NEWPORT BEACH

WARNING LOTS OF PICTURES!!! We had the opportunity to go to Newport Beach this September with our friends the Taggarts. It was an awesome vacation.

One of the days we traveled to San Diego to see my oldest sister Rikki. She gave Ella this Rapunzel doll for her birthday.

Ella was fearless in the pool!

My very cute nephew!

My sister and her youngest son!

Ella loved being in the pool with her cousin Baylee.

The beach was the absolute BEST. The kids just played for hours.

Ahhh some manly together time on the boogie boards!

Owen loved running from the water.

This quickly became a favorite activity! Blake is quite a good sport.

He was pretending to shave Blake's face. The grossest part of this is he is using an old banana peel he found! GROSS!

Bike rides/walks on the boardwalk was also a favorite activity.

Buddies.

I love this one of the girls looking at each other.

We went to Disneyland to celebrate Ella's birthday. It was basically Ella's birthday week!

Tessa's favorite ride was it's a small world after all. She LOVED it.

Ella's favorite part was meeting all the Disney princesses.

The bunch minus Spencer, Blake, and Tessa.

Literally two seconds in the car and OUT!

One night we had a fire and roasted marsh mellows.

Katie and I took the older kids on the Ferry to Balboa Island.

Owen's face says it all.

On the last night we were there we took Ella out for a birthday dinner. We went to this place called Ferrels. Its an ice cream place but they make the kids balloons and they made Ella stand on her chair and they sang to her..so cute. Notice the hundred chap sticks around her neck. That was Katie's birthday gift to her and Ella is still obsessed with them.

Ella wanted the princess crown. She also dressed up like Rapunzel.

FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL

Owen started preschool today. He was still a little unsure about going even though it's his second year. I can't believe how big he is getting!

Owen with his buddy Lance.

Grandpa and Grandma Rutledge

Grandpa and grandma Rutledge came for a little visit. It was great fun. We went to Wheeler farm and we went for a hike up at Donut Falls. It was a short trip but the kids loved seeing them and playing with them.

I would like to label this picture "Someone get this kid a happy meal!" Truth is Tessa totally grabbed his face and made him cry.

Tessa's 1 year old

Tessa turned one on Aug 23. Still can't believe my baby is one! We had a tiny party for her. I got the idea on a blog I follow. It was fun. We had tiny hamburgers and hot dogs, tiny bow tie pasta salad, tiny drinks, tiny chips, tiny fruit skewers, tiny donuts, tiny cakes, tiny brownies, tiny gummy bears, tiny goldfish, tiny m&m's, tiny lollipops, and tiny oreos. And we had a tiny pony come at the end of the party! It was lots of fun.

Katie let me have it in her backyard. I wanted to hang these on a tree and I don't have a tree in my backyard..well at least like this one!

Tessa had NO hesitations in digging in. I put it down and her hands went for it!

Tallie sucking on a tiny lollipop.

Ethan and Claire are Tessa's cousins who we are SO glad moved back to Utah.

One dad and one of our tiny guests!

Rose drinking a tiny apple juice.

Couldn't get a smile.

Tessa LOVED the pony. Laughed the minute we put her on till she got off. I love this little girl so much. She has so much personality just like my other two. She is a good baby but very vocal if there is something she wants or if she is upset about something. She is constantly moving. She has the biggest smile and loves to be chased. I am so glad she is part of our family.