Bits and pieces California

Below I've documented our trip to California with the Sheppard side. It is a great trip that we take every couple of years. Here are a few shots: The last night we were there Lindsee, Grant, Amy and girls... Emma, Blakely and Abby were lucky enough to go to Wicked in Hollywood. It was a lot of fun and such a great production. Blakely loved to get crashed in the waves w/ her dad... But, dad and Aram got turned away at the big wave spot of California called the Wedge. Here the lifeguard stops them before they plunge in... telling them they don't look like they are experienced enough and need fins! Grant snuck in before we all got there.. and survived. We also took the Balboa ferry accross Balboa Bay a few times on the trip. It is always a fun thing to do.

Crystal Cove Beach

The beach closest to the Marriott where we stay is Crystal Cove. It is really pretty and natural. One morning we just walked down w/ the kids and played for awhile. Here cousin Carston is pushing his cart around the sand... loving it. And our other cousin Shep is loving the big waves and seaweed.

Disneyland 9-08

We spent a day at Disneyland with the troops and had a nice time. Some of the highlights were of course the princesses, and other characters. Blakely loved Space Mtn. and Abby loved Nemo and driving the cars w/ grandpa.

Family Pics

We tried to take a family picture on the beach... having white as the main color. We decided to not hire a photographer... but probably should have. The kids looked cute and Little Corona made a pretty backdrop. Cute kids!!!

Beach Party!!!

We can never quite get enough sand in our shorts, boogie-boarding, and the like in. Here are a few of the happenings of a day at the beach...

Newport Beach, California

The Sheppard's have a favorite vacation place every other year or so... Newport Beach, California. We love to go the first week of September when the weather is still so warm, the kids are back to school, thus... most of the crowds are gone. We swim at the pools, go to the beach, and sometimes get a park or two in. Lots of fun and thanks to Linda and Kelly for providing the lodging for a growing group!!!

Jordanelle

We had a fun outing at Jordanelle waterskiing and torpedo-ing with the Sheppard side. It is always a blessed day for Amy when she gets to waterski again. (not picture here!)

24th of July (belated)

We had a fun 4th and 24th. Most of our traditions include some family firework/bbq's, swimming and the like. This year our stake was invited to participate in the children's parade. My kids enjoyed walking along side a small float with the rest of the stake primary.

First day of school

Abby started her first day of preschool at Miss Stacey's and Blakely started Kindergarten. Wow!!! Blakely gets to attend Oakdale elementary and the neat thing about it... is that Oakdale is where her mom went to Kindergarten too!

Grandma Ramona

I've been meaning to post a picture of Baya Ramona with her great-grandma Ramona. We love her very much and she continues to smile and be a part of our lives and family traditions even with the pains and discomfort that accompany old age. We love her.

So big!!!

Baya is growing a lot. She has started to smile and sometimes we even hear a laugh. She continues to brighten our days. At her 2 month check-up they said she was 30% in height and 70% in weight. I told Bry she takes after her mama!

Old buddies

We had a fun time at the Thanksgiving Point Gardens w/ Neisha, Erin and Kristin... oldtime friends that I don't see nearly enough. They are such cute girls and now the kids are making friends also.