Giving Thanks in California

Our Thanksgiving in California was so fun and Claire had a blast with her cousins and aunts/uncles (including Porter who she called "Poi") and Gammy/Pops. We took a stroll down Fisherman's Wharf and enjoyed the cool and jacket-y weather that we don't really get much of here in AZ. Shout out to Laura for all the great pics. Thank you!!

 Sarah and I are due two weeks apart! Both having boys

We're excited that the Christmas Season is now in full swing. Claire has caught on as she notices lots of "Sansa"'s and has learned how to say a pretty authentic "Ho ho ho" :)

Fall 2012

So I've been horrible at writing here lately, but our fall has been nice and now that November is here, it's finally cooling down! Gorgeous weather and Christian finishing finals coincided perfectly leaving us with a two and a half week break starting last Wednesday. Dental school so far has been awesome and we love our life in Arizona. Some highlights since the summer:

• Both sets of grandparents plus Samuel and Porter made visits to Arizona in October.
• Claire is now talking all the time although we only understand a small portion of it. Her sentences go something like, "Mommy (mumble mumble) Da-tee (mumble) siiide" [meaning outside]. Or asking every ten minutes "Wha puppy?" (Where's puppy) "memo" (Elmo) or pointing to the TV and saying "show". Those are some of her favorite topics but her vocab is ever-expanding.
• Claire still has some favorite signs (real or made-up) she prefers instead of enunciating certain words including: fishie, all-done, I want to color a picture, more, and milk.
• She has recently started stringing more words together including sentences like "Thank you mommy" and "buh-bye guck" (duck)
• Baby Clark (about 99% sure that will be his name) is growing, healthy, and very active. I watch my belly morph with his crazy movements daily.
• I have felt wonderful and have stayed more active than I did with Claire (because I have more time, motivation, and nicer morning fall temps than in Utah.) I've stayed leader of my ward running group with a couple short/easy runs a week and walking one or two days beyond that.
• 29 weeks with two and a half months to go!!

27 weeks, 5 days. I'm biased but I think he is so cute!!!!

                     Above: furrowing his brow. I forget they make those little newborn faces right now!

                                                           A ladybug, butterfly, and butterfly catcher

New Family Pics

In July at the Johnson Family reunion (my mom's side) we took group pics and then individual family shots.  They turned out so great! My families' friend Jocelin took them. Here are ours:

And last but not least, our soon-to-be new addition, 

little boy Bennion:

Last weeks of summer vacation

Now that Christian is back into the routine of school and Claire and I are too, looking back we can't believe how long and fun our summer break was! Lake Powell was August's highlight. We camped and boated with friends and thankfully Claire was relatively wonderfully behaved!

Before we left, we realized Claire isn't too big for the sink!

Claire loved rolling in the sand and thus ended up with a sandbox on her scalp.

Bocce ball on the beach

Some of our wonderful friends and their family that made the trip down.

Sadly I have no pictures of time on the boat, but that's where we spent 85% of our daytime. The boat's canopy and the breeze made the 95 degree weather bearable and the water was perfect! Tubing, boogie boarding and wake-boarding were so fun - even for a pregnant lady! We had such a wonderful summer but we're ready for fall now - bring it on!