Thanksgiving 2015

For Thanksgiving this year we went to Phoenix. Darcy and the girls (including GJ) drove out Saturday. I followed a few days later via air. Sure was great to see everyone! 

Katelyn, Emmy, and Ellie celebrating Minnie's 86th birthday on Monday. 

For Thanksgiving Bob and Jamie hosted the entire clan. For a few minutes were even able to get everyone to sit reasonably still. 

Dr. Friedman with the girls. 

Katelyn and Emmy. 

Ellie entertaining Connor. 

Emmy enjoying a pre-Thanksgiving Peanutbutter and Nuttela sandwich. 

Riding the Daisy Mountain Express at the local Anthem park. 

On Friday, Jamie and Bob watched all the grandkiddos while Darcy, Stacey, David and I went our for dinner and a movie. Judging by this picture everyone behaved. 

Balboa Park

On Saturday we met up with the San Diego Reifenberger Clan at Balboa Park (Home of the San Diego Zoo). We didn't make it to the zoo but spent the morning exploring all the other things to do at the park.  



The kids had a blast playing, dancing, and singing on the organ pavilion stage. It was quite the performance. 

Scene 1 - The Intro. 

Emmy enters Stage right.

Scene 2 - Oh the drama!
 

Final Act/ Resolution - There is much rejoicing and dancing. 

After the play we visited a really cool model train museum that we all enjoyed. 

Later we went on our own train ride. 

And a carousel.

Even Uncle Jeff got in on the carousel action! 

All in all I think everyone had a fun day. 

Toddler Bed

For weeks Emmy has been sleeping on a blow up mattress on the floor. This morning I decided to convert her crop to a toddler bed by taking one side off. Wish us luck tonight......

Happy Halloween

Carvin Der Pumpkin

The girls had a blast dressing up for Halloween. Although it was very strange trick-or-treating in 70 degree weather with a clear skye! Turns out this neighborhood is a hot spot for Halloween and they made out like banshees. 

Of course there was some last minute drama. After a year of telling us she wanted to be Ellsa or Aurora, Ellie decided at the last minute to be a lady bug (I think just to spite Emmy who was going to be the lady bug). 


For a few tense minutes we were not sure what to do with Emmy.........

Pant-less Octopus Princess?: High Heels - Check ; Octopus Shirt - Check ; No Pants - Check ; Tiara - Check ; Back Pack - Check. 

In the end we found a creative way for both of them to be lady bugs and Darcy to be a witch. 

Exploring Laguna

This morning we explored some of the beaches on the North side of  Laguna. Still hard to believe we live 15 minutes from here. 

One other picture - Emmy has discovered the dress-up high heels........

Indiana Visit

A lot of excitement last week. On Saturday I flew solo with the girls from the OC to Indy, spent the weekend in Lafayette before flying from Indy to DC. The girls stayed behind to spend time with Mom and Dad. 

Later in the week I flew back to Indiana for a few days before we returned back home on Sunday. We also were able to spend quality time with David, Amy, and Emerson. Oh and I met the Governor of Indiana! 

Meanwhile Darcy spent the week in Boston for work and unpacked with the help of Jody. 

Here are some of the highlights. 

Emmy and Ellie helping Dad in the garden. 

A quick trip back to the old house with Dad. 

A quick trip to DC. 

 Dad on the swings with the Ellie, Emmy and Emerson!

There is an easy joke here about Uncle David's weight but I am going to take the highroad. 

The highlight might have been a trip back into time to the 1750's, also known as the Feast of the Hunters Moon (or Beast of a Hundred Moons as Ellie would say). Every October since 1968 this reenactment has been occurring on the banks of the Wabash River, a few miles from Lafayette, at the site of Fort Ouiatenon. 

The fort was the first fortified European settlement in Indiana. The festival celebrates the annual gathering that would take place between the Native Americans and Europeans, mainly the French. I hadn't been in probably 25 years, I think Ellie enjoyed it. 

Dad talking to a trader from the 1750's. 

On the way back to the OC Emmy had a few meltdowns. 

But on Monday she cleaned up nicely for her school pictures! 

While we were gone Darcy got Ellie a new bike. We have been promising her one for about a year. It is a bit much for my taste but I think she likes it.