The Rest of February

We had a great weekend trip over President's Day weekend to see the Spruce Goose in McMinnville, Oregon. It was the first museum Brad and I voluntarily spent 10 hours in. We feel like such grown ups. They had lots of stuff for kids to do, an IMAX theater and a whole space museum. They were working on turning an old 747 into a big water slide park with a resort to go with it. Can't wait to go back in a couple years when Ella's a little older.




It was a huge plane! Brad, Hal and Mike paid a little extra to be able to crawl around the inside and take as many pictures as they wanted.


Here's Brad sitting in the same seat Howard Hughes sat in.


Ella had fun riding her first planes.




The next day we headed to Tillimook, Oregon and toured the cheese and ice cream factory. mmmm...


We had great weather this weekend and it was nice to spend some time outside. Ella was invited to her first birthday party for her friend Esther where she received her first slinky as a party favor which has kept her entertained all weekend.

Best Year Yet

I've had a pretty good life, and this last year with Ella and Brad has been the best so far. She turned one February 3rd and we celebrated with Uncle Mike and Uncle Hal. We ate pizza, cut the mullet and watched a movie I made summarizing her first year. Rather than throw a big party I made DVD's of the movie and sent them to family members with an invite to watch on her birthday.

The Cake (thanks to Marissa for the cake pan)


Enjoying the Cake





Here she is asking for more


And the Haircut. It was hard to cut it, I remember playing with it the first night after she was born to get her to go to sleep. She looks much better with it gone though.


Here's the link if the above doesn't work, http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradandjen/4335679635/in/set-72157623243324953/

Christmas and the Domincan Republic

I figured this is my last chance to get a post in in January so it doesn't show up with a big fat "0" next to it. We had a fun trip from December 20th-January 15th to Phoenix -> Tucson -> Dominican Republic -> Tucson -> Phoenix.

Ella had fun on Christmas day opening presents.


She got a horse from Brad's parent's that she LOVES



On New Year's Eve we headed to the Dominican Republic to visit my brother and his family. It was such a fun trip! Every day was warm (although a little more humid than Arizona) and Scott and Ann had just moved in to their new mansion.

Ella had a great ride on the plane


My adorable niece and nephew playing in an old courtyard in the Colonial Zone


Ella had fun sightseeing on her dad's shoulders


We went out one night to a restraunt famous for it's women who dance on rum bottles.


We also spent one day at the beach in Santo Domingo


Where we had our own personal mall walking by all day. We ate coconuts, sugar cane, some sort of seafood and salsa, fried pork, Presidente, pina colada's (it 45 minutes to get, but it was worth the wait!) and cubra libra's (rum and coke). Needless to say, we didn't feel too well the rest of the day.

My handsome brother, Scott (eww, did I just say that?)




My dad bargaining for some Cuban cigars


My brother, Ethan about to enjoy his first cigar (the drink was just for looks)


Brad enjoying himself


Adeline showing off her new do


The next day we drove through the countryside to the north coast


We finally got all the cousins together and happy at the same time!



I tried to take some senior portraits of my brother, Ethan and learned some valuable photography lessons. First, I forgot to reset my ISO down from 1600 (so everything is grainy), second it is hard to get the focus just right when the AV is down to 1.8. Third, I need some sort of flash to help in lower light situations. Ohh well, next time...

Lemons

"Uncle Hal" brought us a bagful of lemons from California and Ella spent a good portion of the day playing with them yesterday.

Texas Whirlwind

Ella and I took a 9 day trip to Dallas to hang out with my family. My brother Scott and his family were visiting from the Dominican Republic so it was the first time Ella got to meet her cousins and aunt and uncle. It was a really busy trip but a lot of fun.

Ella and I caught a cold on the way home and have been lazing around together. We missed out on Thanksgiving with friends but Brad was nice enough to cook us some ham and Debbie sent us a whole Thanksgiving spread via Chad and Nicki.

Here's a random pictures of Ella after her bath.


All the Geer grandkids together


My beautiful niece Adeline


And my adorable nephew Darton


My grandma knitted Ella a beautiful dress


My brother, his kids and our grandparents


Ella had a nice nap with grandpa before church


Ella and I were bored in the Denver airport and I snapped a couple pictures


Ella with my aunts Shareen and Nessy

A Christmas Halloween

According to Brad, Saturday was better than Christmas. He went to bed early Friday night so Saturday morning would come quicker. We started the day out by going to Spokane for an errand and then went to the Whetsel's to try out Brad's new chainsaw. Brad, Jess and Hal had a lot of fun sawing trees and chopping wood. Marsha, Ella and I stayed inside and baked desserts for our little party today. Some people came over to help celebrate the birth of Kiera Kral:



Here's the oldest Kral, Selah


Marsha with baby Kiera


Taryn with Kiera


Ayden with Kiera


The beautiful Sarah Klynstra


Selah and Ben


Sarah and Kiera


Sarah and Ella