Our Backyard (hooray!)

We are enjoying the added features of our new place, namely a garage and a backyard. I don't think that we'll ever be able to do without these again. Sam now has a small pool to play in, concrete to ride his trike on, and simply a place outside to run. We are refinishing some chairs that were left back there and looking for a nice deal on patio furniture. This is taking precidence over the inside because of the optimal temperatures most of the year here. Now ladies, you can see that I do indeed have a belly. Joe seems to think that I am a lot bigger than I was with Sam. I'm not completely sure about that, but I do know that I feel different (mainly more tired, nauseated still sometimes, and the occasional headache). Hmmmm....maybe a girl... however I continue to go back and forth.

All of these photos were taken by my dear friend Jenna Biggs who came and stayed with Sam and I while Joe was away for work. As you can see, she's a professional. She called this one "Meeting of the Minds". I think that Sam was actually trying to attack me here (a.k.a. pinch my face and grit his teeth).
Sam loves the water. He is perfectly at ease relaxing on his back. He often hangs out like this in the bathtub.
My little baby! He enjoys it when I wrap him up and hold him like he was still my little baby.
What a handsome boy. He often asks to go to grandma's house, or to visit his friends in Steamboat. I tell him that we would have to go far away on a plane. He's always up for it. His usual response: "Let's go!"

I wish we could. Thinking of you all.....Jenelle

We're Back!

It has been an eventful summer so far, and we are happy to be settling into our new home in Dana Point, California. Of course the hightlight of living here is being so close to the ocean. Sam loves the sand and the crashing waves. Joe takes the opportunity to surf nearly everyday. And I simply love that the beach provides something for the whole family. One of our favorite things to do is take a picnic and have a fire on the beach in the evening. We have made a point of doing this at least once a week. Sam has fallen in love with hotdogs from these outings. In the picture below Sam actually went over the handlebars when an unexpected wave crashed and dumped him into the water. Dad quickly caught him and luckily Sam didn't get too upset. He simply said, "All done." (I will get more pictures posted from Cali now that the camera and computer are back in action.)
The following photos are from our trip to Idaho:


Sam enjoyed riding in the boat with Grandpa Carberry on Payette Lake. He especially liked watching Dad waterski and crash into the water.

Sam continues to be obsessed with helmets. This one is Grandpa's motorcycle helmet. He insisted on wearing it despite the sweat rolling down his face.

We spent the first couple of weeks up at the cabin in McCall with extended family, and Sam loved all of the attention. Here he is teasing Uncle Ed.

California is proving to be a nice place to live. However there have been a few growing pains... dealing with all of the people and traffic, but mainly just missing our friends and family. We are thinking about all of you and looking forward to your visit.

Sending our love, Jenelle, Joe, and Sam