Dino Soar

Every year, La Canada does its own float for the Rose Parade. This year's float was called, "DinoSoar", with a flying dinosaur on it.

Here is the float just before they towed it to the start of the parade. 

It won the Princess Trophy for best locally made float. 

We love going to to Rose Parade whenever we are in town. 

The Dillers

While we were in California over Christmas we meet up with my first cousin once removed ,JoAnne Diller, who actually lives in Maine, but was in California for the Rose Parade. 

JoAnne's mom, Josephine was my Grandma Gretta's older sister. 

I hadn't seen JoAnne and David since Anna's wedding. It was their first time meeting Eric. 

We had a nice visit. 

I love my doll

Gretta with her pretty American Girl doll during Christmas time at Grandman and Grandpa Fors' house

Hiking

Gretta being the big cousin and carrying baby Jacob Guillen on our hike (or at least in Grandma's front yard)

Daddy with Baby Carli strapped to his back! She's got her shades beanie on!

Gretta sporting her walking stick overlooking La Canada

What a cute couple!!

Eliza enjoying herself on this family hiking adventure! 

I'm on top of the world mom!!

Around Grandma's house

Eliza directing music during some family music time at Grandma's house

Eliza taking a secret photo of Aunt Allison

Gretta helping make a meal in Grandma Linda's new kitchen!

Friends

Gretta and Eliza at Riehl's house! The Riehls were our good friends while we both lived

in the South Pasadena Ward. The Riehls now live in the La Crescenta Ward of the 

La Crescenta Stake, the same stake that Eric grew up in. 

Kids space

Gretta spinning the wheel at Kid's Space, a trip down memory lane! We spent many a fun time with Gretta

at Kid's Space while we first lived in California

Daddy and Eliza spinning the fun wheel!

Gretta and Eliza shooting balls through the hoops. 

Gretta and Eliza pulling the chord to shoot the balls into the net. 

Gretta launching the carbonated rocket

Eliza taking a mug shot!

Gretta and Eliza on the two-seater bicycles going around the Kid's Space track. 

Making orange juice with Grandma

Eliza making some fresh squeezed orange juice with some of Papa Goodrich's delicious oranges at Grandma Linda's house

California Fun

We sure enjoyed spending part of our Christmas break at Papa Goodrich's house. It wouldn't be Christmas in California without spending some time with the former pilot! As Papa gets older, I can't help but feel grateful to have him as my grandpa and to feel a tremendous sense of gratitude for hearing about the wonderful life he lived. He grew up in a rural farming community in the middle of nowhere Nebraska. To think if you had asked him when he was young, do you think you will fly in the war all over the Pacific theatre, come home honorably and have a tremendous career flying for United Airlines, retire in the heyday of pilots and travel the world with your beautiful bride Hilda Ann, he would have thought you were crazy. And yet that's exactly what happened to him. How blessed I am to have ever known him! 

We also had a great time enjoying the beautiful California winter weather spending some time in Grandma and Grandpa's jacuzzi! 

Fors Christmas

Eliza and Gretta opening presents on Christmas morning at Grandma's house

Gretta and Eliza opening a Christmas present, the Game of Life

Aunt Brittany holding her niece, Carli Fors

Eliza Fors showing off her new nails for Christmas

Aunt Allison Fors, Aunt Brittany Fors, Carli Fors, Grandpa Dennis Fors 

A mean game of Twister in the family room

Eliza directing the spinning wheel during an intense game of twister.