California Trip and Balboa Beach

Well, we went to California to go to Disneyland for Hayden's 4th birthday. I have so many pictures I don't even know where to start, so I am taking baby steps here. The 1st day we went to Disneyland it was just us. The next day my parents came to California. So we went to the Beach on Wednesday while everyone else was driving to California in our family. So then Thursday and Friday we spent another 2 days at Disneyland and California Adventures. Since we had all of Wednesday to do whatever we decided to find a beach we could hang out on, eat by and possibly do a little shopping. We went to Balboa Beach. I really liked it there. It was nice and clean, it had a playground for the kids, shops and a few places to eat. We ate at Ruby's at the end of the pier. We had a nice day. We were so shocked how nice the weather was. Aaron thought it was be freezing since the beach is cooler. Well, we could have wore bathing suit and been fine, the weather was perfect. The water was too cold but still fun to get our feet wet and play around.

Papa and Hayden



Emmie was pretty scared of the waves, she would just stare at the water. She didn't know what to make of it.

Dad and mom

The kids loved chasing the birds
Grandma and Hayden








Grandma and Emmie

Chasing birds again on the pier
Eating at Ruby's your are supposed to decorate a paper car with stickers, we did the kids faces.
Papa got one too that says "I heart Ruby's"
We saw a seal swimming around.
Hayden loved this rope playground thing, he pretended to be Spiderman in a web.



Aaron helping Emmie down the slide

Our Christmas Tree

Since we buy a real tree we were late putting one up since we went to Disneyland. So last night we got the tree up. Hayden loved putting the ornaments on and Emmie wanted to take them off and play with them.

Hayden and Emmie meet Santa at Disneyland

The 1st thing Hayden did was run up and hug Santa and then talked her ear off about how much fun he was having at Disneyland and all the cool things he saw and did.

Then Hayden told Santa all the things he wanted for Christmas....he said he wanted a real cell phone. Ya right!!! He just turned 4!


Emmie seemed happy while waiting to meet Santa

Then she sat on his lap....ooh well...maybe next year.


Here are their pictures I made on photoshop

Santa's Reindeers were outside

Hayden turns 4

Today we went to Disneyland for Hayden's 4th birthday. We had so much fun and Hayden kept saying "I love my birthday party!" I will post more Disneyland pictures later.







Before we left to California we had family over to have birthday cake and open gifts with Hayden.






I can't believe Hayden is 4. Before coming to California I went through baby pictures with him. I was telling him all about him as a baby. He loves to hear about what he was like as a baby. He was so cute and fun....I guess I shouldn't be so sad he is growing up he is still so cute and fun!

Looking back.......

Hayden's Birth Day 12/9/04

Hayden's birthmom let me be in the room when he was born. The nurse let me cut the cord.
My 1st time holding Hayden
Me showing Hayden to Aaron for the 1st time




Different pictures of his 1st year











Hayden's 4 year old pictures

Emmie's case is finally moving along

Finally some good news about Emmie. Her case worker came over today for the 1st time. Emmie is officially considered under our custody. That took a long time, but at least its done now. They are already on the ball at getting her set up with therapy she will need, so things seem to be running more smoothly. The case worker said our adoption could be final around Spring. Once the adoption is final we will have her sealed to us. So that will be exciting to go into the Temple as a family and have Emmie sealed to us. We haven't told Hayden yet about how he will get to go with us in the Temple because we know he will ask us every day if we can go yet. We know he will be so excited.