Summer 2011 According to My Cell Phone

I realized that I really did not do well posting in 2011. After I got my cell phone most of my pictures where taken with it and not our Camera so here are a few pictures from my cell phone taken in the Summer of 2011 .

We arrived to San Diego and then had to wait a couple of weeks for our furniture to be dropped off. In total    we lived a month without our furniture since the movers picked up our stuff two weeks before we left NY. I was still getting used to the area so Andy and I played a lot at home and at the neighborhood park the first couple of weeks.

Andy found Pat's belt and wanted to wear it. Of course it is wrapped around him a couple of times.

We had just bought our washer and dryer and so I was trying to fold laundry when Andy decided to "help" me.
This is how a two year old helps.

He ended up wearing half of the clothes I was trying to fold. 

We made a trip to Sacramento before Pat started  having to work weekends.  So we made a quick trip to six flags.

We spent several days off at Ikea for bookshelves and other stuff.

We finally made a friend, Alaia's dad is also a surgical intern with Pat.

We discovered that we are raising a fish this summer. Andy love to go swimming! Good thing we live in San Diego.

We had spent all day at the Pool and although we did use sunscreen I didn't reapply it soon enough so we both got burned, I was much worst.

My handyman!

Chilling with Dad!

Snack time.

Making neighborhood friends.

Playing on the beach with his cousins.

Time to chill.

Sneeking into the our neighbors house for some more cake at a little party they had.

Rides at the Commissary.

Birch Aquarium with our friends.

A rare Mommy and Andy photo.

Exploring the sea life toys.

Shark attack.

Still at Birch Aquarium. Playing with the boats.

Trying to keep up with neighborhood boys.

 Almost every Tuesday one of the Museums at Balboa park are free for San Diego Residents. This day it was the Japanese Gardens. Such a peaceful place that is if you don't have your two year old. we visited the museums with our friends.

Feeding the fish.

Smile or not.

 We visited Sacramento often I think we were there almost every month. Since my parents work on their cabin on the weekends we spent time there too.

Sleeping under the stars on the deck.

Helping Granddad paint the bedroom walls.

Taking a dirt bath.

Dirt Pants.

Catching Lizards.

Helping Grandma paint siding.

Yummy cake at aunt Suzy's.

Popsicle time.

Swimming with Mattox.

Cheese.

Bath time.

At Arden Mall.

Back in San Diego fixing his car with the tools Dad bought him.

Firefighter in training.

We spent a lot of time in the car this summer so this was quiet common after we played hard.

Bath time.

Balboa Park with friends.

Dressing him self...such a fashion sense.

Art Museum. We got in trouble after we took this photo.  No photos allowed.
Also not a place for two year olds we didn't stay long.

More rides at the Commissary/NEX.

Space suit and box airplane = hours of fun.

About the time we realized it was time for a bigger bed.

 Another visit to Northern California. We also visited Phil and Erin and the kids for a day.

Cousins!

More Cousins!

Play-doe glasses. 

Mattox's turn.

Can you tell why it is not always fun to share a bed with the Munchkin when we travel?

One Man Band.

Time to put our toys away.

Bowling for the first time.

M&M Frankenstein.

He just had to take a picture with the race car!

Well that is June through about September 2011 through the lense of my cell phone. We had a very busy and fun Summer.

Christmas 2011

After Disney Land we headed back to our place for our Christmas Celebrations. Patrick had to work Christmas morning so we decided to wait until after church to do present opening so that he could be there too. The kids did extremely well with this and it was nice to have a chance to focus on Christ first. We also started a new tradition of writing down a goal that will help us come closer to Christ through out the year as a "Gift" to our Savior. Both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were packed with yummy food. I did not take very many pictures but here are a few.

Andy ask Santa for a Big Woody Toy for Christmas. He was a very happy  boy to get it.

Everyone busy present opening.

Trying to Capture the craziness that is gift opening,

I am super grateful for a family who is willing to driving down to San Diego and spend Christmas with us because Pat's schedule didn't allow for us to go to them. It was a lot of fun! Love you all!

A Disneyland Christmas!

Well, it's the end of January, I'm trying to stay up late as I transition to a month of working nights, and it's about high time Julie and I post something about Christmas! Julie's family made the trip to San Diego for the holiday, and a joint decision was made to spend the Friday before Christmas at Disneyland. Given Andy's obsession with Mickey Mouse, it is safe to assume that he was pretty excited!

Group photos at the entrance to Disneyland. It was a bit chilly in the morning, but rapidly warmed up. Two additional comments...the hats were designed to make us easy to spot in a crowd (mission accomplished), and the only person I know who can make the outfit actually look cool is Troy. I want to be him when I grow up!

When Andy saw Mickey at the entrance to the park, he was more than a little excited to actually get to meet him.

If we had turned around and left Disneyland after taking this picture, Andy would have considered the day a resounding success!

Matching princesses!

Teacups with Grandma. It's hard to top that!

I rode with Andy and Mattox. Apparently, I had an evil glint in my eye, because I was warned several times by both of them not to go too fast.

Merry-Go-Round with Andy. Listening to him shout out his version of "Yee-haw" (more of a "Nee-haw), as he tried to kick his horse into high gear was pretty entertaining!

We were able to actually locate Peter Pan. As you can see, Mattox wasn't too sure about this guy. Given his choice of wardrobe, I can't say that I disagree!

Cinderella and crew. Mattox had no problem getting close to a pretty princess. Two words...Giddy-Up!

Andy's favorite ride was the Buzz Light-Year Space Adventure. We must have ridden it at least 10 times...within an hour...and he was mad when I finally refused any more. Irate, even.

On the way to the hotel. As a parent, you know the day was a success when your kid is so exhausted he passes out in your arms on the way home!

Well, that's it for now. We'll be adding some more pictures from Christmas itself here shortly. I'll even try to include some of Julie (in my defense, she was with Andy and me the entire time at Disneyland. She just stayed behind the camera)!