Our California trip so far

We've been in California for about a week and a half and are having lot's of fun, though I wouldn't trade Massachusetts for California! We arrived on a friday (Feb.22) and the next day we spent the day with our mission president and his wife (President and Sister Hall) in Carmichael. It was wonderful to spend time sharing memories and experiences and just catching up with them. I am so grateful that Mckenzie and Abby met them. President and Sister Hall are very dear to me and to have them meet our little girls was wonderful! They love serving missions and have their papers in and are waiting for their next call!


I had to get this picture. President and Sister Hall took pictures with each of the missionaries when they arrived in the country and the missionary would always be in the middle. So, me being the sap that I am, had to get another one and I figured this would be Mckenzie and Abby's first "missionary photo". hehe.

Sunday Feb 23, we spent time with my aunt and uncle who live in an absolutely beautiful area between Santa Cruz and Monterey. I hadn't seen them in about two years, so it was great to spend time with them and play with their two cute kids Lauren and Chris. Monday, Dan had to go to work and unfortunantly Mckenzie had a fever. So, I stayed in the hotel with Abby and Mckenzie for the next two days waiting out the fever. Fun, huh?
I decided to keep Wednesday a little low key, so I took the girls up to the Oakland temple. It's beautiful! We toured around the visitor's center and Mckenzie absolutely LOVED the Christus. It melted my heart to see the huge smile and excitement she had when she saw the statue of Christ. Those little ones do remember Jesus! Abby was fussy for the majority of our time there, but Mckenzie loved playing on the temple grounds and seeing all the missionaries walk by (they must have had a zone conference or district meeting or something at the building next door to the temple).






Thursday is a blur, but I do remember that we went to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory (I'm still not a big fan of that place)with all of Dan's co-workers. Right now, all but 3 of his team members are out here. It was great to meet everyone. They are all really nice. Mckenzie and Abby had lot's of fun with all of the attention the received.
Friday, I took the girls to the Children's Discovery Museum! Mckenzie thought it was so cool. She explored everything. They had a toddler area where she could run around learning about different plant life, things that make noises, how things feel, and what it's like to do experiments! Needless to say, she had a GREAT nap afterward.

Mckenzie thought she was so grown-up wearing a firefighting helmet!

Mckenzie's favorite part of the todder area!

I know this is a random picture of Abby, but when we were at the museum I thought she looked so cute sitting there with her pacifier. She was a great baby that day!

I was so excited! I have a baby that will sleep in the stroller! Mckenzie NEVER slept in the stroller. She was always too excited to see everything. I was always jealous when I saw other mom's in the mall strolling their little ones as they slept. I know that sounds dumb.

Mckenzie being curious about the ambulance.

Mckenzie was pretending she was a scientist experimenting.

I'll post pictures and stuff from our busy, but fun weekend soon. Mckenzie is ready to go and play!