Morro Bay and Pismo Beach

Chris was sent off once again, but this time it was to Vegas. We found out he would be off on the weekends, so Makena and I hit the road again to make the drive to California. We figured we would use the weekdays to see family and then go and see Chris on the weekend. The first week we spent with my parents and Makena really wanted to go to the Beach. Even though it was February, we went anyways.

 

 

 Ammie and Papa

 She splashed and splashed in the freezing water despite how cold it was!

 But then a large wave took her down. I hadn't planned on getting in the water so these were the only clothes we had with us.

 So we took off to the shops and bought a new outfit. Really good excuse to buy new clothes!

 No more water for her! She just spent the rest of the time chasing sea gulls and playing in the sand.

 

A Grand View!

On our drive back to Oklahoma, we finally stopped at the Grand Canyon. This was my first time there, but more shocking is that this was also Chris' first time, even though he grew up in St. George. We only had a couple of hours of sunlight, since we got on the road late that morning. But those couple of hours were worth the view. The first pictures are Marble Canyon. Just a stopping point to stretch our legs.



It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like A Barbie Christmas!

This Christmas it was all about Barbie's for Makena.

 With everybody's help she got all the princesses.

 A Barbie dollhouse castle was the icing on the cake!

Lewis Christmas Celebration 2011

We did our family celebration early because we were headed to Utah for Christmas this year. I love getting together with family. We don't get to do that often enough. Our celebration began with dinner at China Palace. (Our favorite place to eat and since we were all working till very late, this was perfect)

 

 Chris was reading a children's version of Luke 2.

 Papa reading "Twas the night before Christmas" This is a family tradition!

(These are the last pictures I have of my dad doing this even though he did it the next Christmas)

A true treasure!!

Makena's Favorite Places At CATW

Every year I go out and help my mom with her huge Christmas project. It is called "Christmas Around the World". Makena always goes with me and she looks forward to going each year. The whole year I hear the question "How long till Christmas". She sings Christmas songs all year. It is funny to see the looks she gets when she breaks out into song in the grocery store. I'm sure they are thinking, "Christmas songs, but it's only ________". Whatever month it happens to be. So she went around and picked her favorite places to get her picture taken.



Daddy's Home Again

Since we have been in Oklahoma, Chris has been gone a lot. We are now on our second deployment and that is not counting all of the TDY (temporary duty), and tail swaps (taking one plane to replace another one that is in a deployed location). This time he was deployed to Greece. He was supposed to be gone 6 months, but he came home early. We were so glad to have him back.

 

Makena would carry this picture of Chris around the house, hug it and talk to him. She loves her daddy and is so glad he is home. 

Happy Halloween

We were in California for Halloween. Makena was able to go truck-or-treating with her cousins.