Thanks Darci

Darci is Daniel's secretary at work. She is also becoming a great friend. She has come over a few times to babysit and has given us a baby shower for the last 2 babies we have had. Actually, I was in labor with Chloë when I went to the firm baby shower. I had her 12 hours after I left HPTB!

Darci ordered an ice cream cake and made a candy treat for all who came to the shower. Many partners, associates and secretaries were their. It was very nice. We are very blessed to have Daniel working at such a nice firm.

Some of the secretaries shared birthing stories and Daniel helped Chloë enjoy her cake.

Kate's Baptism

As member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe in baptism at the age of 8. Children as young as 8 know the difference between right and wrong and are able to express their love for their Savior Jesus Christ. I am grateful for my baptism when I was 8. (Chirstmas day of 1984!!)

All my sisters and their families came to Mountain View for the baptism of my niece. We had a great weekend together.

Isn't Chloë adorable

Olivia had so much fun with all her cousins in town.

Everyone had a great time together.

After dinner we got out the firecrackers!

ready to swim

Even at times when we weren't swimming, we were always ready for the pool.

swim, swim , swim

We went swimming everyday! What more can I say. The kids love being in the water. Especially with their goggles.

Here is Barbie demonstrating stroke technique. Her grandkids are very intrested!

Barbie is showing Chloë how fun this is, but I don't think Chloë is buying in.

Olivia loves to swim, but not far from these steps.

Casa Mariposa

Our drive home was longer than expected, but Kira and Olivia did not mind. They had a great time with Grandpa Mike as he chauffeured them across the desert. The highlight of their adventure was waving their blankets out the windows.

photo TBP

The morning after we arrived in Pheonix Barbie took us over to have lunch with Grandma Mimi.

After some lunch Mimi treated us to Oreo cookies.

Let's go fly a Kite!

Sea World again!!

We spent at least an hour running through the splash from the Journey to Atlantas ride. The kids would watch for the ride to come down the huge slide and scream in anticipation. Then they would run in circles then kneel down and get splashed. It was great!

Chloë was more reserved.

Sam is our Milk drinker.

Barbie was a great help with the kids.

We spent another hour at the Bat Manta rays. The kids would lay their bodies on the wall and then feel the rays.

Let's go fly a Kite!

Ever since we watched 'Marry Popins' the kids have wanted to fly a kite. I told them we could do it in San Diego.

We bought an undestructable kite which is good for traveling and with young kids, but it was a little hard to get it up in the air.
We found two things that made the kite easy enough to fly:


First-Grandpa Mike showed us the art of "pumping" our kite to keep it up in the air,
and second- they had to stand at the edge of this cliff!

Chloë liked playing in the kite tails.

This is Kira's kite. It was a butterfly. All took turns flying each other's kites.

July 5th

Saturday was a fun filled day! First Leslie, Grandpa Mike, and Barbie took the kids to Birch Scripps Aquarium.

Daniel worked while Chloë and I rested home. It was so quiet.

After the aquarium we went to dinner at Anthony's and then we walked around Sea Port Village. Of course, we had to ride the Carousel.

We also walked around for a while looking for a kite store.

And of course, Barbie and Mike treated us to Ben and Jerry's!

Chloë could not get enough of the ice cream. Kira was a great sharer.

We are all glad Barbie is safely home from France!

Fourth of July

For Independence day we stayed at Mimi's and waited for Barbie's arrival. She just came back from a 2 week adventure in France with the Miners.

Daniel went swimming with the kids and Leslie and I watched. The water was cold but the kids had fun.

After Daniel's break at the pool he was back to work. Daniel took this picture and titled it "My 4th of July weekend".



The kids enjoyed walking on the catwalk and blowing windmills.

Reunion at Sea World

To Olivia and Sam's great surprise Kira and Grandpa Mike appeared!

Olivia loves Grandpa Mike!

Time for apple break


Kira and Olivia are great friends. Picking up where they left off.

We found it best to arrive in our swim attire- ready for the splash zone even at the starfish tide pool.


Olivia wanted to take Kira to see Cirque de la mer. Last year the show scared Olivia, but now she liked it and wanted to show Kira. But when we went to see the charactures at the end of the show Kira was the only one brave enough to stand by them and take a picture!