San Diego Family Pictures

While in San Diego with the Yates' family, we took some family pictures.  Emily loved smiling for the camera and watching the waves wash ashore.

Sea World Adventure Park

The Yates' family has been planning a reunion to San Diego for about a year.  Thanks to Brooke & Brighton for sharing their time share we were all able to spend a few days together.  David & Heather came from Kansas City, we came from St. George, and the rest from Salt Lake.  It was a fun filled week of family time. 

Our first stop was Sea World Adventure Park.  Nelson does not recall ever going there, and I haven't been since my high school choir trip, over ten years ago!  We were surprised to see changes:  new exhibits and shows without trainers in the water.  It was a great day just being together!!!  Our favorite exhibits were the Shark Encounter, Dolphin Show, Sea Lion Show, and Arctic Encounter.  Here are a few pictures that capture our fun filled day!

It's Official

Nelson was so excited to open a special envelope in the mail today - his diploma.  He has now officially graduated.  He was thrilled to get it in a frame and put it on his wall in his office at work.  Paper or not, Nelson is a fantastic social worker!

Salsa

 

What is a girl to do with a box of 25 pounds of tomatoes?  Homemade canned salsa!  After peeling, chopping, and simmering for hours, the salsa was ready to be canned.  My favorite part was hearing the bottles "POP" when they had finished processing.  Now we can enjoy fresh salsa in the middle of winter.  I am hoping to grow my own tomatoes next year!

Cooler Weather

After months of waiting, the cooler weather has finally arrived.  We have been watching the weather daily for the magic number - 80s.  It is our belief that we haven't had a day below 90 since April.  We love the cooler weather and spending lots more time outside without melting!!!  Although the afternoons warm up to be pleasant, the mornings can be a bit chilly.  This is not too worrisome because we just bundle up!

11 Months

11 months have come and gone in a blink of an eye with all the fun Emily has brought with her.  She is the joy of our home and lives.  We have loved getting to know our Little Tink and watching her grow.  Here are some milestones we celebrated over the past month:

• Emily is our "Love & Snuggle Bug."  She loves to nestle her face into your shoulder, give slobbering kisses, and pat your back.  We love her constant expressions of love.
• Whenever Emily catches Mommy or Daddy laying on the floor she thinks it is time to wrestle.  She loves climbing on and over us.  The best part of the wrestle is the kisses she gives to your face and legs.
• Emily loves to be tickled & has the cutest belly laugh.
• It is magical to see that Emily understands a surprise is coming when we count, "1, 2, 3."  She tenses her muscles and looks around excitedly.
• Emily's hair grows over night!  It is now long enough for piggy tails - 2 piggy tails!!
• Just like her mommy, Emily loves monkeys.  She loves to snuggle and wrestle her monkey.  It is also fun to see her jabber with it for long periods of time.
• Emily is a singer!!  She blows raspberries musical songs.  It is especially fun to hear her "sing" during hymns sung at church.
• Emily was a terrific traveler this past month as me and her journeyed to Salt Lake together.  She was awesome in the car.  We didn't even stop on the way home.
• Our "Lil' Scooter" continues to twist and pivot on her bottom to get around.  She is working on crawling and almost there.  Once she gets it, our investigator will be trouble!!
• Emily loves to play with her dad and have him give her a bath.  She squeals with delight when he gets home from work.
• It is amazing to see Emily recognizes the spirit of prayer.  She often becomes silent and still during family prayers.
• Emily loves fruit, except bananas.  Once she has had a taste of fruit for a meal or snack, nothing else will do.  Yummy!
• With at least 2 trips a week, Emily loves to go to the library!!  We read books together, usually the same ones over and over again.  She is my little bookworm!
• We are excited to celebrate Emily's 1st year this coming month! 

Unpacking

When preparing for our trip back to Salt Lake Emily was making it a little challenging (see packing-or-unpacking???).  So today, Emily used her unpacking skills to be a superb helper!  She unpacked her whole bag all by herself.  Emily then directed me to pick it up, fold it, and put it away.  What a helper!!