Did I mention steps

While I don't know I would say Ben is "walking", he is taking steps. He took his first steps Jan 5th and is starting to do 2-3 steps more frequently. Hooray!!

Sent from Sam's iPhone

NINETY!!!

One of the big pushes for why we went to CA this year was that Grandma Ransom was celebrating her 90th birthday.  She is probably one of the cutest ladies I know.  She is petite and sweet and putters around the house all day and definitely doesn’t like to be the cause of attention.  But she humored us and let her kids throw her a party and let me take some pictures of her. 

One of Mark’s (James’ dad) siblings couldn’t make it.  He has another sister that doesn’t live in CA.  But here is Susan, Grandma Darlene Ransom, Mark Sr, and Karen.

Sariah was dying to help Grandma blow out her candles. 

Ben just being cute.

A picture of a picture.  Here is a picture of Grandma and Grandpa Ransom with all of their kids.  The young boy in the front would be James’ dad. 

The Missions

James’ dad took us around to a couple of the old Catholic Missions in CA.  He knows a lot about the history of them and used to take James and his siblings to them anytime they visited CA together.  So it was a fun day to do together.

 

Sariah LOVES fountains, so this is where she spent most of her time.

 

The little details and the beautiful architecture caught me.

We had to put Ben in Sariah’s coat because he soaked through one of his shirts with his bottle. 

 

Love this picture of Sariah.  She just looks super cute to me. 

Our family out front.

James’ parents together.

Afterwards we went to see this old cross on a hill.  The view was amazing. 

These are the moments

You know those pictures that just really capture a moment.  Well to me this is one of those.  Sariah was helping Grandma make buttermilk pancakes.  This is just one of those shots that makes me teary.  She is growing up so fast and you just don’t get moments like these very often.

Thanksgiving at Grandma’s

By Thanksgiving, James was there and we had gone north to his Grandma’s house in Camarillo.  It was a great day with of course lots of awesome food.  I did miss home and being with my family for the day, but it was nice to spend it with the Ransom’s that we don’t see very much.  I was a picture slacker that day so no pictures of the food or pie.  Just a few of the kids.  

 

I did take one of Joseph (James’ brother) and his parents.

This picture of Sariah below I think is so cute.  

San Diego Zoo and Temple

James loves to tell people that Diego means James in Spanish.  And thus San Diego is Saint James.  So feel free to call him Diego anytime- he likes it.

On to the post.

Meg and I got to go enjoy the San Diego Zoo and check out the temple really quick afterwards.  

Look how cute and cuddly this little koala is.  Makes me want to snuggle up somewhere and nap.

No I am not smelling my armpit here.  We are doing our “elephant” trunks. 

 

They had lots of animal statues you could climb on.  I think Sariah liked this better than the actual animals in the zoo.

Here we are in the air tram.  Meg wasn’t too fond of the jerkiness of the ride and definitely wasn’t happy about the height but she was a good sport and rode it anyways.  It was a really cool view so high above the city. 

And now for a beautiful sight!  The LDS Temple in San Diego.  It truly was breathtaking.   

Me and Tina out front.  Love ya sis!

Cali- Sunday

The sun will come out….

Okay so much against our wishes it was raining when we got to California.  But Sunday we woke up to this.

By the time we saw it and got the camera the rainbow got a little faint, but it was there.

Poor Meg- HATES to dress up.  Especially to wear an actual dress.  But she is awesome and appeased me for Sunday.

Here we are together.  I had such a fun time with her.  She truly is my best friend.

Liz and Meg

Fritz loved Meg.

All the girls all pretty for church.  Sam (me), Sariah, Liz, Alex, Meg.

Liz’s sweet pets.

Ben was so cute when he crashed after church still in his little suit.