Christmas!

For Christmas we went back to California again this year. Lots of fun! The kids and I got to be there 2 weeks and Zarik was there a week, then flew back out for 2 days to pick us up (watch for the post on that!).

We had lots of fun hanging out with our families! Flene is pregnant again and was looking so cute with her baby belly! Jonathan's fiance Brittany was pregnant for Christmas (popped about a week later!). The kids loved seeing all their different aunts, uncles, grandparents, grandmother's dogs, cousins, etc. We were bad about getting pictures, but here are some from Christmas. Be sure to look through them all as I have pictures of my new nephew, Kayden at the bottom!

The Christmas Tree


Mika brought an Ariel with her, and got another one for Christmas! TWO Ariel's!


Grandma Minnie, Urijah, Jon, and Brittany


Shanna and Bobby - Brandon got them cool shirts that light up when they're close to each other, and go out when they're separated!


Papa played Santa


G-ma made sure she got it all on video


Mika had fun opening all her presents!


Kayden Scott! 12-30-09 7lbs1oz, 19"


Here's a cool montage of Kayden's first photoshoot!

Kayden Parsons from LivingStone Photography on Vimeo.

The 5 Days That Became 3 Weeks

We had an extended vacation to visit our families this summer! Although, it wasn't planned to be as long as it turned out...

We planned on staying for five days. I had to tell my mom that we were going to be spending most of the time with the Brost family, since we hadn't had a lot of time with them since Christmas. She understood, but was bummed, of course. The reason we "had" to leave was because Zarik had to be at work. So after our five days were up, we go to the airport. We went later in the day because the loads looked decent. Well, unfortunately, a flight was delayed and screwed everything up. So we were stuck for that night. On the way home we decided that the kids and I should stay for another 3 days to a week while Zarik went to work, and then he'd come get us. When he came back, we went wakeboarding with his brother, and Zarik broke his face.

Do I have your attention now? Hehe!

What happened was Zarik fell hard - on the handle or just the water, we're not sure - but didn't know he'd really hurt himself. Later on he went to equalize the pressure in his ears (you know - plug your nose and blow) and all the air escaped his sinuses and went under his eye!!!



After calling around to Stara and Flene (who are both into medicine - Stara has her EMT licence and is looking at Physical Therapy while Flene is a Physicians Assistant), my mom's eye doctor, and Kaiser, we determined that what had happened was his eye was tramatized, but it displaced the trama to the bones around his eye. This cracked the ethmoid bone which allowed air to escape the sinuses. We decided it would be best to go to Urgent Care because it probably wouldn't be good to fly with this injury and Zarik would need a note for work. Sure 'nough, he was grounded for at least another week! Since he had about five days off after he was cleared to fly again, we just stayed for a week after that, too! It was a total God thing that Zarik got the injury he got, with no complications (his sister was all "I'm glad the air bubble didn't go to your brain!"). We couldn't think of any other injury that would totally trap in California, and yet not really limit his fun.

So here are some snippits from our trip:

We all drew "tattoos" on eachother


I keep trying to convince Zarik he needs a real one


Swinging on the Rope Swing at Kidd Lake


Hanging on my parents' pontoon boat


Mika swimming with Mommy


Urijah swimming with Daddy


Sleepy Boy


Sophie!


Cute couple, if I do say so myself. :-)


Lion Towel


Mika turned 2! Mommy made her cake!


Hanging with Mommy


Janis, Jackie, and Kailah dancing on the pontoon boat


We got lots of Grandma time in

Our Christmas Trip to Cali

We just got back from our Early Christmas trip to California. It was great! We had a great flight out where we got 2 rows to ourselves, so Mika slept next to Zarik while Urijah and I snoozed in the row behind them.

We stayed at the Brost house and everyone had so much fun seeing how much Mika has grown and meeting Urijah. Flene, Justin and their daughter Hailey came out Wednesday and we had a ton of fun with them since it was our first time meeting Hailey! She is so cute!

Friday night I took Urijah and we went with my mom to see a "family friendly" Nutcracker (shortened and done by local dance studios, with just a few professionals). My brother Brandon was in the part scene as one of the adult guests! He did great!! So did Urijah, thanfully. :)

Saturday night was our night with my family and we had a ton of fun opening presents, cooking, eating, and playing games. My poor mom got sick that day, though, so although she was enjoying it, she kept having to run to the bathroom to throw up. That didn't keep her from trying to help finish dinner and clean up, though, crazy Mommy! (;P Luv U!)

Between both families both the kids and Zarik and I really "made out" this year! Mika got TWO ride on toys, while Z and I got a laptop from my parents! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!!!!

Getting home was a lot more of a hassle as it took us about 14 hours. We got to the Sacramento airport at 5am and I believe the flight we finally got on to Denver was at 2pm. It was a loooooooooong exhausting day for everyone but Urijah (he didn't care as long as he got fed enough!). We did get first class from Sac-Den though!! Yeah for big comfy seats and fruit'n'meat plates! Both kids slept the whole way, too.

We are now home and recovering, lol. Poor Zarik got called into work this morning, though. Just for a quick "repo" to Denver and back, though, so not too bad. He should be home by noon or one. We plan on just taking the rest of the week easy. Zarik does work on Christmas, but should be back by bedtime.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Aunt Mriah holding Hailey with Urijah in the forground

Burrito Urijah

Mika using her sleeve as a teeting item

Helping out in the kitchen

Mika and Mommy

Hailey "holding" Burrito Urijah

Cousins!

Running Away!

Who are you?

Urijah and Hailey

The boys with their babies

Sister and Brother with their babies

Kissin' Cousins!

Story Time!

Zarik and the kids

Mika watching the planes

Mika helping with Urijah

Sleepy Airport Babies

Urijah's Baby Shower

This last weekend I took my last trip (for this pregnancy) back home to Cali for Urijah's baby shower!! It was so much fun! There were so many people to hug and say hi to. Thanks to everyone who came! It's awesome to be surrounded by people who love you!! We started out by eating a yummy buffet that my mom, mother-in-law Linda and sisters-in-law Stara and Mriah, and friend Vicki set up for us. After that we did games. First we played a "guess that baby food" game. Without smelling or tasting we had to guess what was in 5 different jars. I did so bad!! Then there was one where everyone had to put a paper plate on their head and draw a picture of a baby on it. It was so funny! Last we split into groups of 5 and one person had to do scharades with 5 different phrases with the other 4 people guessing. My group won!! Our prize was a Starbucks card. Yeah!! Then everyone got cake while I opened my - I mean Urijah's - presents. The cake was SOOOOOO cute!! See the picture below! Everyone was SO generous. We now DEFINATELY have enough clothes for Urijah, plus all the other little things we needed. Thank you everyone!!

Fourth of July visit

Mika had a blast!! We spent the first couple of days with Zarik's family up at Kidd Lake. Some good friend's of the family had come out too and brought 18 month old twins that Mika got to play with! They were so cute together! Then we spent time with my dad's mom and sister (my grandma and aunt) and my aunt's grandaughter, Hailey, who just turned 3. It was awesome to get to see and spend time with all of them! Here are some pictures!

Cool Chick!


With an "aww-ooh!"


Second Cousins!


Chasing Tirza!


Early Birthday presents!


This stuff is fun!


Pretty Flower Girl!


Pondering Life...


Naked Baby!