San Diego Zoo, Sea World and Visitors, Hooray!

A couple weeks ago our friends Jeremy, Arabeth and their daughter Braelyn came to San Diego to visit us. We had so much fun while they were here! It was just a bummer Nathan was working so much he barely got to hang out :(
While they were here we took our first trip to the World Famous San Diego Zoo (since we moved). I was purposely waiting for their trip before we visited, because the last time we came to the zoo was with them on vacation when Julia was only 4 months old! So we wanted to make our next trip with them as well. But this time I knew it wouldn't be as long in between trips and I went ahead and purchased a season pass.

Julia and Braelyn

Braelyn had her whole face painted with a beautiful butterfly and Julia really wanted hers done as well. We decided a little heart would be best, though ;)

We also got a Sea World pass this past week.

Julia and some our new friends (Carolyn, Dawson and Kylie) on a ride at Sea World

And, yesterday, my Uncle Matt, Aunt Melissa and their three kids drove over here from Palm Springs where they're vacationing to visit us. We went to the beach and the zoo. It was so much fun and Julia loved having Ruby to play with.

They especially loved burying Mason together

And then they buried Nathan. Nathan was able to meet us at the beach after work. Yay! (He's been working so many hours, we hardly get to see him!)

We love our friends and living in beautiful San Diego!

Meagan & Cory and Happy Independence Day!

This weekend my friend Meagan and her fiance Cory came to visit us! Sadly, Nathan was on call so he didn't get to spend very much time with us. I still tried to show them a good time with kids in tow. Of Course they were very sweet and helpful with their "niece and nephew" and I think we had a great time!
We took them to La Jolla cove to see the seals.

We went around Balboa Park looking at all the cool buildings, gardens and museums. Meagan insisted on wearing the wrap. I think it suits her :)


We watched the fireworks on the roof of Nathan's hospital. It would have been nice to be closer, but it was cool to watch six firework shows at once.

Julia thinks it's funny to go cross eyed in almost every photo I take of her. I don't...

Hope every one enjoyed their Fourth of July and we all continue to enjoy our
independence!

I also wanted to add that Julia has turned into the language police (I've been teaching her that words like stupid, shut up and butt are naughty). Anyway, she catches me saying them all the time, though. I think I get into more trouble for saying them than she does! It's pretty funny because if I say one of them, she'll interrupt me and say,"Uh oh, Mommy! That's a bad word! You're gonna go to time out!" And this weekend she was on triple duty. She had Meagan, Cory and me to reprimand. By the time they left, we were pretty good at substituting the "naughty" words for more appropriate ones. I'm glad I have my daughter to keep me in check.

Coronado Island and Cabrillo National Park

The past couple of weeks my brother, Parker, and sister, Karsyn, were here in San Diego visiting with us. We had fun, and it was good for Julia to practice sharing here toys and mommy. Sunday my mom, grandmother and two more of my sisters, Kourney and Kellan, came to pick them up and visit. It was nice to have them here. Yesterday we went to Coronado Island.
Mason always manages to get covered in sand.
Julia was calling to her Aunt Kellan to help. She didn't want to go into the cold water.

The boys, Nathan and Parker, were working on their skin boarding skills.

Nathan borrowed some surfboards from our friend, Jon, and he's been practicing surfing.
Parker, Karsyn and Julia got buried. I almost wanted to leave Julia this way for a while...

They really love the sand.


Today we went to Cabrillo National Park Tidepools and Point Loma Lighthouse.

We will have to come back in the winter, because then you can see the whales migrating.

The Lighthouse


I thought this was a silly picture. This nice man was there to give out information and he was dressed as one of the crew that found the area in the 1500's. Julia wouldn't pose for a picture, but she liked to stand by him.

We were over looking the military base, so we saw some submarines,
battle ships and fighter jets. Pretty cool!

Nathan's Graduation Party

We had a great turnout! Thanks to everyone who came and showed their support for Nathan. Thank you also to all of you who couldn't make it, but have shown your support these past years! We are so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends!

Happy Day Doctor Jeppesen!

This past Friday, June 5th, Nathan graduated from Medical school! We are so proud of him!
Nathan with my dad and brothers and sisters.
Nathan with his parents, brother, sister and grandparents.

La Jolla Cove

Today we went to La Jolla Cove. We had never been there before, since usually when we'd visit San Diego we go to Mission Beach. Well, it's my new favorite beach! There were seals everywhere, which was very cool. Also, there are tide pools where Julia could go explore. She loves looking at the crabs and the "goos" (sea urchins).
Here's a picture of some of the seals. When we were down on the beach, one of them just waddled up on shore right next to us! I couldn't believe it!
You can see more seals in the background.
I bought a big blanket for Mason to play on, but he likes the sand so much that as soon as I put him down, he books it for the sand!
And then he gets covered in it.
Luckily I can keep his binky in most of the time so he doesn't eat too much of it :)
We had so much fun at this beach. In the cove there was a place where people were swimming out into the ocean and back. The distances were marked with buoys. Well, Nathan decided to go for a swim and when he came back he said he really liked it and there were a lot of fish to look at. So I decided to conquer one of my biggest fears of swimming in the ocean and take the plunge, literally. I made it about 3/4 the way to the quarter mile buoy and then had to turn around because I was almost hyperventilating. I don't know why, but open water freaks me out! I was so scared! It took so much out of me to stay calm enough to make it back to shore. I'm gonna keep trying though, until I can do it!

We're Leaving L.A.

It came really quick. Our six months are over and now we're headed out. Nathan starts residency in San Diego next month. We'll be moving down there first thing Saturday morning, and for now we're just trying to get everything all packed up. It is proving to be difficult with the kids. Julia keeps throwing random things in boxes and unpacking others, while Mason tries to eat any boxes or other things we leave on the floor. Hopefully the move will go smoothly. This will be our eighth since we got married almost five years ago!
It's been a sad week of goodbyes too, though. We went to Disneyland yesterday for the last time. Well, as for weekly trips. We will still probably make the 90 minute drive from SD every couple months. But we will miss the weekly venture.
Julia also had her soccer finale. She had a chance to say goodbye to her friends and coach. She had so much fun running around the field and doing jumping jacks.
We're gonna miss it here! Not so much the traffic, tiny apartment and huge rent, but our friends and all the cool things Los Angeles has to offer!