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!