The Monterey Bay Aquarium

On Sunday we went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and had LOTS of fun learning about otters, penguins, anemones, etc. The aquarium is very kid friendly and has lots of hands-on stations for little kids to crawl, play, draw and learn. Here, the requisite picture with the pirate, across the street from the aquarium

Looking out into the ocean from the aquarium

Bri, again, smiling by the beach

Making "chipas," traditional Paraguayan cheese breads and also a family favorite. Brianna was very eager to help make them and anxious to eat them in the morning with homemade hot chocolate.

We loved our short but fun filled days in Carmel. Can't wait to go back soon!

The last weekend of 2008 in Carmel-by-the-Sea

We spent last weekend in Carmel and were blessed to have an amazing time, beautiful sunny days, good food and many great things to do. Here Bri is smiling for Daddy

Bri, the photographer (she took this picture all by herself)

Getting close to the beach on a beautiful day

The gorgeous home we enjoyed for 3 days. Thank you, Hansons!

Christmas with the Veiss'

On the 26th, we had a Christmas brunch with Victor, Suzana and the girls. The little ones got a chance to open presents and play with them. Brianna got a "Princess Chest" full of dress up stuff. Needless to say, it was a hit! She wants to wear this lavender dress everywhere now! (and has little shoes to match too!)

Mia started walking! She got a pair of bath slippers and a fun book

The girls having fun being princesses

A yummy all-American breakfast for us all.

Christmas Day 2008

Christmas Day started with Brianna waking up to her new Bicycle that she asked "Santa" to bring. Of course she also got the necessary helmet and arm and leg protection.


















Jeremy was very surprised to receive an iPod Touch from Bibi... something he's wanted but never splurged on...
Bibi got the promise of a gift that will come in January...

Our thoughts and prayers are with the rest of the Pierson gang as they enjoy a warm, exotic Christmas in Bali with the Ordelheides and Guttchusses (see links to the right for their updates).

Bibi and I have been inspired by watching the Bravo TV show Top Chef (which we download from Amazon.com using Unbox. It's very cool). So our Christmas dinner was a real treat!

We started with a unexpectedly delicious Apple Kalamata Olive Salad with roasted corn, tomatoes and a light Balsamic vinaigrette. I, Jeremy, had to have seconds!

The next course was Pan Fried Portobello & Cremini Mushroom Ravioli with a vegan Smoked Double Cheese sauce. All made from scratch. What an amazing complexity of flavors!

Per Brianna's request, we had to have Ice-Cream for desert. Here we are toasting our Ice-Cream Sandwiches for a wonderful Christmas!

Yes, we had an amazing family Christmas... Life is good!

Our GREAT Family Christmas

This is a Christmas of firsts... Our first Christmas ever with just our little family... Our first Christmas spent in Visalia... Our first Christmas in our own home... and our first Chritmas with a family of 3 1/2 people!

We feel incredibly blessed... in all areas of our life!

Christmas Eve is when Bibi's family have traditionally celebrated Christmas. So we celebrated with an awesome Thai meal. Bibi made an amazing salad with Tangerine and Pomogranate. An amazing contrast of flavors and textures. Then we had home-made Tom Ka Khai Soup. A rich Coconut creamyness offset by tart Lemon-grass and finished off with a nip of Chili. The main course was Pad Thai noodles, perfectly cooked and seasoned leaving Jeremy going back for more. To add more texture (and vegtables) to the meal, Bibi made some battered stir-fried veggies made into little "bird nests".

Of course we were all the smiles before digging in ...

Daddy's Little Girls

Tio Jaison, Daddy, Cascade and Brianna enjoying a fun play date in the jacuzzi ... on a cold, cold, day

Needless to say, everyone had a blast!

Lots of hugs and kisses and underwater funny faces

Loving the water!

Much love to you this Christmas season!

Oh Little child so near the tree
The precious view you clearly see

Adorned in white, a glistened sight
A chilling warmth, it’s nearly night

Excitement grows within each eye
A splendid match, so bright yet shy

You make each wish, each secret part
A ray with God, so fills your heart

Your wants are small, unselfish child
Not to be wrapped, branded or styled

A world of hope, filled full of peace
A caring call, let love increase

Next year this child so wants to be
Back out to watch, this growing tree

What of our wants as time goes by
Will hope and peace and love climb high

©2001Roger J. Robicheau

Merry Christmas to you all!

Love,

Jeremy, Bibi, Brianna & Kiara (ETA 4/11/09)

The Pierson Family Christmas

This past Monday we celebrated Christmas at Ampee & Amee's house. First we enjoyed a delicious meal ...

and then Brianna was anxious to get things rolling by opening gifts. Was she ever excited by what "Santa" brought her this year!!! A "Mommy and Me" set complete with a little stroller, crib and car seat. Now Brianna will be expert help Mommy once baby sis comes along. And this was just one of many great surprises awaiting her!

Bri stealing the show again! She seems to get more and more precious by the minute!

The AWESOME "Amanecer" Concert at the LA Convention Center

On Sunday night we attended the "Amanecer" Concert sponsored by FavorDay at the LA Convention Center. The room was packed full of families and kids and we had a GREAT time enjoying awesome music and a great spiritual message

Jeremy interviewing the quartet for a cover story article in "Adventist World Magazine"

Brianna and her beloved "Uncle Martin." Congrats to Martin & Fernanda on new baby Juanita!

Brianna LOVES "Tio Marcos" too. Marcos & Ornella are due one week after Bibi next April. They are expecting a boy!

More time with great friends!

On Saturday night, we went to Thousand Oaks to visit our good friends Ile & Lalo Burgos. We LOVED their brand new house and had fun catching up while eating pizza and chips.

The girls had their own table and played well together for most of the night!

On Sunday afternoon we hooked up with my friend Caro and her boyfriend Martin at "The Grove." We rode the trolley and got some talking down before the concert

Brianna and Daddy with Santa's house in the background

Our LA adventure last weekend ...

So many great memories here at the Santa Monica Promenade. This time, new ones were made with the Kangs. We had a great time talking kids, strolling up and down the Christmas decorated streets and having a bite to eat at PF Changs (our fave Asian bistro)

First time not standing in line! Big smiles for that!

Bri is watching Master Zane eat his whole meal with chopsticks

Beautiful 9 month old Hannah!

We can hardly wait till we meet again! Hopefully before baby girl arrives in April!

It's all about Christmas ...

This weekend we were busy! We went to the local library to see Santa and hand him a letter with Bri's Christmas gift for this year. Surprisingly, Brianna wasn't afraid of Santa and came up to him on her own to hand him her letter. Mommy was able to get some good pics!

Have you been good this year, honey?

Then we went to the Little Gym Christmas Open House and enjoyed visiting with other kids, having a snack and making two beautiful Christmas gifts for Ampee and Amee

Then Bri headed to the play room and blew off some steam jumping and running around. As you can see, she's quite the little helper and has an amazing helping attitude. It'll come handy in a few months when little sis comes around. Can hardly wait!

Visiting the Clarks

On our way back home we stopped in Stockton to visit Joel, Gisele & Isabella. The girls played really well together and, of course, gifted us with very loud performances of "Twinkle, Twinkle little star," "Away in a Manger," "Noche de Paz," etc. We loved every minute of it!

Beautiful Isabella hugging our princess

Look at me! I'm gorgeous!

Gisele is an amazing cook. She prepared a terrific pasta and a super delicious tofu pie (shown below) that we've tried to replicate here at home. Time flew by and before we knew it, it was time to hit the road again! We can't wait to have Joel, Gisele, Isabella and Gisele's parents visit us in a couple of weeks.