Games...
There's not much better than story-time with a grandma!
Taking pics/posing at our regular breakfast spot at Prolific...
February 6: Back at Orchard Park!
Sofia trying to pull off the Ballet Folklorico look...
Oliver and Siena continue to work on their dance moves at Forever 21...
Oliver is a beast!
Sofia is picky, but Mary is too impossible to resist! :)
Really, we don't get out much. Part of that is due to our busy schedule in/around Davis. Other factors include the price of gas (i.e., Shiloh's frugality) and our general homebodiness. We love when friends come to visit us, but we summoned up all our energy to turn a 3-day weekend into a 5-day adventure to SoCal to visit friends/family!
On February 16, we left Davis, stopping in Fresno briefly to see two Shabaglians and two Foresters on our way down to Claremont to stay with Cob and Jenna Armstrong...
..
February 17: Claremont to San Marcos (via Fallbrook & San Diego)
But first, take a minute to appreciate the beautifully decorated abode of the C&J Armstrongs... we noticed a direct correlation to household cleanliness and the number of children. Whodathunkit! :)
Shanon (Sorbello) Widegren cooked up a wonderful dinner of tacos and/or taco salad. Micah was able to join us after he got off work. They make a good pair!
Our drive to the Nelsons was extra quiet and peaceful. :)
February 18: San Marcos to El Segundo (via UCLA to watch Cody Keefer in action!)
The picture below makes it look like the adults are simply posing for the camear as Sofia wanders out into the street... for the record, that is a play structure's rubber surface - not asphalt. :)
The Nelson/Sorbello crew... it's always a treat hanging out with the Nelsons... the kids have a blast together and the adults do too!
Hanging with the Keefers at Cody's game against Maryland. UCLA won and Cody had a couple of nice hits.
The rally-babies were hopped up on candy!
We arrived at the Engles' house after the game. They are another newlywed couple with a beautifully decorated home. Their downstairs neighbor wasn't used to having kids above them, because we heard him banging on the ceiling in protest after our girls were jumping all over the house. Siena took to Tara right away and was put to work in the kitchen.
February 19: El Segundo - Fresno (via Manhattan Beach)
The Warnes (aka, the Modesties) are some of our favorite former-Davisites. They are getting used to life near the beach, which seems difficult.
Traveling often means making nap-time happen on the fly...
A free aquarium at the end of Manhattan Beach Pier? Yes, please! We couldn't convince Siena to touch any of the displayed sea creatures, though...
Chuck did a fantastic job with Siena. It took extreme patience (well, and some bribery) to get her to agree to a shoulder ride. He will make a great dad someday! :)
Some of said bribery included a giant ice cream cone and the Queen's Seat at the ice cream shop. He also sent her home with a larger-than-life lollipop. Thanks, Chuck.
That night, we made it back to Fresno, where we stayed with the Foresters and visited with the Shabaglians again. Great times...
The Shabaglians try to make Jadon eat healthy, but every kid needs some snow-cone once in a while. As you can see from my face, this is serious biz.
Sofia wasn't able to stay awake for the post-park Subway run!
February 25, we went with Sam Klasing and Gambo to a UCD men's basketball game and met up with the Moroskis, Richie, Luke, Zeke, the Rosendales, Joe Friis, etc.
This is proof that Sam and Sam don't always wear running gear and train for half-marathons...
February 29: Raptor Center
Bethany has been talking about the Raptor Center for a lonnnnng time, and I have never believed her when she said how wonderful it was. Finally, two weeks ago, we went. And it was fabulous. Real owls, eagles, hawks and vultures. Museum with touchable taxidermy!
Yep, that's a bald eagle sitting on Matt's shoulder. Kind of.
Sofia, a wee 25-pounder, still relegated to the bjorn when I'm trying to take pictures. Poor thing gets in as few shots as me! Self-portrait. :)
Luke was very excited to find this rogue sign, blown off by the wind or maybe some sneaky toddler.
My poor Rebel xSi is now missing one of it's shutter flaps. See it, trying to be a part of our picture without asking? It's "hinge" was missing, so I took the whole thing out, and the camera seems to be doing fine without it...
That's all. February finally (mostly) documented. See you all next month!
