Holiday Fun

Between living with relatives, the holidays and having lots of family all over southern California, the Christmas season can be a little crazy. Here are just a few pictures....

 

 

We are living with Brian's sister Julie and her family from December until February so we didn't have our Christmas decorations or anything to take pictures of really. We will have to make up for it next year!

Christmas Card...

Well, the picture anyway. Merry Christmas!

 

Jovi "meets" Santa!

Our ward had their ward party and it was super fun. We had the theme of Polar Express so all the kids came dressed in their pajamas and "rode a train" to see Santa. Well, I had fun! Maybe next year Jovi....

 

Family and Friends...

We met all most of the Holmstrom's down in Murrieta for Jared's blessing. So fun to get all the cousins together, and their numbers are growing!

 

 

My friend Scott got married last week. It was a beautiful wedding and his new wife Laurie is GORGEOUS!! I couldn't be more thrilled for both of them.

 

 

Ok, I dont go to too many non-LDS weddings so it was a little weird for me to take pictures during the ceremony, but everyone else was and so I thought why not? What a fun moment for me to capture (with my cheap digital camera)

Battle for the Bell....

Ok so when I went to FVHS some 10 years ago, the bell game was a HUGE deal. It was a football game which we played against our rival Edison. We had a great football team so we won all 4 years I was in high school. Fast forward 10 years and we are back in Huntington and Brian serves in the young mens in our ward. As an activity half our ward got together, had a tailgate party before hand and headed into the stadium. I even made this cute shirt for Jovi to wear, I was pretty excited. Then the game started and I quickly noticed FVHS is not what it used to be. Haha, needless to say, the game was not even close and we left early with out tail between our legs. Oh well, we had fun anyway and Jovi looked pretty cute if I say so myself!

 

 

Fall Activity

We headed on up to the Irvine Great Park to ride the chain, take fun pumpkin patch pictures and to introduce Jovi to ponies. As you can see from the pictures below, that went over swimmingly! I know he looks miserable but I think deep down he really was enjoying himself.

 

We did manage to have fun with some other activities. Happy Fall!

 

Aaaahhhh 10 YEARS!!

I never thought this day would come, let alone that I would actually go. Yup, it was recently my 10 year reunion. A friend of mine was in charge of it so I was suckered into going. Anyone that I had any desire in seeing I still keep in contact with so I really just went to support and hang out with my friends. I only took a few pictures because 14 months after having Jovi I am still not a fan of the camera.

CJ and Me. He will be graduating law school next year, I couldn't be more proud of him.

 

Katie and her husband Joel. Their little boy Kayden and Jovi have become great buddies.

 

Me, Erica and Katie

 

They also had a photo booth there and we got some great pictures with that, including some with my friend Alyson. Maybe someday I will figure out how to scan those and I can add them to this post. Someday....

Food...

This little man LOVES food. He will eat just about anything that we put in front of him, its super fun for us. This past week I gave him some spaghetti. I decided to just strip him down and let him go for it....priceless!

 

 

We recently decided to head downtown and take advantage of the awesome sunset we were having. And who can go downtown without getting ice cream?! Not this guy!

 

 

Welcome Jared!

We were able to pay a little visit to Steve and Rebecca's to meet the newest Holmstrom. Jovi loves his new cousin Jared, even though the feeling may not be mutual just yet...

 

Labor Day

For labor day we decided to go down to Central Park and watch a Civil War reenactment...it was awesome! I had no idea that they even did this and they were super into it. It was super fun to watch.

 

1year!

I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that my little boy is ONE!! Happy happy birthday Jovi thank you for making being a Mommy and Dad so fun and easy! We love you!

Mammoth and Yosemite 2010

The first week in August Jovi and I went to Mammoth and Yosemite with the Giles family. Brian had to work so he missed out on all the joys associated with going to Mammoth for 1 week! I decided I am not a big fan of going out of town with Jovi alone. When it comes to kids I definitely need the Dad there too!

Half of the Giles clan got a stomach bug the first few days we were there so our first outing was to horseshoe lake. This was Jovi's first time in the backpack and he really enjoyed it!



The 3rd day we were off to Yosemite.


Jovi fell asleep within 15 minutes. He was the hit with all the French tourist!



The LaLonde's. Blayke, Luke, Ashlynd and Hailee.


Jovi loves water so this little creek was a hit for sure.



We decided to take a trip up to the top of Mammoth Mountain. We took a trolley from our cabin into town, then a bus from town up to the base of the mountain, and finally a Gondola to the top of the mountain. There was still some snow left on the ground and it was pretty much the only place I had great cell phone coverage! Absolutely beautiful!






The last day we ended with a little bit of fishing. Jovi didn't want to put the Sponge Bob Square Pants fishing pole down. Poor Luke had to wrestle him for it back.

July!

July is one of our favorite months because it starts off with the 4th of July which is a blast in our house. And who doesn't love the Huntington Beach parade?!

As you can see Jovi is still our happy baby. This is the last month I can say that since next month he turns 1!


Jovi experienced his first HB Parade and had a blast with all the loud noises and waving his American Flag




We decided to take a trip to L.A. to taste and see things Jovi and I hadn't yet. Brian took us to Philippe's which is home of the 1st French Dip. His Dad used to take him there as a kid. Then we went on to Griffith Park to look around since I had never been there. It was a lot of fun and Jovi had fun looking at all the displays. We will have to go back sometime at night to watch the star gazing shows.

Arizona, Father's Day and Beach

June was a busy month. Jovi and I took a trip to Arizona to visit Mimi and Aunt Kacy.


Jovi spent a lot of time at the back door waiting to go swimming or play with the dogs outside.




Their pool has a slide, one of his favorite parts!



We took a day trip to Oceanside to see Daniel and Jen's little girl Marley's blessing.



Jovi had his first trip to the beach


You can tell how much he enjoyed the cold water!


He was a lot happier in the shade playing with his toys.


Brian's 1st offical Father's day was a huge party. Jovi had fun helping Dad open his presents.


Pictures before we left for church. Handsome boys!



Dinner was delicious!


Jovi just loves posing for pictures, even in his birthday suit. Who does'nt love those cute buns?! Brian thought it would be ok to leave him naked while he grabbed a diaper and his jammies. Guess who was clean the carpet later. Not me ;)