Top of the World!

The Sunday of Ellie's visit was Stake Conference (which meant church was at 10:00 rather than 1:00 - halleluyah!) so we took advantage of the afternoon and went to Top of the World park in Laguna Beach for a picnic. It was another beautiful day and we had lots of fun!

If this isn't the cutest picture in the entire world, I don't know what is! She looked so cute for Stake Conference.
Mommy and Libby all dolled up for church.

Eating our picnic at Top of the World overlooking all of the valley.

After dinner we hiked around the park a bit. Ellie sure loved it, and so did the rest of us.

Thank goodness for the Baby Bjorn - we love that thing! Libby was all smiles as we hiked around the area and went places no stroller would ever be able to manuever!

The sunset was AMAZING! Watching the sun disappear over Catalina Island was awesome! And the colors just kept getting better and better. I love January in Southern California! ;)

What a cute couple! I have the best parents in the whole world!

The whole gang on a fantastic night! After our picnic we finished up the night at my parents house for a few rounds of Dominoes with Britt, Coop, and Tall Paul who drove down from UT to join us. He said the sunset was almost as great on the highway as it was over the ocean (doubtful, but we'll let him think so!).

California Adventure!

On Saturday, the boys got to join in on the fun and we all went to California Adventure. We had a great time and were there ALL day long! Ellie and Libby were both first-timers there, too, and I think it's official - they're sold on the place!

The whole gang hanging out with Pluto.
Libby's very first ride! It was the Monsters Inc. ride and I have to say - I don't think any of us were too impressed with it...not even Libby! Her face says it all!
A terrible picture, but it's tradition to take one here every time we come, so here it is.

Posing in front of all of our favorite rides: Ellie's was the Ferris Wheel and for the rest of us it's California Screamin' all the way! Ellie wasn't so convinced that California Screamin' was all that great - we couldn't get her to go on it again to save our lives!

Grammy took Libby on her first carousel ride while I was screamin' it up on California Screamin'! Thank goodness for that stroller pass! ;)

Cute Ellie on the swings.

The nighttime version of Paradise Pier and the Ferris Wheel. Do we look like we're still having fun? (We are...don't worry!)

Ellie and I posing with some Minnie Mouse treasures.

The traditional "dung picture" - another must-have at California Adventure.

Pops, Ellie, and I living it up on the "teacups" (or ladybugs...whatever!).

We finished off the night at the 10:15 showing of World of Color. It was amazing and we were so glad we stayed to see it. I was falling asleep standing up, but man, it was great! What a day! Thanks for turning 8, Elle, we all enjoyed it!

The Kaye Club

Two weeks ago Ellie got to fly here all by herself for her 8th birthday trip. My parents are way over the top and fly all of their grandkids out to visit them for a long weekend when they turn 8, and then again when they turn 12. Brad and I are lucky enough to live close by, so we get to join in all the fun! On Friday, I took off from work a few hours early and we had a girls day. We drove up to LA so Ellie could go to the American Girl Doll Store (one of only 3 in the whole country!) and be truly spoiled. On the drive up we realized that all 4 of us (Kandy, Rebecca, Ellie, and Elizabeth) have the same middle name. So, thus the "Kaye Club" was born! ;)

Not only was Ellie fortunate enough to get to go to the American Girl Doll Store, but she was so spoiled we even got to eat at the cafe there! They have special seats for the dolls to sit in and everything there is soooo cute! Any girl's dream come true!
Mom, Ellie, and Ellie's doll (Rebecca) enjoying the yummy dessert.

Not Libby's best shot, but she enjoyed the girls' day, too!

After dining at the cafe and spending lots of time at the store, we cruised around the Grove a bit longer and enjoyed the fountain and other shops there.

We finished out our girls' day on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Ellie had never been (nor had Libby), so it was fun to show some first-timers around, crazies and all!

More Fun in Washington

We were lucky enough to get to spend a whole week in Washington and had a great time. Here are a few picture of some of the highlights of the rest of the trip.

Libby got this "marshmallow suit" hand-me-down from Ellie and we were so excited to be someplace cold enough to necessitate it! She looked like a little marshmallow puff and I'm sure felt just like Ralphie in "A Christmas Story"!
Mindy and Tony had gotten this outfit for her earlier, so we thought it appropo that we get their picture with her wearing it. I love the little vest!

Tall Paul as uncle-extraordinaire! He was a hit with all the nieces and nephews.

Even though Paul and Diann's birthdays both already passed (Nov. 20th and Dec. 14th), we celebrated them a few days after Christmas. Diann made Paul's (and also Brad's) favorite cake - the black forest cake. It's legendary in this family, and I think you can see why! They both turned 65 this year, so I thought it was hilarious that the sum total of their ages made the cake. If 130 doesn't make you feel old, I don't know what will!!!

Mindy and Tony got all of the babies matching PJs for Christmas, so we decided to get a cousins PJ picture. It started out cordially enough with Libby and Chase...

But soon turned ugly!

Once we got Libby calmed down and coerced Lily into joining us, we tried all three. This is the best one. Well, it was a good try, right?!?

We also did a Macbeth clan family picture. While a few others were posing with the real photographer, we got a couple of snapshots of our little family. Can't wait to see the real thing!

We spent one night hanging out with a bunch of Brad's friends and their families. The get-togethers have sure changed over the years, but we still managed to stay out till 1:30am! This is Libby with Mia (Bryan and Stacie's second girl) who is just a week and a day older than Libby. Again, many pictures were taken and this is the best - what can you do?! Babies smile on their own time, I guess.

John and Jamie invited us out to their farm to hang out and ride their fun toys - motorcycles, 4-wheelers, and even a 3-wheeler. Here are Libby and I all duded up in John and Chase's warm gear. We sure were glad they were willing to share! Turns out I'm not too much of a pro with all things motorized, but it was really fun and Brad had a blast playing around with his big brother.

Brad took Libby on a spin on the 4-wheeler before giving her up to play on the real toys himself. She didn't love the experience, but she'll learn. It was a ton of fun and we hope Jamie will invite us back - she stayed inside with two screaming babies while we played! What a champ! We owe you big time, Jamie! ;)

Christmas Day

Christmas Morning! It started a little late for us after Libby decided to wake up several times throughout the night (Booo!!), but was a great day! Presents, food, family, and fun galore!

Libby enjoying some of her stocking presents from Santa. We were all ridiculously spoiled!
Diann opened her stocking a bit later than the rest of us, but got pretty spoiled, too.

Libby got to meet her cousin Chase for the first time and they were both sporting some cute Christmas-y attire. I think Chase was more interested in Libby than she was in him, but guaranteed that will change over the years! ;)

Paul was definitely the winner in the stocking competition - he got a million bucks in his stocking! Yeah, Santa means business in the Macbeth household!!!

Chase brought over his Santa present to show off. Lily loved it, too. Could there have been a more perfect gift for John's boy, or what?! Never too early to get him started riding bulls, right?

The ever-evasive pickle was particularly difficult this year! Bryce was the winner (again!) and Tall Paul, Brad, and I still remain in the losers club of Pickle Ne-er Do Wells!

Present time! The Itos with their loot.

After last year's 5 hour opening ceremony, Paul and Diann mandated that we could all open at the same time this year. A few of the "same for everyone" gifts were opened together, and then it was a free-for-all. I kinda missed the old way, but we were certainly done a heck of a lot sooner!

Mindy somehow managed to get the coveted seat - lucky girl!

The John and Jamie Macbeths had a whole corner of the room for their growing family. I love the bow in Chase's hair, Reily with a weapon, and Keaton digging in his pocket for his cell-phone!

Michelle and Taylor showing the gift we got everyone this year. It says "Families Are Forever" over their last name, you just can't see it very well because of the lighting.

Brad with Libby showing off her THIRD Christmas dress of the year!

After a fantastic Christmas dinner, Brad and Paul rummaged up an old stroller from the garage and Jimmy-rigged it into working order so we could go for a walk. Everyone kept warning us crazy Californians of how cold it was out there and said we were crazy to go out, let alone take our baby girl, but we did it anyway. Tall Paul joined us and we had a great time! I sure do love the great outdoors.

Christmas Eve

For Christmas we got to head to Washington to see Grandma and Grandpa Macbeth! Libby got to experience her first flight, first picture with Santa, first time to meet lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins, and first view of Grandma's amazing tree. The first day of our trip and already there's too much fun to handle!

On our flight to Seattle there were a few empty seats, so we got to take her carseat with us. It worked out great because she slept in it for half the flight and did great for the rest of it.
I was worried that we'd missed our chance for Libby's picture with Santa, but lo and behold! who was at the Seattle-Tacoma airport but Jolly Ol' St. Nic! She seemed to enjoy the experience well enough and we didn't even have to wait in line! ;)

Waiting for our next flight, Libby was all smiles.

Seeing Santa must have taken it out of her, though! So sweet.

We've arrived! Grandpa with his two favorite granddaughters - Lily and Libby. Yeah, the names were a bit confusing for everyone while we were there, but they sure loved each other.

I was so excited to introduce Libby to "The Tree" WOW!

Diann really goes all out - over 1500 ornaments all placed in absolute perfection. The Christmas Eve family portrait. Libby is sporting her Christmas PJs from Aunt Jen - so cute!

Libby has her own stocking and we couldn't wait to see what treasures Santa would bring in the morning. (Notice her cute socks, too. They have little bears with Santa hats on them and looked so cute on her!)