excuses but you don't care about that, you want posts and pictures, right, so here are a few to update you all up till now. Note: posts to watch for - Carrie's 30th birthday and Tucker's 2nd birthday, both at the end of this month!