Christmas Train

Wallace & Liv had the time of their lives on the Christmas Train at Crystal Court this morning. I thought Wallace would scream or try to escape, but Liv's enthusiasm and waving at the (creepy) Santa Tree got him more excited about it. They were all smiles the whole time.

Wallace Christmas Party

Our annual Wallace Family Christmas Party was the weekend. I love this tradition... it's such a fun time to catch up with my dads cousins, my second cousins (along with my first cousins, aunts and uncles, etc). I was horrible at taking pictures but fortunately Erika got some cute ones. Here is one of Wallace and Spencer playing together. We did our $10 gift exchange and there's always some doosies. Luckily I scored a great gift (from Alyssa: an awesome candle PLUS a gift card to Yogurtland. MMMM!) Rian got a bar of soap with a rolled up bill ($) inside. We've been doing a lot of hand washing lately, because we're dying to find out if it's a $1, $5, $10 or $50!! I know, we could just cut it open, but that would jinx it and it definitely would only be a $1. I'm hoping for a $50.

December in Southern California

On Saturday, Rian and I made sand castles and chased waves with Wallace all morning.

A Christmas Tree

Early last week, we picked out our tree at the Costa Mesa Fairgrounds. Wallace was so excited about this adventure. He was running up and down the isles smelling trees and collecting sticks and branches.

How to take a shower with a toddler running around the house

i either have to wake up early (no... i'm sleeping as much as i can before march comes around) OR shower the night before (that isn't pretty the next day) OR pile as many toys as i can into my room and hope he doesn't kill himself while i'm showering. i've been doing that last one, but for the past couple weeks all he cares about is this stupid box and he'll sit in it for 20-30 minutes- playing, talking, reading, hiding, etc... i LOVE this box. i'm going to put boxes all over my house.

Bath Time

Camping

A few weeks ago Rian left Wallace and I to go camping with Colby, Chaz, the pop-up trailer, the boat, and the dogs: Gypsy & Miles. Here's a pic I took as they were leaving and another couple Rian sent me from the lake (Lake Silverwood). They had a blast. Rian might write more later...

thanksgiving week

we had a wonderful thanksgiving celebration full of family events and nights with dear friends. we are so blessed and have much to be thankful for.

TUESDAY: we went to my aunt and uncles house for a thanksgiving dinner but also (and mostly) to welcome my cousin nathan home from deployment. his wife, karisa, gave birth to their baby girl, audrey, while nathan was gone. this was our first time seeing audrey in person and she is so adorable! we had such a great time of hanging out with my cousins and catching up with nathan.

(back row: cousins lizzy, sarah, nathan. front row: rian, wallace, brian, me, lauren, karisa, audrey)

WEDNESDAY: here is beth and i taking an awkward smile photo. this was our monthly neighbor dinner (we both live in the wonderful city of santa ana). the joneses made "brinner" for us, so we all wore pj's.

THURSDAY: thanksgiving this year was with the kennedy's. we had a really nice time and great food. wallace loved sitting with "uncle z" and playing games on his iPhone.


FRIDAY: this was rian's 29th birthday! i made his favorite cake (kahlua rum) and wallace (fine, me too) stayed in his pj's because he wasn't feeling good. that night we went to gabi's in orange for good mexican food and then out to a movie. wallace got to spend the night at gigi & poppa's so that we could stay out as late as we wanted! thanks mom & dad!!



SATURDAY: the hartmans had us and the zeulners over for dinner. we had this amazing lasagna and i need to get the recipe! thanks you guys. we love our dinners with you and the kids.

SUNDAY: my family celebrated rian's birthday sunday with a train ride to fullerton and dinner at the old spaghetti factory. on the ride over, wallace was entertained by the finger puppets my mom keeps in her purse for him. aunt lolo got really into it, as you can see. actually, so did my dad (see far right of photo). i think the whole train was pretty entertained throughout the ride.

awesome

rian sent this to me from his car this morning.

Overdue Pics

I love this picture of Rian and his two sisters, Jessa & Bri. It was taken up in Oregon by Mamo, I think. I love how big Wallace and his cousin, Alannah, are smiling and reaching for the camera.


Many of you know my Aunt Carol and have seen her incredible strength as she takes on a second fight against breast cancer. Wallace and I occasionally go over there for walks. Here he is trying on one of her wigs. Not a bad look.

Tagging

i was tagged a while ago by my friend juliana (and by jenn) and i'm supposed to say 7 random things about myself. here they are:

1. i was born in the upstairs bedroom of the house i grew up in. this is an old victorian house that my parents still live in, just 10 minutes away from us.

2. my wedding gift to rian 6 years ago, was a tattoo with his name in a heart. if you haven't seen it, you probably won't... unless i moon you. so yes, maybe you will.

3. i can't get into bed or go to sleep unless my feet are perfectly clean.

4. i love water. i don't know if i could ever live more than 20 minutes away from the ocean. i love swimming in the ocean, playing in waves, diving, and just laying on the sand listening to the waves crash.

5. i LOVE to plan and am super organized. i love planning out my day (making to-do lists or other lists), planning out yearly goals, planning a vacation, etc. i love getting things cleaned out and organized. right now we are clearing out the office to make it a nursery for the new baby. i'm going through all of our files, clearing out storage, trashing stuff, and reorganizing our file drawers. it's so fun.

6. when i was little i wanted to be a "candy shop worker" when i grew up.

7. i love designing. my major at biola was art, with an emphasis is graphic design. i taught art for 6 years after college and also had a design company on the side. i stopped working for clients when wallace was born, to avoid the deadlines, pressure & workload, but i still design for fun. i love it. i love being able to do our christmas cards, baby announcements and party invitations. someday i would love to get back into it for work... but not for a while.

now i'm supposed to tag 7 more friends to do this. but i don't know that many people. how about: KELLY & BETH.

help me remember

i seriously forget how far along i am in this pregnancy and sometimes how old wallace is. this is for you to know and for me to remember. also, we did choose a name for our little girl...

let's hope they're non-toxic

Cabo San Lucas

Rian and I escaped to Cabo this week. Originally, this was a trip for my 30th birthday, but after finding out I was pregnant, we left earlier (November instead of January). This way, I could enjoy the trip before being too huge. We made it a combined celebration of our 6th anniversary, my 30th birthday, and our second babe about to arrive. We stayed at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Holistic Retreat & Spa. This place blew us away. We were so impressed and well taken care of by everyone who worked here. It was the most relaxing vacation I've ever taken... no kids allowed and no smoking anywhere at the resort. It was so quiet and beautiful. We had amazing sunsets and one of the best rooms at the resort. Weather was great all week... daytimes around 90 with a little breeze and nighttimes around 70. We kept our doors open each night to fall asleep and wake up to the crashing waves.


This is a restaurant at our resort called Siempre. People come from all over Cabo to eat here. The food was pretty incredible. We did a couple breakfasts and dinners here. We actually didn't even go into town except driving through it to and from the airport.

You can rent these beds out for the day OR all night and actually sleep on the beach. Awesome.


Here's the belly in all it's glory.


Behind us is a sister resort of Pueblo Bonita Pacifica, just down the beach from us but seperated by cliffs down the beach. It goes from sand all the way up the cliffs. To get around the grounds, you're driven in golf carts, up windy streets like Lombard Street in SF.


It's turtle hatching season and I guess they love our protected beach. We got to watch them all walk down the sand and into the water. It was really incredible to see such a thing. And help some of the not so healthy ones along. Although I don't think there was much hope for this one in Rian's hand.

The turtles making their way down.

This is our balcony and view. Our room was on the end so this view stretches all the way around the left. We could almost see the sun both rise AND set each day from our balcony.


Oh yah, this is us dropping Wallace off at my parents house before the trip. He carried his own luggage.

Dear Mr. Obama

This video's been going around and I think it's worthy to post. It's only a couple minutes. Don't forget to cast your votes. Rian and I mailed in ours this week because...... the 2 of us will be gone here next week. Yeahhhhhhh! Our getaway trip has arrived.

Oak Glen

Rian's parents took us to Oak Glen on Saturday. They go almost every year, but it was a first for us. We had an incredible brunch, saw lots of apples, watched an old man yodel, fed some goats, and enjoyed walking around town. It was a good day.



Kathy wanted a picture under the "Granny's Attic" sign. I think the real grannies are exiting the store behind her. Are they all holding onto a rope?

Prager's America

Meghan and I started listening to Dennis Prager regularly when we're in our cars in the mornings about four or five months ago. He's such a wise man that has thought provoking conversations about life, happiness, politics and anything else in America. He always presents both sides of an argument as fairly as he can...when he doesn't understand the opposing opinion, he interviews someone on his show to find out. He's open to hearing other positions, but doesn't falter on his morals and world view.

With the election, he's been especially interesting to hear talk about the differences between the conservative "right" and the liberal "left." What he's impressed upon me is the fact that there really are two very different Americas. Not only that, but both sides think that they have the best interest for the country and that the other side is completely wrong. This article outlines fairly the positions of both sides...He confirms a lot of what we believe and why we side with the right: Two Irreconcilable Americas.

IT'S A GIRL!

We are SO excited to have a daughter on the way and for Wallace to be gaining a little sister! Yesterday was our 20 week ultrasound and man, those are so much fun. The anticipation as the nurse goes through, measuring every little thing and pointing out each part. So amazing. And then FINALLY says, "So do you want to know?". Of course! And to hear that we have a little girl coming. Wow. We are thrilled.

Here is Wallace's 20 week ultrasound next to the new baby. They already look so different!


PS. We don't have any name picked out yet, so feel free to suggest! TIP: don't tell us names you hate... you might be a little embarrassed when we end up choosing it!

Pumpkin Patch

We went to pick out pumpkins with the Zeulner's Monday night. Here are pics from the night:

*Notes on the above photo. 1: I don't always sit like a man. 2: Rian's pupils aren't really that big. iPhoto went to town when I did the red eye treatment.