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. :)