Surfer Girl

Last Saturday, Mariah and I were in San Diego, and we headed to the beach for lunch.  Mariah was instantly enamoured with the beach.  She decided that she really wanted to surf, and so she did.

 Her instructor was Charlie, and he was great!

 All lessons start on dry ground.

 Photo op while still dry.  The pier makes a great backdrop.

 Mariah and Charlie

 Going in!

That girl got up on her very first try...which is unbelievable.  The next several pictures are a play-by-play of that first time up on the board!

 Notice that HUGE smile! 

 Most of the 90 minute lesson looked like the next three pictures...a great attempt to get on the board and "something happened."  She *really* wanted to get on that board, and she used all of her athleticism to try and get up as often as she could.

On this turn, the board clonked her in the head.  That couldn't have felt good!

 So, they got out of the water and moved down several yards to find some waves that were a bit more tame.

Charlie watching the waves to find her a good one...usually then he would "push" her into the wave so she didn't have to paddle too much.

This next series is one of those "nearly got up on the board" times.  Me and the photographer were on the shore cheering her on!

You me here in the background say, "Oh, shoot."  I was pulling for her every time she tried to get up on the board.  I knew it was hard, and I knew that she was getting tired.

Cool shot with birds in the background.

This next series is her second time up on the board!!!!!!

...and I caught it on video.....

And she ended on a great note with one final time up on the board...

She absolutely loved this experience!  She said again and again that it was her favorite part of the weekend.  I have a feeling this won't be her last time surfing.

One BIG birthday bash...

We have six birthdays between December 18th and April 23rd....we are heavily stacked at the beginning of the year. Add to the mix Garrett and Elise (both in April), we've got 8 birthdays in five months. So, this year Mariah asked if we could go to Benihana for our birthdays.  She missed the December Benihana event.  We went..we ate...we had a really good time! 

Mariah and Garrett (can I tell you that they REALLY enjoyed the meal and themselves)

Me and Riah

Bradley and Elise

Dom and Dean

Elle was missing...she was at a softball tournament in St. George.  It wasn't all tragedy...at least Elle was there for the December Benihana fest.

Part of the fun of Benihana is watching the making of the food. Our guy was cute...he put the fried rice in the shape of a heart and made the heart "beat" with the spatula.

Yummy veggies and shrimp appetizers

Add the seafood and chicken

Add the red meat...

The cheesy and requisite birthday drum and tambourine

Ice cream and candles for all birthday celebrants.

Extinguishing the candles

Back at home....a cake for Bradley (made by Dom)  See everyone laughing?  What you can't see is that Garrett is just out of this picture...and for sure he has said something hilarious...he's always saying hilarious things.

If you only knew the escapade it was getting those candles lit, you would understand why I took the action shots of the candles being blown out.  Let's just say that kindling and flint is not an effective method for candle lighting.

 

Dean and Bradley

February Birthdays

In February, we have two family birthdays!  Mariah celebrated her 17th Birthday on February 24th!  I can hardly BELIEVE she is 17!!! 

Then just a few days later, Adam had his 27th Birthday on February 27th. 

We celebrated at our house with some good food...I think Dean made tempura and two birthday cakes!

Super cute picture of Mariah and Garrett