WHERE IN THE WORLD?

Can you guess where I am at this very moment?  Here's a hint.......I can see Spash Mountain from my balcony.

Will post more later, but know know this, I am on a mini vacation and having a blast!!!

TALL

Finn is now 46 & 5/8" inches tall.....you know what this means? He can go on all the rides at Disneyland and California Adventure!!!!!

Papa marking the final measurements

on the ironing door. 

Papa better watch out,

Finn is catching up!

20 YEARS

Twenty years ago I said YES to Todd in Clark County, Nevada!  Has it really been twenty years since we swore before God to love and cherish each other till death do us part?  

(Photographed by Finn)

Being in our early twenties when we married we have been able to watch each other grow and mold into the people we are today, and guess what....I LOVE being Todd & Tiffiney.  We have much more to learn but I can't imagine sharing the next twenty years with anyone besides Todd! 

We spent the day doing what we love most......being a family!  Didn't matter what we did as long as we were together.  It was a stormy day so we decided to head to Balboa Park to the Science Center to see an Imax film "In Search of the Perfect Wave Tahiti".

Can you spot Todd and Finn?  Everyone else in San Diego County had the same idea on how to spend a wet, rainy day in San Diego!   It was packed.

My Boys Building 

Part of the Splendour of Balboa park

Me and Finn

I now come to the sad part of our day, as we were leaving Balboa Park Finn tripped over his boots jumping off a concrete planter and fell flat on his face.  Instant skinage on his forehead with a  bloody nose that was the worst I have ever seen, I thought it was broken. 

We contacted our pediatrician immediately and were directed to Rady's Children's Hospital where we spent the early evening making sure Finn didn't have a concussion, broken nose or worse...a skull fracture.

Two things before I conclude, Rady's Children's Hospital was an incredible experience, we received the best care  you could ever hope for in this type of situation and most importantly, QUICKLY.  Second, Finn is fine!!! 

FOR KAYLA

I apologize, my days have been long and full this February.  I have found it hard getting to my blog, thanks to a comment from my niece Kayla, I am back!!!

Baseball.....one of the reasons my month has been full.  Practices have begun!  Finn is loving it, it's all about baseball in our home right now.  Who would have thought?  I will say with some chagrin that I am enjoying it as well. 

There is something about baseball that renews my faith in America.  Our world is going through some major changes and it is easy to sink into despair over the future of our country but when you see these 5 & 6 year old children running bases, catching balls and hitting pop flys........life goes on, they are our future.  

Finn running to 1st Base

Finn loves running bases!  

Finn and Canyon making it home!

(Canyon goes to school with Finn)

We ride our bikes to practice, the Pine Baseball Fields are only a few blocks from our home.  After practice we pedal into downtown Carlsbad for ice cream at Vinaka's! 

Enjoy your weekend everyone! 

Try not to float away!

CASH LIAM JOHNSON

Sunday morning in Lakeside, California Cash Liam Johnson was blessed by his father Caleb in the Mormon Church.  He was surrounded by family and friends who love and cherish him. 

Father & Son

The men in this photo took part in Cash's blessing during church service.  The group includes Grandpa Ted, Uncle Barry and church friends of Caleb & Patty.

Only picture I had of Finn. 

He wanted to stay close to his new cousin.

Family

Great Grandma Edna looked amazing in her Red Wool Suit, she was very proud of her newest Great Grandson Cash, her eleventh great grandchild.  (Yes, Finn is missing...he kept running out of the photo, not a proud parenting moment for me)

Father & Son-in-law

I proudly belong to them!

My hunk of a husband!

My darling sister Kara and her Father, who also happens to be my father for those of you not paying attention.  Our father was very happy to have us all together Sunday morning at church.  Chloe & Finn behaved flawlessly during church service, it's always hit or miss.  You never know if cheerios will start flying!

It was a beautiful day made more special being with family and friends to celebrate the newest addition in our life.  Blessing are all around.  



SATURDAY MORNINGS

Not very often do we have Saturday mornings where we can just hangout in our pajamas.  So this past Saturday when we realized we had nothing scheduled in the morning, we did exactly that....we hung out in pajama's for as long as we wanted to....sipping coffee and watching the news.  Oh  Happy Day indeed!

Ever since Todd took the training wheels off Finn's bike, he has wanted nothing to do with it.  He fell once and refused to get back on.  This all changed when Will came over with his BMX trick bike...Finn wanted to be just like Will!

I probably should have made Finn change into his clothes before he went outside to ride but we wanted to enjoy our Saturday morning in pajama's just a little bit longer........

Daddy giving last minute instructions

Star Wars Pajama's & Batman slippers

Away he goes

Did you notice Finn is wearing his Baseball Batting helmet?  We couldn't find his bicycle helmet, this was the next best thing.  I'm sure any neighbor looking out their window must have died laughing, pajama's and a batting helmet.  Oh well, they served their purpose.  

I have a feeling we will be spending much more time in our cul-de-sac.

GHOST TOURS AND SISTERS

Both of my sisters have birthdays in January which is bittersweet, I love birthday celebrations but falling so closely after Christmas equates to a depleted bank account and a lack of energy and creativity! 

Due to schedule restraints I wasn't able to celebrate their birthdays until Friday night.  This worked out better, I wanted to do something with them that we haven't done before and my creative energy was back.  I decided we needed an evening in Old Town, San Diego  before the tourists return.

We started the evening at the New Orleans Creole Cafe, I read a few online reviews and knew this would be the perfect place to start.  We all started with the Chicken & Sausage Gumbo....OMG, it was a religious experience!  Devon and I had the Crawfish Etouffee and Kara had the Red Beans and Rice!  I recommend both, but the Crawfish Etouffee soaked up with French bread made me want to cry.  Kara and Devon plan on returning with their significant others for Valentine's Day! P.S. Try the sweet tea....as good as I had in North Carolina and Virginia.

If you are in the area, please make sure to include this in your visit.  I highly recommend placing a reservation, they fill up fast and make the entrees to order.  Worth the wait!

Devon opening her birthday presents from ME

My Beautiful Sisters

The Whaley House was right next to the restaurant.  Have you heard of the Whaley House?  It is a popular field trip destination for San Diego school children mainly in part to the ghostly history!  It was built in 1856 by Mr. Whaley and is the oldest brick structure in Southern California.  Mr. Whaley purchased the property at a reduced rate due to its previous uses as a court appointed hanging locale!

The ghost of Yankee Jim can still be heard

walking to and fro upstairs.  Scared yet, I was! 

Devon & I hugging the gas lamp post.

Me hugging Kara, I was in a hugging mood!

Devon waiting to go in...

she could barely wait!

Let the Tour Begin

The Whaley house also provided home to

San Diego's 2nd Courthouse.  

Sisters in the Whaley Dining room

I am blessed to have TWO

Mr. Whaley also opened his home to actors and provided the

backdrop to the first theatre in San Diego, if only for 2 months!(The producer died)

The Stage

After the Ghost Tour we walked the streets of Old Town, venturing into a few shops as we giggled and jabbered about our lives that we never usually have time to discuss.  It was exactly how I wanted to spend this special evening with my sisters. 

We then headed across the street to the Old Town Mexican Cafe for Margarita's and freshly made tortillas (I passed on the tortilla's, still full from Etouffee). 

  

Salude

Happy Belated Birthday Kara & Devon!

BATTER UP

The Carlsbad Spring 2011 Baseball season starts today and Finn is on the roster!  How can this be?  Weren't we just waiting for his first words, his first tooth, his first step?  When did he get big enough to fit a glove and cleats? 

Finn is on the Rockies (purple) and was excited to find out that Canyon (boy) from his school is on the same team, their first practice is this afternoon.   Finn tells all who will listen that he is playing baseball on a "team" and has his own bat and glove.  His excitement is contagious except I do have one complaint, for soccer you only need cleats and a ball.  For baseball you need: 

Cleats*Bat*Stirrups*Long Socks*Practice Baseball Pants*Practice Baseball T-shirt*Belt*Athletic Cup*Glove*Bat*Batting Glove*Batting Helmet*Bat Bag*

I sure hope he likes baseball and is able to use some of this equipment next season!   I should be thankful he didn't ask to play hockey.......

FEBRUARY

It's arrived,

where did January go?

Are you ready for Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, Presidents Day, my anniversary?  This is going to be another full month and short!  Only 28 days.  I am getting excited, my pastelle scarfs and pinks are being worn this month.  Why wait for April when you live in Socal?  

GRANDMA CHER

Grandmothers are a rare breed...

They are not afraid to bite your leg, squeeze your bottom, turn you upside down.  Anything goes!

Raspberries are Finn's absolute favorite!

Great Grandma Edna & Todd enjoying 

Finn and Grandma Cher's silliness.

Finn is very fortunate, he has two Grandmothers and one Great Grandmother!  Everyone should have the love and compassion that only grandmothers can give you!  It is different from any other kind of love!