San Francisco!

Chris has a new project working with Microsoft in the Bay Area. He leaves on Mondays and comes home on Friday nights. He has his hotel though for the whole project and Chris wanted to do a swim on Saturday so we decided to drive up and visit him instead.

On Saturday morning Chris did the Escape from Alcatraz swim. A boat takes the swimmers out to Alcatraz and then they swim back to San Francisco. He did awesome! He took 3rd in his age group and was 37th overall (out of over 500). He is really enjoying these experiences and we are really proud of him. FYI-he said he wasn't as cold as it looks.


This is what the swimmers looked like coming in.


The best part about the trip-cousins!! We were so excited to be with the Cooks. We were able to have dinner with them Friday night-Indian mmmmmm. And then we met up with them in San Fran and spent half the day before they had to leave on a plane to Vegas.

We hopped on a trolley car and headed for Chinatown. Sam wanted to be daring and ride outside the trolley. The best part was when another trolley car passed and you had to suck in to not get squashed!

The entrance to Chinatown. We are under the Pagoda to the right.


We ate at a yummy restaurant Brooke knew about where the kids got to practice using their chopsticks. Okay so they just banged them on the plates and used the turntable to knock over almost every glass of water. But hey we had fun.

This is our group picture minus me. It was a fun day exploring shops and taking Chris back in time to his mission days. We even met two missionaries on the street who were handing out brochures in Chinese.

We got the girls matching china girl outfits and they couldn't wait to put them on. After Chinatown we headed to Japantown to see if they would have any Pokemon items for Sam. (Chinatown just didn't cut it). This picture is an ode to our Maki (my mom).

Sophie found her eaterie. Apparantly crepes are the thing in Japan.

The SAMurai! Oh and Sam did find a Pokemon treasure.

On Sunday we went to the Sunnyvale Ward-everybody was so nice! And then we spent the day at the Tech Museum in downtown San Jose (fitting right?). It was pretty cool. The kids favorite thing was watching the robot spell out their names with blocks:

Dad liked riding a Segway....


and becoming an astronaut

This is my "art" picture of the Tech.
It was a great weekend, we miss you Daddy!

A Few Things.....

Sam just passed the test and earned a trophy to get his red belt w/black stripe. After this belt he will earn the black/red belt and he starts to test for his black belt! We're so glad he is sticking to it.

Just had to show Sophie and Maggie looking cute in the darling dresses that Grandma & Grandpa Roberts sent. :)


Okay, so since Harry Potter is no more I decided to see what all the hubbub was about and started to read Twilight. (I think everyone I know is reading it.) Hello! I never thought I would get so into a book!! Especially with the subject matter (vampires, romance, etc.). But this one has me hook, line and sinker. I am having way to many sleepless nights because I can't put it down. I'm so glad I am getting into it with the 2nd and 3rd books already out because otherwise I would be freaking out. Ahh young love....it brings it all back (minus the vampires of course;).

Maggie is 4!

Our little Maggie Rose is 4! She is so grown up and has such a funny personality. She is just a little goof ball and a tough cookie too. She can stand right up to Sam or Sophie if they get in her way. Most people don't get to see the real Maggie because she is so shy, but once she warms up, she doesn't stop talking and says the funniest things. We love her!

Her birthday was on Sunday the 2nd. So she dressed up in a new birthday dress and modeled with sissy.

Maggie wanted a High School Musical party. A little old for her age, probably but she loves it so what the heck. Make a wish!

Maggie's big gift was an American Girl Bitty Baby. She had a matching birthday dress. Maggie was so excited, can you tell? She went nuts for every present she got.

This is a dress from Spain from Papa and Maki. They also sent a cute dolly and a coloring set. Thank you!!

She was SO excited to open gifts.

She got this ultra soft blankey from Grandma and Grandpa Roberts along with the most darling swimsuit you've ever seen and matching dresses for her and Sophie-so cute! Can't wait to put them in it, thank you!!

A Farewell to Disney

Our Disneyland passes were expiring on August 30th, so we had one last end of summer bash. We stayed the night at the Disneyland hotel where we swam the night before and then spent whole next day at the happiest place on earth.

The girls finally met Ariel. She was so nice to them and talked to them for a long time. She announced them by name as her new princess friends and gave them each a scale to make a wish. Maggie was a little wierded out but Sophie just ate it up. I wish I had had my video camera, it was really cute.

Waiting to find Nemo... Because we stayed in the hotel we only had to wait 45 min. for the new Finding Nemo submarine ride as apposed to the 4 hour wait some people endured. It was cute, I was always fascinated with that ride.

First Day of School!

September 4th was the first day of school (and my birthday!). Sam is in 5th grade and has Mrs. McManigal, Sophie is in 2nd grade and has Mrs. Laroche and Maggie is in a Pre-K class at Wood Canyon Elementary and has Mrs. Blakeney. I'm really happy with their teachers.

We tried to get a first day picture with all the kids and this is the best we got:(. Maggie didn't want anything to do with pictures and Sam was just grumpy. What would I do without Sophie's ready smiles.

Chris had decorated the dining room for my birthday...how sweet was that? Complete with a dozen pink roses.


Sophie and friend, Chloe Posner.

Maggie and her new teacher, Mrs. Blakeney.

After taking the kids to school, Chris and I went out to Las Brisas for breakfast and than took a little stroll around Laguna. We had such a peaceful relaxing time. A perfect way to spend the morning. And other than sending Chris off in an airplane for a new project in the bay area, it was a great birthday.

Saturday at the Beach

Chris did another ocean swim on Saturday in Corona Del Mar. So we packed up the kids and made a day out of it. He placed 69th out of 269. Not bad!

The sea of swimmers. Chris is in the green cap.

A run for the finish...Chris couldn't break away from a pack, so they all raced up together.

He's in line to give his standing. Chris shaved almost 5 minutes off last years time and had a much better placing than his 2-mile Newport Pier to Pier swim last month. Race Results

Mom and Sam decided to be daring and played in the ocean, Maggie preferred the beach.

Sophie Has a New Smile!

Just in time for 2nd grade Sophie lost her tooth! This is tooth #3 and the top center. The one right next to it is loose too. Should look cute for school pictures:). We know what she wants this Christmas!