Happy Time

December playing with Isaac, bouncing him in his bouncy seat. I'm happy at how well December does with Isaac -- though yesterday I was thinking that this is probably the most peaceful the relationship between these two will ever get. As soon as Isaac grows big enough to reach for December's toys, these mellow days will be over! Selflessly sharing toys is really not a toddler's strong suit...so I will enjoy this stage while I can!

Isaac smiling, happy after waking up from a nap.

Me with the kids. Isaac is wearing one of my favorite shirts on him -- I like it because the color looks good on him and it's got adorable monkeys all over it and it's from my good friend Justyne!

Isaac all bundled up. It was a bit cooler here earlier in the week, so we were all wearing warmer clothes (I know...we're pansies and can't take cool weather anymore!)

Isaac with his friend Clara (Della's baby girl), who was born three days after him.

We're all doing well here...today Brad is working in the library, and he kindly let me keep the computer here so I can do some more updating on the blog! He just finished his second January class (it was just a week-long class), and he's got all of both classes' reading due and exams to take next week. After that starts his regular spring semester and all of the busyness that comes with it! I've really enjoyed having him home more during January! But, alas, seminary will come and claim his time again all too soon. But it's been fun while it's lasted!

Mom and Dad Come to Visit!

From January 12-19, Mom and Dad came out to visit! Dad likes to come to the seminary's annual conference in January, so he and Mom came out last year and this year. And we are more than happy to have them come! When they arrived at the airport, the first thing we did was tour the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier that has been retired. This picture of it was taken at night, after we had finished touring it.

We were able to go all through the enormous ship, seeing where the crewmen slept, ate, held church services, and even their medical facility on board. It was absolutely fascinating! Here Brad, Mom, and December are looking at the planes on the top deck.

Here we are, taking a break from walking -- this aircraft carrier is HUGE! You can see some of San Diego's skyline in the background. It's a beautiful location.

Dad, Brad, December (in the stroller), and I (with Isaac in the carrier) are looking up at a section of the boat where I wasn't allowed to go. They don't allow small children and people carrying babies to go up there, because manuvering around up there brings you into narrow places with steep steps. But Brad and Mom went up, and it sounded neat!

Mom checking out the cockpit of one of the planes

Dad and December looking at the engine of an airplane. You can see Dad has earphones on -- what they do is give you a little device with earphones attached, and it becomes a self-guided tour. You punch in the number of the item or room you are looking at, and the tour guide will tell you all about it. Pretty neato!

December up on the top deck again, looking at all of the military airplanes.

The view from the deck -- I really liked the huge statue there. After we finished touring the USS Midway, we walked around some of the parks and got yummy Mexican food at one of the little restaurants down there. It was such a fun day!

Brad was in class while Mom and Dad were here (he just had one class every day, for the January term), so one morning we all walked him to school.

On another one of the days, we went sightseeing. Here we are at Palomar Observatory, which is a super high-powered telescope. That white structure holds the telescope, which takes up most of the structure's room. Part of the white dome retracts at night for the telescope to get a clear view of the sky. It's up high on a mountain, and so as we drove up, we saw snow!

Inside the observatory, there was a strange little December-sized door...I've got no idea where it led to, but it was perfect for December!

Do you see the enormous, perfect Christmas tree in the background? Well, Dad really thought this tree was cool...

...and it is cool! Isn't it just the most perfectly shaped tree you've seen? And it's HUGE! There's Mom and December in front of it, to give you an idea of its size.

A close-up of Mom and December, standing right under it. December's wrapped up in her blanket, because it was pretty chilly up on the mountain!

A view looking up, from where Mom and December were standing. Pretty cool, eh?

As we drove back down the moutain, Dad got out to take a picture of the view. Very pretty. The mountain roads were winding and steep, and December got pretty car sick and ended up losing her lunch as we drove. Not fun!!

After the observatory, we went to Bates Nut Farm (where I had taken the pumpkin pictures in October). Grandpa let December chose some candy from the candy barrels in the store, and December was really excited!

Dad and I helping December pick out the candy.

December is excited about her pink sucker.

Us looking at the turkeys and other birds and farm animals at the Farm. I enjoyed Dad gobbling at the turkeys and making them gobble back. It was pretty funny!

On another one of the days, we all went to the Wild Animal Park. It never gets old for me -- I just love going there!

We went to a couple of the shows there -- this one was all about birds, and it was a great show!

Dad showing Isaac around the Wild Animal Park.

We loved having Mom and Dad here, and they were so wonderful with December and Isaac. We all missed them terribly after they left!

They're Sleeping -- Just Not at Nighttime

Brad (the proud Daddy) with his two precious children

So many of the pictures in this post are of the kids sleeping. Ha! It must look like that's all they do, but I can assure you, it's truly not! They're just so adorable when they sleep, it's hard to resist taking pictures of them...here's Isaac last week (7 weeks old in this picture).

One of the reasons why I haven't posted since we've been home was because immediately after we got back home, we all got sick. Here's a sick little girl. I was working in the kitchen, and she got her blankies and water cup out of her bedroom, and just laid on the floor near me, completely lethargic. And that's NOT like December, as you know!

Isaac was sick, too. It was awful! It's so hard to see a newborn all sick. He couldn't even cry because he lost his voice, and at times it was hard for him to breathe, and he was coughing, and it was all so awful. We had so many humidifiers and vaporizers going in our apartment that you could look across the room and see the cloud of humidity. It was pretty crazy!

December reading to Isaac. He was pretty enthralled, as you can tell!

A sick, napping December.

Isaac on our bed, soaking up some sunshine.

Isaac's favorite position in which to sleep in on somebody...I think that's probably pretty typical of a newborn! And we are more than happy to indulge him. :o)

Our precious son, 8 weeks old today.

Isaac's Baptism

Isaac was baptized on Sunday, January 4 at our church in Michigan. Our pastor was very kind and did a pulpit switch with Dad's church that morning, so that Dad could do the baptism. It was such a wonderful, meaningful service, and we love it that Isaac is baptized! Brad preached in the evening service at our church, and he did a great job! You can listen to it at www.covenantprez.com, under Sermon Downloads.



After the service, we had lunch in the church's Fellowship Building, with my extended family -- and my pen pal Rebekah and her parents even came, too, which was great!

Here we are with my parents and the beautiful, yummy cake!

Isaac and five generations (from left to right): Isaac's Great-Grandma, his Great-Great-Grandma, me, Isaac, his Grandma, and his Great-Grandma

Our family and the five generations -- pretty incredible!

Christmas 2008

We celebrated lots of Christmases, at different parties with my Dad's side of the family, then my Mom's side of the family, and my Grandma's family, too, but on Christmas Day, my siblings all gathered at Mom and Dad's house along with my Grandpa and Grandma. Here we are at Christmas lunch, after going to Christmas Day services at our churches.

My Grandma and Grandpa -- we love them!

The cousins had their own special kids' Christmas table.

After lunch we opened Christmas presents -- it was lots of fun!

I'm reading December a Curious George book that she got from Grandpa and Grandma. December LOVES Curious George!

Here's Isaac's Great-Grandma holding him.

Have you ever seen Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation? Well, here's the squirrel in our Christmas tree!

Makenzi, Markus, Emilia, and December all rough-housing with Great-Grandpa, loving every minute of it!

The girls all got matching dresses, which was quite adorable.

Taking a break from all of the excitement (this is not December's best picture...)

Grandpa reading his grandkids a book

Here's Isaac in his Baby's First Christmas outfit!