The Farrells

The Farrells
Matt, Nicki, Owen and Nora live in the San Francisco Bay area. Matt is a research analyst at CBRE and is loving his job. Nicki spends her time playing with Owen and Nora, reading, crafting, and taking lots of pictures. Owen loves to read, sing, throw toys, and quote movies. Nora is growing quickly and loves to be the center of attention. We have a wonderful life!

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Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Christmas adventures

We spent a whirlwind 2 1/2 weeks in California for Christmas. Owen and I flew out a few days before Matt so that we could give him some peace and quiet as he finished his finals. We stayed at Matt's house while he was there, and when he left, Owen and I stayed at grandma Bromley's house. We also spent several days in Monterey and several days in San Jose visiting grandma and grandpa Auman and aunt Karen. Owen had lots of firsts - going on an airplane, going to the ocean, and meeting lots of new people. Here are pictures from all of our adventures:

Owen's first airplane ride.


Meeting aunts Jenny and Fij - poor Fij was sick so she couldn't hold Owen. Hence her dejected pose in the background.


Meeting great grandma Auman.


Five Farrell boys. Doesn't Jason look like he wants one of his own? :)


Waiting outside Matt's house for our Polar Express party. Look at the cool Polar Express ticket that Jason is holding in the background.


With the "Conductor" of the Polar Express.


The whole family making cookies.


Tummy time.


Owen and Andrea (my newest Bromley cousin) as twin baby Jesus-es (or however you want to spell that...) in the Bromley cousin nativity on Christmas eve.


Most of the Bromley cousins in the nativity on Christmas eve. Matt is one of the shepherds on the right, and I'm one of the wise men. Not a great picture, but oh well. Our camera has issues.


My family listening to David Sedaris' "Six to Eight Black Men," a hysterical memoir about the author's experiences with Christmas in different countries. Google it. It will make you laugh. We listen to it many times each Christmas season, because it's just so funny.


Owen's first Christmas morning! He pretty much slept through the whole thing.


Owen with the "Sock Monkey" that Matt got him for Christmas.


Sitting with Matt's mom on Christmas morning.


He loves his grandma Farrell!


Four generations of Auman men.


Owen with three generations of Auman women.


Hanging out with great grandpa Bromley at the ocean house.


Fisherman's Wharf!


Can you tell Owen is just loving Fisherman's Wharf? :)


We found this picture in the Maritime Museum at Fisherman's Wharf, and just had to stick Owen in it. Here he is with Becca, Madeline, and Kevin. These pictures crack me up.




The whole Auman family at Fisherman's Wharf.


Owen and me and the Pacific!!


Auman siblings waiting for our Earthquake from Ghirardelli in Monterey.


Eating massive amounts of ice cream is an Auman family talent.


Auman siblings and the ocean.


Owen meeting his great aunt Karen for the first time.


We went to this cool park in San Jose called Heritage Park or something like that... they transported all these cool old historical buildings from stables and firehouses to hotels, candy shops, and homes to this park, and then offered tours of all the old buildings. It was like a little tiny town, complete with a school, a trolley, and several roads running through. It was really neat. Not everything was open when we went, but I'd like to go back and see it all again.





My whole family flew home from California at the same time, so we got to spend our last two hours or so together sitting in the airport. I love it when my whole family is together - we have way too much fun.



Well, that's the end of our great (and busy) trip to California. It wasn't very restful - we did a lot of stuff, we were sick pretty much the whole time, and it was also hard for me to take care of Owen all by myself after Matt left, but all things considered, it was a great vacation. :)

Monday, January 5, 2009

Home!

We got back from our Christmas vacation on Saturday. It was a whirlwind two and a half weeks with visits to and from every single relative we have living in the state. Owen and I spent much of the vacation being sick... along with pretty much everyone else we stayed with. Whatever we had, it was very contagious! I'll put up pictures of our vacation later, after I've loaded them onto the computer.

Meanwhile, today Owen had his two month checkup and shots. He didn't love the shots (screamed for 10 minutes straight afterwards), but we found out that he's 25 inches long, which puts him in the 100th percentile for length. He weighs 12 lbs, 14 oz, which puts him in the 75th percentile for weight. He's a big boy! :) The doctor said he's doing great. Hooray!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Owen's new trick

We were doing tummy time with Owen (which he's getting very good at, by the way), and all of a sudden, he rolled over from his stomach to his back! I think it surprised him a little bit - he just laid there with a funny look on his face. We turned him back over, and in a couple minutes, he did it again. He's getting so big, and we love watching him discover new things about himself and his world. We'll try to get a video of it to post.

In other news, Owen and I are off to California tomorrow. We're flying out a couple days before Matt so that we can give him some quiet time to study for his remaining finals. Matt will join us on Saturday morning. We'll be there for all of Christmas break, and we can't wait!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

New pictures...

This is the email that I received from grandma Bromley yesterday:

Nicki,

If you know how many times I check your blog for pictures, you would feel sorry for me. I keep thinking you will put some up of the blessing day.

Grandma


So, in order to brighten her day, here are lots of pictures from the last two weeks, including decorating our Christmas tree, the weekend with our families, the blessing day, and some other random ones.

Setting up the Christmas tree

Our Santa was not too happy

Helping daddy decorate

The finished tree

Trying to wake Santa up so we can take some pictures

…he’s not too amused

Napping with mommy

Trying to get Owen to smile

…not quite successful

Reading with mommy

Owen meeting aunt Madeline, aunt Becca, and uncle Kevin

Family Christmas pictures

Gap models?

The Auman siblings (and grandkid hiding at the end)

Simba…

In front of the Christmas tree in the Joseph Smith Building, SLC

Pretty lights on Temple Square

We found Sister McKay!

Smiling for his aunts and uncle



…then he noticed that I was taking pictures

Wrapped up against the cold in Temple Square

Everyone who participated in Owen’s blessing

Owen, his parents, and grandparents

Almost everyone who came to the blessing – only missing a few people

Owen and his parents on his blessing day (he had pooped out of his blessing outfit – that’s why he’s wearing blue)