Our Family Blog

Our family trip to Washington D.C. was an unforgettable adventure! Hayley was thrilled with the museums. She spent hours wandering through the exhibits, soaking up all the knowledge and history. RJ, on the other hand, found his joy scootering around the National Mall. The wide-open spaces and iconic landmarks made it the perfect playground for him. After our D.C. adventure, we took the train to Nana and Grandpa’s house for Thanksgiving. It was wonderful to reunite with family and share Thanksgiving with extended family.

Back in California, we set up the Christmas tree, arranged the stockings, and put lights on the house. We enjoyed festive events like Glowfari, where the illuminated animal displays were a hit, and Carols at Grace’s Cathedral in San Francisco. Christmas Day was spent in Sacramento with Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Jeff, and Beckett. It was a lovely day spent with family, creating memories and enjoying time together.

After Christmas, we set off for Morro Bay. We explored stunning coastal trails and beaches with Darwin. Visiting Hearst Castle was a highlight, with its grandeur and history captivating us all. We marveled at the elephant seals lounging on the beach and enjoyed the views of the gorgeous coastline. This holiday season was truly special, filled with exploration, family gatherings, and the joy of being together. We can’t wait for our next adventure!

This fall we enjoyed the traditional Halloween festivities. Both kids had a blast trick-or-treating with their friends, while Chris and I stayed home to hand out candy. RJ’s haul was impressive—11 pounds of candy!

For the long weekend, our family took a trip to Disneyland. We had an amazing time riding attractions, indulging in delicious treats, exploring the park, and most importantly, spending quality time together.

Our summer wrapped up with birthday celebrations for RJ and Chris, followed by a fun trip to San Diego over Labor Day weekend. The kids are back in school, joyful to reunite with friends and dive into their studies. Hayley is busy with soccer, volleyball, and rowing, while RJ enjoys playing with friends, spending time with our pets, reading, and indulging in Minecraft. We’ve welcomed another litter of foster kittens into our home. Life is wonderfully busy.

We are so lucky to spend our vacation in Hawaii this year! We chose The Big Island to see an active volcano and to visit friends who relocated to Waimea.

Our spring was busy with foster kittens, volleyball tournaments, and more. We went to New York in June and had a great time with family and friends. We all enjoyed the Broadway performance “& Juliet”. For Father’s Day we took Chris out for teppanyaki. Our kids continue to grow into lovely humans and we are grateful for all that we have.

Our spring was filled with volleyball tournaments, a trip to the Sierras, and a total solar eclipse over Texas. The kids are social, active, creative, (mischievous at times) and thriving. We enjoy watching them grow.

We are another year older and hopefully wiser. The past few months have been busy with school, outings, and holiday festivities. We are grateful for our families, friends, health, and this beautiful life we have together.

The kids are back to school, feeling mature in 4th and 7ths grades!

We took a trip to San Diego to visit Grandma and Grandpa. Hayley spent hours looking at old family jewelry and Grandma’s fabrics, RJ spent hours diving into and jumping over the waves. We were fortunate to catch up with extended family and friends.

Aligning with fourth grade history, we explored a well preserved gold mining town, Columbia, CA. We cheered for a small parade, dipped candles, mined for gold, tried a variety of candy, climbed rocks and had a great day. The evening was complete with a spectacular lightening storm and power outage.