Thursday, May 17, 2012

California 2012

My parents are amazing
hands down.

Last week they flew all of us to Huntington Beach California
We had a last family vaca before they leave to North Carolina for the next 3 years.
(yes they leave in a month. yes I am freaking out)

What made this trip extra fun and amazing was the it was an adult only trip!
We were lucky enough to leave Lincoln with the Wright's while we were gone.
THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO HELPED WATCH HIM!!

 (sorry about the poor picture quality - I only had my phone to take pictures)

On the plane
Kel and Nick

When we first arrived in California we headed right to the amazing Hyatt Hotel to check in.
Since my daddo is an owner of the Hyatt in SLC we got mega spoiled at this hotel.
We all got upgraded rooms
half off the restaruants and drinks at the hotel
access to free food all day
and 20% off at the spa.

It was so funny to watch the managers bend over backwards for my dad.
They were drooling over him :)


 Views from our room

Once we were all checked in we quickly (I use that word loosely) got in the cars and headed into LA to see the Dodger/Giants baseball game.

We enjoyed our great seats, our dodger dogs, and company.
Mitch was in pure heaven the entire time.
Us girls enjoyed about the first 3 innings :)

Nevertheless, we had a great time!


 
me and momma at the game

The next morning we slept in (because we could!) and enjoyed a yummy breakfast.
Our plan for the day was to head to San Diego and hit up Sea World.
Well, once we all got talking, we all couldn't agree on if we really wanted to go to Sea World or not.
We had lots of other options of a SUPER ACTIVITY but it was hard to accommodate everyone
The problem was that I'm 6 months pregnant so couldn't do roller-coasters at Knots Berry Farm or Six Flags
Jana doesn't do roller-coasters in general
Kelli gets sick if we were to go Deep Sea Fishing
Kelli and Nick went to Sea World last year and would have rather done something different
and James just wanted to go golfing :)

As we were trying to vote on what to do and not succeeding
Jana came up with, "DISNEYLAND"
We all sat there. Thought for a split second.
And next thing you knew we were in the cars heading to Disneyland/California Adventures!
For some reason Disneyland was never an option because ... well, we don't know why.
But being at Disneyland with no kids and just adults was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!
We had SO SO SO much fun!!

And Yes, even though I was 6 months pregnant I rode all the rides :)
Expect for the Tower of Terror. I wouldn't have done that even if I wasn't pregnant.
I probably shouldn't have done Indiana Jones, but hey, it's my favorite ride and me and the babe thoroughly enjoyed it!
 And I only got stopped once by a worker warning me that I probably shouldn't go on the ride (Splash Mountain) She made sure I read the sign "Expectant Mothers Should Not Ride", which I did...It was on every sign on every ride. but it still didn't stop me. I seriously had SO much fun!!



 The next day we relaxed at the resort and played on the beach.
The ocean was absolutely beautiful! I forgot how much I LOVE the beach.
All of us played a couple games of beach volleyball and then the boys played for hours!
Ah, it was sooo relaxing!!



The next morning we went and did a session at the New Port Temple.
It was such a great thing being with my family in the Celestial Room
all together
one last time
before my parents are gone for the next 3 years.

It was a special, spiritual and beautiful day.


Later that afternoon Scotty called from Chile where he is serving his mission.
It was great to see and hear him on skype
sadly he couldn't hear us though.
The connection was soo bad that we couldn't get a good conversation in.
Most of the what was said was 
"can you hear me? how about now?"
When we could hear him he told us how good he's doing and how he is loving his mission!
We miss him so much!!

After we talked to Scotty we rented bikes and went on a bike ride down the pier.
My dad kept asking if I was going to be able to ride for 2 reasons:
1. my legs got EXTREMELY sunburned on the beach the day before that I could barely even walk
2. I was 6 months pregnant.

I reassured him that if I could do Indiana Jones at Disney Land - I could do anything :)

It was such a nice night along the pier and we had so much fun! Maybe one of the funnest times I had in california! We all let loose and enjoyed being together.
Sadly, James and Nick missed out.
Golf was calling their names.

Here are the pictures from our bike ride. My sisters took lots of other pictures not I'll need to post as well. We seriously had So.Much.Fun
and Laughed.So.Much!


 ABSOLUTELY LOVE my SISTAS!
 LOVE this picture of my parents!



 My dad getting a good "Mission President Picture" haha











On Sunday we enjoyed an early morning Sacrament meeting and headed home.

Thanks again mom and dad for the amazing memories you made for us!
California was seriously the best!

Dan and Sami's Wedding

I got a new sister.
It's true.
On May 8th James' brother got married to this beautiful lady
Miss Sami
I love her oh so much.
She is absolutely amazing, beautiful and most importantly PERFECT for Daniel.
They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple.
The sealing was so special and sweet.
I love going to sealings and hearing the covenants James and I made 3 years ago.
After their sealing I turned to James and said, aren't you glad we've already done with?
He repled, "YES, and I'm glad we're 3 years into it too!"
Marriage is such an amazing thing.
It takes a lot of work but it is amazing and it just keeps getting better as the time goes by.

Sami put together a beautiful reception.
It was so fun to be surrounded by family in a beautiful atmosphere.
Lincoln loved it as well. It was in indoor/outdoor reception so he was able to run run run all night long!
And I must add-
Dan and Sami's reception was from 7-9
They left at 9:10
They are THE.FIRST.COUPLE.EVER to leave their reception on time.
Pretty amazing!


Oh how I love weddings
and I love that we were able to add an amazing gal to our family!


 Mr. & Mrs. Wright
Dan's one job all day was to take care of Sami's train.
She has him trained well :)

 The Wright boys



 Love my boys!





 Linc CRACKS ME UP!

We totally wore out Mr. Lincoln. He fell right to sleep on the ride home.
sweet baby boy

Cinco De Mayo

I know Cinco De Mayo was a few weeks ago
but I had to post this cute picture of Lincoln from my momma's Cinco De Mayo Party.
Perfect Pic of Linc
complete with his blanket and binky

Graduation!

On April 27, 2012
I Graduated from Utah Valley University.
I received my Bachelors in Behavioral Science with an emphasis in Social Work.
Well, technically
....
I walked.

This summer I am taking my last 7 online general ed courses.
(lame)

It was such a great feeling to know I have almost accomplished my education.
I kept getting teary eyed knowing that I WAS or will be DONE!

It was been a long road
Lots of sacrfice
tears
late nights
and lots and lots of homework.

It has been so, exteremly nice not having to worry about school!
(my 7 credits this summer are easy peasy)

I am so excited to start my new chapter in my life...
to be an awesome wife
an awesome mom
an amazing cook
and everything else that comes with being a stay at home mom.
When we got married we were both still in school.
When I had linc I only took Fall semester off then started right back up in the Spring.
I took summer classes.
I have always been in school.
 It will be such a change to not be in school anymore! 
But it's a change that I am SO thrilled about!

I am so excited that I will be 100% done with school when this baby arrives!
I wont have to worry about leaving the kids behind to go to class.
I get to be a MOM
A FULL TIME MOM!!
Thanks to EVERYONE who made it possible for me to finish my schooling.
We had LOTS of babysitters
Lots of help writing papers
Lots of babysitters
oh, and did I mention LOTS OF BABYSITTERS?!
Thanks Mom, Dad, MiL, Kelli and neighbors who all took some time over the years to help watch Lincoln. It made it so much easier to attend class knowing that he was in good hands.
"I DID IT!"









(Graduated 5 months preggo)