winners

Dearest Bret. I'm sorry the cougars couldn't pull out the big win for you on this, your birthday. But never forget that you're a champion husband to me and a hero to our little Ethan. We're so lucky to have you in our lives and that makes us the biggest winners of them all. I love you B! Thanks for being born.

more firsts

After we left St. George, we continued on to Southern California to stay with my sister SJ and her family. My sister Jen was down there for the week as well with her family, so we all had a grand time enjoying the sunny weather. It also provided a week of many more first for Ethan.

Since he's been such a good boy, we decided to take him to Disneyland. Sure, he's probably forgotten most of it already (except maybe the part when he woke up from a nap while in the middle of Pirates of the Caribbean. That may have traumatized him enough to remember) but at least we have some video and photo proof that we can show him later. Not surprisingly, he was absolutely enthralled with It's a Small World.

Don't worry, we didn't take him on this.

"Team Purple V-neck", as my family called us. We didn't plan to match but we didn't prevent it either. Neither one of us was willing to change shirts. Too bad we didn't have one for Ethan; if any of us got lost the staff would know who we belong to.

So fun to be with sisters. If only the whole Udall crew could have been there like last year.

It was a first for us as well, going to Disneyland as parents. It definitely brings out a new perspective on the place. For instance, I made a couple stops in the very accommodating Child Care Center to feed and change Ethan. He and James even received what sounded like a Catholic blessing from the lady that worked there. Why not, eh?

Sure, we didn't get on as many rides as usual and we had to take turns amongst the family watching the children if we wanted to go on roller coasters, but it all worked out well and we had a great time. Can't wait for the time we go and it blows Ethan's mind.

The beach! Ethan got to see the ocean for the first time down at Malibu's Zuma Beach. I forgot his hat in St. George so he sported some sweet shades like his dad. What's with Bret's paint-splattered swimsuit you ask? It's considered high fashion in California. Didn't you know?

This isn't really a milestone, that is unless Ethan considers the first time being on the set of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman as noteworthy. This is at Paramount Ranch, a large plot of land once used to film westerns (Dr. Quinn among them) now a public-access park only minutes from my sister's house. I think between seeing both this and Chris Harrison at a restaurant, I've made a certain friend of mine a little jealous. You know who you are :)I almost forgot. While in St. George, we put Ethan in a pool for the first time. Bath time is his favorite so we assumed this would rock his world.... turns out it took some getting used to.

first hike

It was more of a stroll, really, but whatev. It counts. We're in St. George right now visiting Bret's parents who live down here each year to escape the cold winters of eastern Washington. It's always a fun visit but it's especially fun having Ethan with us and to show him this beautiful and unique part of the world.

Can't believe how big this boy is getting, 6 months already!

With Poppa.

P.S. Christmas came late for us this year, exactly two months actually. Remember our crate we sent to Brazil? Yeah, well we just got it back last Friday. Tell you what, if you ever feel like you don't appreciate or value what you have, pack up just about everything you own, send it around the world and get it back almost a year later. I promise, that'll do the trick. It may also help you learn to treasure the things that REALLY matter most.