We have become bloggers!

I never thought I would start a blog! But I have to say, you all make it look so fun! I was starting to feel a little guilty that I wasn't documenting Ella's life like I should be. So better late then never, right? I'm new at all this computer jazzy stuff so bear with me, I'm hoping to get better as I go!
Hope you all had a wonderful Holiday season! Sooo cold in Utah! It's nice to be back in warm Cali.

Well we survived yet another Christmas season and all is well in this household. Dan finished his first set of finals for his first semester of law school and we are anxiously awaiting his scores. I can't believe he has all ready finished a semester! It feels like we just moved to sunny Cali! While Dan had to hit the books, Ella and I have really enjoyed the San Diego lifestyle. First things first, we had to get a sea world season pass, zoo and wild animal park pass, and of course a Disneyland season pass. Oh life is so rough! But we seem to be adapting quite nicely (the weather does help! =) I really felt like we were on vacation for the first 4 months we were here.

Reality is just now starting to hit after coming home for Christmas. Seeing our wonderful family and friends and missing our beautiful home we had to say goodbye to. And being the Christmas season and all, you seem to miss home more then ever! But Dan didn't drag us somewhere terrible, that's for sure. We have meet some great friends! Ella and I have joined a little play group. Dan loves school his campus is so beautiful! More like a resort then a school but he swears they really do study there. We moved into a great ward that has been so welcoming which is nice when your new. And the beach always helps too!

Ella is now 13 months, wow were did the time go? That was the fastest year of my life! She is so cute and has the sweetest personality. She has now become our full time entertainment. She does the funniest things. When ever music is playing she immediately dances to it. And she dances to the beat (we are definitely putting her in a dance class) she blows kisses to anyone who will give her the slightest attention and is always so quick to smile. And attention she loves! The more the merrier! (I wonder where she gets that from?) Books are her favorite things in the world right now don't even say the word unless your committed to reading 5 or more books to her! She is in love with all animals, especially little doggies. She calls all animals "be-be's" which is our kitty cat's name. We are just so in love with our little Ella bean.

I am loving being a stay home mom at the moment! Ella definitely keeps me busy. I will soon be going back to work and having to do the mommy juggle. I have just started looking at some salons out here. It is going to be hard starting over and building a clientele after working in the same salon for over 8 years! But I'm up for a new adventure. Hopefully I will just have to do the balancing act for 3 years until Dan is done with school then I can be full time mommy again!

Dan is learning how to surf in his limited spare time. He got himself a shiny new surf board and has his good friend Conner and his brothers Aaron and Mathew to show him the ropes! He is realizing the meaning of the first year of Law school is the hardest now that he has a semester behind him. But he is up for the challenge. he has a great group of friends from school that get together and study. We are so proud of our little smarty pants and are excited for the new year!

Helping daddy study for finals!

ELLA'S YUCKY NEW TOY

Well it happened! Ella has been mobile for like three months and is like a little bomb wherever she goes. But luckily she has taken no interest in the toilet and toilet paper. Until now! It is now her favorite toy. Gross, right? I found her the other day (of course when she wasn't making any noise...should have known better) just completely covered in t.p. nice! gotta love kids. =)

Christmas Back Home

It was sooo nice to spend Christmas back home! We celebrated Christmas with Dan's family! My parents went back to Ohio to celebrate Christmas with my brothers, since they were here in San Diego with the girls for Thanksgiving. I love Dan's family and we had a blast! Ella of course got a little too spoiled, seeing on how she is only 1 of 2 grand kids on Dan's side. But we had a ball! We even got a huge dose of snow while we were there. Making for a very white Christmas!! I loved that we could just come to Utah for a week, and get are fill of snow for the Holiday season. Then go back to sunny California. Just enough snow for the year! We did get a chance to see my mom and dad before they took off to Ohio and that was great! And I got to see my favorite girlfriends, up in Logan as well! Love you guys!!

Dan and I had a pretty tight schedule while we were back home visiting. We were so happy that we got to get together with so many of our friends and have yummy dinners and lots of catching up! I love the holiday season and was so grateful we spent it with the ones we love!

New Toys!!

Deck the Palms

Christmas in San Diego is a little different then back home in Salt Lake. They have a deck the palms contest at sea port village. A group of friends with their kiddos and I decided to check em' out! It was fun to see how creative they all were. After checking out all the palm trees, there was a parade of lights on the water with sailboats all decked out with Christmas lights! It was really cool to be in December watching sailboats go by. Christmas is a little different here in California!

13 month well child check-up

Festival of Lights

My friend Amberlynn and I thought it would be fun to get both of our families together and head up to see the festival of lights at the wild animal park. It was so festive!! With carolers and Christmas lights everywhere and the big jolly guy himself. We had a really fun time walking through the lights with our hot chocolate and seeing the animals after hours at night.

Santa came to the wild animal park and we were excited to see Ella sit on his lap. There is no love for this jolly fellow. Valerie felt the same as Ella! Maybe next year they will figure out he's really not so bad!

Lil' Miss Lori LeGrand

Lori, my good friend and co-worker of 9 years. Was in San Diego, with her family and we got together for part of the day. It was so great to see her and catch up! I always loved working with her. She was so fun! (lots of good memories) We were pregnant at the same time at my old salon and both hated being pregnant. It was nice to have another pregnant gal to vent to over the annoyances of pregnancy. Our babies are a month apart and played together before we move to SD. It was good to get Ella re-united with her little boy-friend Charlie! (What a cutie!) I sure miss lil' Lori LeGrand! :) I hope you come back and visit again soon!