Trip to Los Angeles

Our Trip to Disneyland

When I anticipate thinking back on this trip in the years to come, I imagine that National Lampoon's Vacation will come to mind as they braved the harrowing obstacles they encountered on their cursed way to Wallyworld. Evie and I encountered our own obstacles as we joined my in-laws on a trip to Disneyland and Venice Beach. She and I drove down to Vacaville to ride with Michael's parents on our drive down there. I had the joy of cleaning poop (not mine!) out of our car about 10 minutes into our trip. Then I did it again the next day. Then the day after that, all of Michael's family fell sick, and as they rolled in bed moaning on Friday night, it was up to Evie and me to make our own fun. We were good for a couple of hours before I began to go nuts.

However, we did make it to Disneyland, as well as to the Griffith Observatory, Venice Beach, and Santa Monica. The majority of the trip was great fun, but upset stomachs, vomit, and poor appetites peppered our trip throughout. My brother-in-law and I bonded in a new way when I pulled the car over for him on the busy L.A. I-5 freeway to allow him to hurl out the side of the car.

Here are pictures from the true beginning of our trip (at least in my book). We all went to Disneyland together on Sunday, 3 days into our vacation.

Her classic expression of excitement: "Yaaaay!" as she observed all the kids milling around.

Not sure what she thought of the carousel. She didn't end up liking it very much.

Evie loved her great-uncle, Jimmy. It was the second time she had met him, but she went right to him and wanted him to hold her. He works for Disneyland on the "It's a Small World" ride. He really gave us the hook up; we didn't have to wait in line at all, all day. Thank you, thank you!

The adults also had fun in Disneyland. Here we were in a very (!!) short line for the haunted mansion.

Grandpa Jack became Evie's new buddy. I did not have to hold her much during our trip because she always asked for him. :-)

Evie's ready to go swimming after our first day at Disneyland, a few hours before the vomit hit the toilet.

Evie and I on some caterpillar ride. We were both bored on that one.

Our hotel must have gotten their cribs on discount from Eastern Europe. Very glad I brought my own blankets for her. I always lean toward bringing less gear, but I think I'm gradually learning the bringing your own crib is just better all around. No judgment, please!

More photos to come, as things begin to look up for National Hanes Summer Vacation.

1st Birthday!

We had a 1st birthday celebration for Evie at our house. The weather couldn't have been more perfect; 75 degrees, sunny, and a light breeze. We barbecued hamburgers and hotdogs, enjoyed our friends, and celebrated our first year with Evie.

Evie got to have a banana bread cupcake with cream cheese frosting. Since bananas are hands-down her favorite food, I thought this was a healthy and appropriate first cake for her.

Everyone else got devils food cupcakes with chocolate sour cream frosting. Yum!

Evie likes to be in the middle of anything involving food, and we discovered it was a little tricky keeping her feet out of the candle flame. Quick song, blow out the candle, get on with the eating part.

"Come on, guys! I could totally eat that spread! One little cupcake is nothing. Keep it coming!"

Happy birthday, my sweet, friendly, enthusiastic, outgoing baby. We definitely think you are a wonderful addition to our lives. We're grateful that God chose you for us (and the rest of the world) out of all the possibilities.

10 Months, 11 Months...

Evelyn is growing fast; in fact she just turned one in real time. But I have not uploaded those photos, and there is a birthday party coming up, so I will save all those photos for another blog entry. To risk being incredibly cliche, it is amazing how fast Evie has grown, and how delightful it has been to have her in our lives. This little girl has a personality that is larger than life, and it's actually very hard to catch her in the camera because she is always moving and always talking, which makes for blurry pictures.

Here are some reasons why we love her:

• She loves to wave her arms in the air and say, "Yaaaay!"
• She loves to snuggle, as much as possible.
• She is friendly, and there are only about 2 people she doesn't really seem to like…sorry Mr. Chiropractor…
• She sleeps through the night now.
• She knows what she wants and has figured out how to ask for it; lots of signing and pointing.
• She dances to music whenever it comes on.
• She smiles and laughs, loves to play games, and is generally loving, fun-loving, and people-loving.
• She likes to ride on your shoulders, and she NEVER holds on. Never. She prefers to wave her arms in the air and bounce up and down.

Eyes that melt into black liquid, begging you to love her. More. Now.

First Easter. I didn't actually think she'd be able to tear the wrappers off the candy that the Easter obviously brought for Eryn and Michael.

I'm going to brag a little; I carried Evie 6 out of our 10-mile hike. I was very sore the next day. She's not that light.

A wild time at Stinson Beach. Evie just LOVED the wind.