Daryl and Rachel Time

   Daryl and I like to escape from our children at least once a year.  The only stipulation is that it must be overnight.  Since my parents are back from their mission now we could go on a lengthier trip, and I had a companion pass from Alaska Airlines that we needed to use by the end of the year.  We chose to go to southern California.  The first day we flew down we went and saw the Queen Mary in Long Beach.  It's an old cruise ship basically that used to take people across the Atlantic, and was pressed into service transporting troops during World War II.  We mostly took ourselves around for a self guided tour.  We did a kind of cheesy ghost tour where they "manufacture" some ghostly scares for you.  The tour did take you to the pool and the boiler rooms, so that was cool to see.
   The other two days we went to one of our favorite stand by:  Disneyland.  We had checked online to see how busy it was supposed to be because we only really wanted to go if there weren't big crowds.  The Internet told us to go this last week and it was right.  There was like a ten minute wait for every ride except for the new Cars ride in California Adventure.  Every other ride we just practically walked onto.  Since Cars land was still new that made Disneyland pretty quiet.  In two days we did everything we wanted to do and then some.  Most importantly we were by ourselves, and everyone seemed happier when we got back home.

This was a Russian submarine parked next to the Queen Mary.

The top of the Queen Mary.  The ship is taller than Niagara Falls.

Daryl looking over the side of the ship.

The view from the Queen Mary.  Couldn't help but think of Arrested Development while we were there and wonder if this place was where Cinco de Cuatro took place.

A picture of us!

I was on the Materhorn by myself because we went in the single rider line and when it was almost time for us to get off the ride broke down.  The guys in the blue shirts were there to fix it.  It's bad business if you see those guys.  I was only stuck on it for a few minutes thankfully.

Sleeping Beauty's castle all dressed up for Christmas.

Daryl Graduates!

        In June Daryl actually graduated from University of Washington with a degree in communications.  His diploma finally came a few weeks ago.  It's been a long road to his bachelors that's been about five years in the making and involved a visit to everyone's favorite community college Green River.  Daryl actually took classes at Highline Community College and at Bellevue College too, so he's been to all the good ones.  Daryl is a talented computer programmer.  School's really not his thing, but he was persistent and did it anyway.  Way to go Daryl!

Avery Turns Five!

    Avery was very excited for her birthday this year.  She actually insistent that her birthday was yesterday until I finally told her that it was her Uncle Paul's birthday, and that seemed to clear things up.  We took the girls down to the mall and let them play when Avery was done with preschool.  They played for over an hour in the bouncy house there.  The mall Santa Claus was already set up and Avery wanted to see him, so we also got a picture of Avery with Santa.  We had a small party for Avery tonight with my parents, Adam, Karl, Aimee, and Tyler.  For quite some time Avery has been telling me that she wanted a strawberry cake, so I had a local bakery make a strawberry short cake flavored cake in the shape of a strawberry.  This pleased her immensely.  

   Avery is a very busy girl who loves to make art, sing along with the radio, and play hide and go seek.  Lately she has taken to telling me that she loves me randomly through out the day.  She loves preschool still and loves Harper and Emery.  Avery is a wonderful edition to our family.

Avery wearing her birthday crown that she got at preschool.

Per Avery's request:  a strawberry cake.

Avery showing off Aunt Joanne's birthday card.  She was really excited to get it.

Here's Avery with the Washingtons from Aunt Joanne's birthday card.  She ran around with her money for quite a while.

Blowing out the candles.

Uncle Karl feeding Emery.

Avery with the purse that Chris and Alex's family sent for her.

This is how Avery with some help from Harper and Tyler beautified her purse.

She took all the fondant off her slice of cake and ate it that way.  Tyler wanted Avery to have a Doc McStuffins medical bag for her birthday, so that is what Tyler is playing with.  Avery loved her medical bag and has already given Daryl and myself complete checkups.

Avery with Santa at the mall on her birthday.

Random Pictures from Phoenix

   Here's some miscellaneous pictures from our quick trip to Phoenix for Chris and Alex's wedding.  They are from Halloween day mostly and the day before the wedding.  On Halloween Daryl and I went to the Arizona State Fair without children thanks to some awesome sisters, so we could visit the Star Trek Exhibit they had featured there.  They had a lot of cool costumes and props on display.  We were happy that we got to go.  You couldn't take pictures there, but they had two photo ops there: one with the Enterprise and one on the bridge.  We bought the bridge photo.  

  Also you will meet our new dog nephew Wilson.  He's a bit of a cuddle monster, but he is also a big trouble maker.  If you leave anything food like out he's going to get it.  When ever we left the house we had to make sure the garbage was shut up in the bathroom.  While we were there he successfully nabbed a chicken bone off the counter, and while we were gone he tried to get into one of Emery's empty bottles I left on the counter after washing.  I'm not sure what he thought was in that bottle. 

If you've seen the original series you know that besides Uhura the only female officers really seen on the bridge would serve Captain Kirk his coffee, so we joked that I should have had a tray with a coffee cup on it.  Also Daryl says I wasn't taking the photo as seriously as he was.

Ashlyn making Wilson's day.

Reagan at breakfast the day everyone left pretty much.

Reagan trying out the scooter with her dad.

Mackenzie and Wilson with her Minnie Mouse ears on.

Reagan riding the trike with her dad.

Reagan on the slide.

Brad photo bombing Reagan.

Brad can ride the trike all by himself now!

Mackenzie and Addison loved their baby cousin.

Sam, Mackenzie holding Emery, and Addison

Ashlyn and Emery.

Paul and Maddux

Dad and Phil

Mackenzie, Aidan on the slide, Avery, and Harper

Chris and Alex's Wedding

   November 2nd my sister Alex got married, and now we have a wonderful new brother-in-law, Chris.  Chris has two children, Mackenzie and Sam, as I mentioned in the post about Halloween, so we also have a new niece and nephew.  We were all so excited to meet everyone, and witness the beginning of Chris and Alex's new family.  The wedding was down in Phoenix and we spent two days driving to get there.  It was well worth it of course; we also go to stay with my brother Phil's family in their new house in Lehi which was fun if not brief.  

   The ceremony was outdoors at a rustic but not too rustic ranch.  When we went to sit down Avery went and sat on the other side of the aisle from us.  We tried to get her to sit at least on the same side as us, but she had made her decision and was staying put.  My cousin Angie sat by her and she was actually perfect during the whole ceremony.  Harper counted all of the change in my purse during it, and Emery slept in her carseat.  

   The reception followed immediately after with a dinner and then dancing of course.  Our niece Reagan spent most of the night dancing, and even though she's only about sixteen months she was really dancing and moving her feet.  She's a busy girl.   Our nephew Sam also had some serious moves on the dance floor, worthy of any YouTube video.  Avery and Harper danced some too, but Harper also led a group of children in watching our iPad for some time.  Around eight though Avery and Harper let us know they were done, and they pretty much crashed in the car.  We had a great time and as always it is so good to see family.  Congratulations Chris and Alex!  We love you! 

Reagan looking up at some decorations hanging from a tree.

Chris and Alex during their first dance.

Aunt Joanne with Harper on her lap, Addison, and Avery.

My sister DeAnna who served as Alex's matron of honor.

It looks like Avery is trying to eat Addison.

Harper, Avery, and Addison hanging out before the wedding.

My mom and my niece Ashlyn.

Phil and Heather's youngest son Aidan.

Phil and Heather's oldest Maddux.  Both of the boys were looking very dapper.

The kids hanging out before the wedding. From Right to left we've got Addison looking at her dress, Harper looking at Avery presumably, Mackenzie, Aidan, Avery with her hands up and tongue out, Maddux being a good sport, and Sam being a good sport too.

Alex and me in the bride's room before the wedding.

Mackenzie and Addison did a terrific job being flower girls.  We were slightly worried that Avery was going to try and join in on the petal throwing, but our fears were unfounded.

A cousin picture with the babies.  From right to left again: Sam, Ashlyn holding her sister Reagan, Mackenzie holding Emery, Aidan, Avery, Addison, and Maddux holding onto Harper for us.

My sisters DeAnna and Nellie.

Emery yelling at Aunt Dianne.  She was hungry.

My mom, her brother Tom and his wife Darlene between my mother and her sister Liz.

Mom with my brother Adam and his wife Angie.

Phil's wife Heather.

Avery dancing with Reagan.

Emery chilling in her baby seat.