Fall Festival!

Logan's school had it's annual Fall Festival today. It hadn't rained once since we moved out here, but today when we had something outdoors planned--it did. Oh well, it was fun anyway. Daddy's gone, but the girls had fun. Of course we were all excited for the Bears game tonight!

She's here...

Maren Chase was born at 2:27 P.M. on Thursday, August 17th. She weighed 6 pounds and 10 ounces, and was 19 inches long. Maren has tons of very dark hair. She's so tiny, but absolutely gorgeous! Both Mommy and baby are doing great. Logan and Carsyn are super-excited to have a new baby sister.

Maren, just a few hours old...

Maren's hospital picture...

Maren all ready to go home...

Maren's Room...

Poor Maren--she'll have to share her first room with her Mommy and Daddy. Oh well, it's still very cute.

San Diego...

Daddy had to go down to San Diego for a week-long course. Instead of saying "goodbye" to him again, we all just decided to tag along. On the drive down, we stopped at Disneyland to eat dinner at the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney. The girls LOVED it! I think it may be the start of a new tradition. We got into North Island pretty late. We were able to stay at the Navy Lodge there in Coronado for only one night because they were booked the rest of the week and weekend. On Monday Daddy got out of his class early, so we went to Sea World. They offer free admission to military families one time per year--this was our one time this year. The girls like it okay, but we're all more Disney people. After checking out of the Lodge, we checked into our room at the Point Loma B.O.Q. The room was decent, but air conditioning isn't standard in San Diego because of its ideal climate. However, we were there for a week-long heat wave and extremely unusual humidity. It was no fun living without the a.c. But, we survived and had a blast. During the days while Daddy was in class, Mommy and Nana took the girls to: the Hotel del Coronado for lunch and to play on the beach, shopping and sightseeing in La Jolla, shopping in Mission Valley, and shopping in the gas lamp district. In the evenings when Daddy had finished his training we enjoyed a Padre's game at Petco Park, Mexican dinner in Old Town, and shopping, ice cream, and pizza at Buster's at Seaport Village. One night Mommy and Daddy even got to go out to a nice dinner at Ruth's Chris downtown, while Nana watched the girls in the room. It was a great vacation!

Daddy and his girls at Downtown Disney...

Logan at the Shamu show...

Carsyn and Daddy at Seaport Village...

The girls at the Hotel del...

Lunch in Coronado...

Carsyn loves the beach...

The girls at Petco Park--too bad the Cubs weren't in town...

Our family in Point Loma...

The girls in Old Town...

Mommy and Logan--matching...

Hanging out on base...

We definitely didn't get the best duty station...

West Coast Girls...

We lived in California for three weeks now...it was about time to go to the Pacific Ocean. Since Daddy's still out on the boat, Mommy and Nana took the girls over to the coast for a few days. The Central coast of California has some beautiful beaches. We stayed at gorgeous hotel in Pismo Beach. The hotel is situated up on the bluffs, but you can walk down (several stairs) to the beach. The girls had a great time swimming in the pool, playing at the beach, and just enjoying the scenic views!

Logan posing on the beach...

Carsyn loves the water...

They love each other--sometimes...

Logan enjoying the view...

Carsyn checking out the flower that she wasn't supposed to pick...

Mommy and her two favorite girls...

What a gorgeous place...

Disneyland (without Daddy)...

After dropping Daddy off and staying in San Diego a few days, we stopped in Anaheim. We had only been to Disneyland one other time (last summer when we flew out to L.A. to sight see and visit with Cousin Missy.) So we were very excited to get to go again. It was pretty warm, but we had a great time. We went to both parks and Logan and Carsyn got to see sooo many princesses. The girls rode all their favorite rides too. We also did the "Happiest Birthday" thing for the girls' birthdays again this year. That was so fun decorating our cakes and seeing Minnie and Mickey. Carsyn has changed so much since the last time we were here. She was not afraid of any of the characters and loved going on the rides. She still loves the carousel. Logan had a blast, like always. She really loves meeting the princesses. We truly enjoy Disneyland. It's not the same as Disney World, of course--but, it will definitely do while we're living out here in California!

Happy Early Birthday, Logan and Carsyn!

Carsyn in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle...

Logan, Walt, and Mickey...

Logan and Cinderella...

Carsyn and her Fairy Godmother...

Belle posing with the girls...

with Snow White too...

Sunny San Diego...

After only being in our new apartment one week, we had to drive Daddy down to San Diego so he could fly out to the boat for a work-up. Well, actually he drove. Although we hated saying "goodbye" to him (for three weeks,) we did enjoy staying on Coronado. We stayed at the Navy Lodge at North Island. It's pretty nice, and right on the beach. The girls loved getting to play in the sand. This was Carsyn's first time in the Pacific Ocean, and first trip to San Diego.

Logan and Carsyn on the beach in Coronado...

Carsyn enjoying the perfect weather...

Are We There Yet???

Well, that sure was an experience...
On day one we drove as far as Topeka, KS. Nothing very exciting there. It was pretty hot there though. Day two we stayed in Denver, CO. It was very nice there. We walked around downtown a bit and saw the U.S. Mint. Just outside of Vail we stopped at an outlet mall--mommy's favorite. Colorado was definitely a pretty state (but, I did not enjoy driving through the mountains.)

Logan at the Denver Mint...

Carsyn and Logan in Silverthorne, CO

Day three we stopped in Grand Junction, CO. There was nothing to do in that town. On day four we arrived in Sandy, UT. We saw the great salt lake, but only from a distance--the girls were not in the mood for sight-seeing. Day five we opted not to stay in Reno, NV and kept driving until we arrived in North Lake Tahoe, CA. It was very beautiful there.

Carsyn and Logan in Tahoe...

The girls were so good in the car everyday--thank goodness for the DVD player! But, each night at the hotels and out to eat they acted like they were just let out of the looney bin. It was terrible. So, after six long days, eight states, and five hotels--we're finally here in...the middle of nowhere! We live in the agricultural epicenter of California; and it smells like it! It's June and it's hot, but everyone here says this is nothing. Supposedly it gets in the 110's--YIKES!!! Stay posted...

California, Here We Come!

Our seven-day journey across the country starts tomorrow. We will definitely miss our home (and Nana's) here in Speedway. We will miss all of our fabulous neighbors, St. Chris, and of course the track! We hope to keep in touch will you all! Come visit us in sunny California!

Logan & Carsyn at baby shower for Maren...