 |
| We took the chance to go visit the Champions in Reno while we lived in California. It happened to be around Easter and it was also Risa's birthday. Posting this months later, and living so far away from each other now makes me sad! |
 |
 |
| Birthday girl! What a doll face. |
 |
| Do the Disney Wii |
 |
| The Smith's were also in town to check out a job opportunity. We have spent Easter together the 3 previous years and managed to get together the fourth! Fun times. |
 |
| I loved the time we had in California. It was so fun to be with my family, to be where I spent my whole life and to see my kids love being there too. It was pretty devastating to leave. I cried for a week...or more. These pictures capture a few of the everyday activities we loved. |
 |
| Gavin chasing Eva. So cute. Our kids loved the time with cousins. We went to a few baseball games and played at this park multiple times. |
 |
| Cousin time. |
 |
| Launching rockets is a big deal in the the Howes family so we got to be part of that as well. It's serious business and a family ordeal:) |
 |
| Eva has no problem being messy. Whip cream in the hair. Yes, she is a Madsen. We love our cream. Eva is demonstrating yet another good use for cream...a conditioner! This face tells you it works! |
 |
| We could not get enough of outside time. |
 |
| Cant say how many times we had a great time at Scandia. Thanks Dad for making you profession so fun for the rest of us! |
 |
| It was time to spend time with Spencer's cousin Matthew and wife Amy in San Francisco. It was such a blast. To experience the city with people who live there is so much more meaningful. They live in an amazing location within walking distance of the Italian district which was so fun for Spencer. One morning we walked down to an authentic focacceria where Spencer got focaccia that tasted as good as his mission! You must understand that you don't taste focaccia in America like you do in Italy unless an Italian from Genova made it. What I am tying to say is that it was a big deal and a highlight of Spencer's trip. |
 |
| Matthew and Spencer are not only cousins but great friends. Their friends that live next door to them were out of town so we got to experience what it would be like to have a small family in a city apartment! So cool but crazy and stressful! I think I would go crazy living in the city with a small family. The Larsons had a great attitude about it. They are true city dwellers. |
 |
| Our days were full of lots of fun events. We are at the Golden Gate park by the Dutch Windmills. The Central Park of San Francisco. It is so gigantic we only saw a small part. |
 |
| From where we were at the park we could walk to the beach. It was a beautiful day. |
 |
| I caught Eva looking up at me in the funniest way and had to include it. Zombie Eva! |
 |
| I loved the lighting |
 |
| Maren had a blast |
  |
| We had such a great trip to the city. Thanks Matthew and Amy for everything! |
 |
| Eva in February-We packed up and left the snow in Salt Lake to come to sunny California! We loved the time with the Garlick family and were excited to go visit the Madsen fam! |
 |
| In California, Denio's Farmers Market is always a fun place to go. The kids loved the mini bananas. |
 |
| We spent as much time as possible outside. February in California feels like April in Utah. |
 |
| Maren got a new trike to cruise around the big backyard. |
 |
| It is crazy to see how much Eva has grown since last Feb! |
 |
| Wow the time has flown. I was thinking back on this precious day one year ago and love the fond memories I have of seeing this little girl come into my life. I was induced the night before and was able to sleep fairly well considering the beds are quite uncomfortable. I was able to endure the pain of contractions much easier than when I was in labor with Maren. I got an epidural early the next morning and she came at 11:15 am. When I first laid eyes on her I saw my mom. I could recognize her and felt an instant connection to her. I was fortunate to have my mom and dad in town and loved watching them hold her as I recovered in the hospital. Her first year was not always easy. She was colicky so nights were stressful and at 7 weeks old she caught RSV and needed emergency room care. By the time we grew out of the colic stage things got easier and we were able to enjoy her. Personality began showing up everywhere. She started walking at 8 months and is the most determined child. She tells you pretty clearly what she wants and learns so fast. We can't stop laughing at her. |
 |
| Today, its icy and cold out. but her little banner brings sunshine into the room just as... |
 |
| ...this face does. We are so lucky to have her! Happy Birthday to our little Eva! |
 |
| Eva's first year of pictures. |
 |
| I had a lot of fun putting together Eva's Ice Cream Cone themed birthday party for last Saturday. Her official birthday is today. We had the birthday at Grandma and Grandpa Garlick's house. It was a lot of fun. |
 |
| The giant pink ice cream cone is a pinata I made. It cost $2.50 to make! All the ideas I got came from good old Pinterest. The basket has ice cream cone sugar cookies as party favors. |
 |
| Signs for the ice cream sundays we had for dessert. |
 |
| Eva's cake. |
 |
| The ice cream cone birthday girl. |
 |
| Eva's stripped down and ready to dive in to her cake! |
 |
 |
| It was fun to have Grandma and Grandpa Haymond there as well. They gave her 4 Dr Seuss board books. Maren was loving them. |
 |
| The pinata burst pretty easily considering I made it only 2 layers thick. |
 |
| The ice cream shoppe goodies. |
 |
| Eva (Maren really) opening gifts with Uncle Joe |
 |
| Grandma made Eva a stuffed kitty that as soon as Eva laid eyes on it she had to have it. |
 |
| The girls loved playing with the balloons. It was action packed and a lot of fun! |
