New family photos

Our friend Alison was in town and snapped some cute family photos for us. THANK YOU ALISON! We LOVE them!

I don't sew

Peyton wanted to be Jessie the cowgirl for Halloween. I knew that I wanted to make her costume and figured this might be a good one to start with. I don't sew though. I mean, I know HOW to sew, but I don't LIKE to sew. I went to Jo Ann Fabric and bought all my supplies and actually glued the fabric to the white collared shirt and jeans.
I think it turned out well...

Tulips and Tangerines Newborn Shoot

I have obviously neglected this poor blog. I'll try my best to keep it more current going forward.
Here are the beautiful newborn shoot pics that my lovely friend Valerie Castillo at Tulips and Tangerines Photography took for us. She is a true talent. Thank you Valerie!

Joy to the World!!

We took our Christmas Card pictures today. Here is a sneak peek...

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

ASCA Coaches Clinic and Chicago

Bryan was asked to speak at the American Swim Coaches Association Swim Clinic which is an international clinic once a year!! I was able to go along, so we took the opportunity to stop off in Chicago before heading home to visit Bryan's old friend Bobby and his girlfriend Jessica who attend the University of Chicago (Bobby) and University of Illinois at Chicago (Jessica). It was the first time that we had been anywhere with out Peyton which was extremely difficult for me. But Peyton had a blast.... She stayed with good family friends the Goodson's and with my parents (and was treated like a princess).

Bryan had the highest attendance of any of the talks both times!!! I watched both his talks and sat there with a big smile on my face... so proud of him. He did great, there were many coaches with questions for him after his talks. And to top it all off.... he received Age Group Coach of the Year for Southern California!!!

Right after finding out about Bryan's award we were off to Chicago (unable to attend the banquet so he could receive his award...). Chicago was a blast and we tried to fit in as much as we could in 1 1/2 days. The first night Bobby and Jessica took us up to the top (96 floors) of the John Hancock Building for cocktails at sunset... AWESOME! Then, the next day, we went on the architecture tour, saw Buckingham fountain, and walked through Millennium Park. Lots of walking... Here are some of mine and Jessica's pictures :)

A funny foam corn hat in the airport in Indianapolis...

The ASCA Clinic

Outside Bryan's conference room

One a Bridge overlooking the Chicago River

The view from 96 floors up!!

the view at sunset at the John Hancock building

Bobby and Jessica on the subway

site of the first self sustaining nuclear reaction - University of Chicago campus

cool pond on the campus

view from out architecture tour

the bean sculpture in Millennium Park

Buckingham fountain

Misc. pics from swim lessons

Peyton took swim lessons at Bryan's pool this summer. The first lesson, she was the only child to be okay in the water and not be crying for "Mommy". By the second lesson she was getting adventurous enough to venture out into the center of the pool (even though the instructor had told her to wait on the stairs) and was the only child to be threatened with "time out". After that she calmed down and got better and better with ever lesson.

Here are some cute pictures!

San Diego Zoo Trip

Bryan and I decided that it would be fun to take Peyton down to the San Diego Zoo for the day one day this summer... She really enjoyed the Long Beach Aquarium so we thought she would love the zoo. We arrived around lunch time and bought her a kids meal that came in a bucket. After lunch we asked her what she wanted to see first, in which she replied " Giraffes", so we walked over to the giraffes first. She enjoyed the giraffes... but she enjoyed her kids meal bucket more than everything after that... Funny thing is, that the next day she stood in her bucket and broke it and said "I need to go back to the zoo and get another bucket". Oh man....

Orange County Fair 2010

Peyton enjoyed the Orange County Fair much more this year. She wasn't scared of the cow at the petting zoo like last year. :)

We also took along with us Morganne, one of our good family friends. We had so much fun.