San Diego and Disneyland!!!

Okay, so at the end of July Justin had a conference in San Diego. Yeah, we went with him, and it was great!

This is my most FAVORITE restaurant in the whole world!!! I would eat here every day if I could. I have dreams about Anthony's shrimp. It's fabulous! MMmmmm, my mouth is watering. If you are ever in San Diego you have to check out Anthony's!

Then we went to my second favorite place in San Diego, Sea Port Village.  My family went there growing up and so I've loved it forever. It's a fun little shopping village right on the water.

The Hat Shop is one of our favorites =)

                                    While Justin was working I took the kids to the San Diego Zoo.

                              When Justin was finished we went to SeaWorld! Love that place!

                                                        

                                        Then off to the beach!!! We also love the beach, so fun!

We were supposed to drive home the day after the beach, but we decided at the last second to go to Disneyland instead of driving home. So hooray, we went to DISNEYLAND!!!

We started off at Indiana Jones. It was our first time going on it and we loved it!

                                               

                Of course the Princesses were a HUGE hit! I had to get in the pictures this time, I'm a princess

                                                                   too, right???

Our little princesses =)

Buzz Light Year is a really fun ride! Even Kate got into it!

We didn't go on this ride last time either, the story book boat ride is really cute.

Space Mountain! They liked it much better this time.

Kate and Mr. Toad.

Staying an extra day was so much fun! Disneyland twice in one year doesn't usually happen, but it sure was fun!

Jackson Trip (Yes, A Little Late)

At the end of July we went up to Jackson, WY with my family. Yes, July. I'm a little behind. We, of course, had to go fishing for TJ. He was very excited. It was a good day, they caught quite a few. It made TJ's trip. He was in heaven.

I love this pic. She loved Grandpa's boat. She still asks about Grandpa's boat.

It was no small miracle that we had perfect weather. We had a lot of fun on the beach and on the boat because the weather was so good and so was the company =).

Say cheese!

 We celebrated Brenden and Kate's birthdays, but we were actually there on Brenden's birthday so he was very excited.

Cheese!

Brenden and TJ both got to knee board for the first time. I think they liked it. They did a great job!

We love it there and we had a fabulous time!

Kate is 2!!!!!!

Yes, it's true! My baby is 2!!!!!!!

I can't believe it has been two years since we were scared to death with her in an incubator at 4 lbs 14 oz. It has gone by so fast! She is such a sweetheart and such a stinker.....great combo right??? In the NICU they called her feisty, and she still is. She loves to cuddle and hug but then she'll turn around and through a huge fit with arms and legs flying everywhere and screaming at the top of her lungs. But, she's my baby.....We love her so much!

Kate loves dogs, so for her party I made a dog cake. I actually impressed myself...usually my ideas turn into flops, but this one turned out so cute, I think! And she loved it!! She kept pointing to it and saying, "Doggy!"

She really got into the spirit of opening presents, she kept asking for more!

You know she's happy when she tries to smile! =)

And how many lucky girls get to have fireworks on their birthdays??? Her first real firework show...she was hesitant at first but then loved it! We had Brenden and Mercedes' birthdays as well and we did fireworks for the 4th! We had a great time!!!

Tommy put on a great show for us! Thanks Tommy! And thanks everyone for coming to help us celebrate Kate's birthday!!!!

Happy Birthday Kate, we love you!!!!!

Good Bye Sweet Grandma

My sweet Grams passed away this morning. Gramps passed away last Christmas and Grams just didn't want to be here without him. I was able to visit her a few times this week and I am very glad.

I have such fun memories with Grams. She sometimes called herself LaLa and she used to set up LaLa's salon while we were camping. She'd paint our fingernails and toenails. Which reminds me, she always used to paint her toenails red. One year up in Jackson, WY a "whistle pig" (ground squirrel) bit her big toe. She was always the one with the jump rope or something fun to do while we were camping. Grams had a contagious smile. She and Gramps did line-dancing in Yuma, AZ where they went for the winter. I remember writing her many letters while they were in Yuma and she'd always write back and would sometimes send me fun little trinkets from there. Grams loved to play the piano and we all loved to listen to her. Every Christmas she would play carol after carol and we would sing and sing. I loved hearing her play. She also wrote roadshows and piano music. Grams also loved to read, which I definitely inherited. Grams was a wonderful chef. Everyone loved her cooking. Her roast beef, mashed potato dinner was always a favorite. And as a child I always loved her freezer because there were always dreamsicles (the orange ones with the cream inside) and fudgesicles inside. She loved to spoil us. One thing I will really miss will be her birthday/anniversary/Christmas cards. She couldn't just give you a card with her name signed at the bottom. She underlined words and wrote special notes, and even though we joke about it, it always made me feel special.

After four grandparent deaths in a little over a year, we've had our share....but it makes me so grateful for my faith and my knowledge that I will see them again.  She was such a good Grandma, and I hope someday I will be as good as she was to my grandchildren. Grams is happy now. Hopefully her spirit will rest now that she is back with Gramps. Good bye sweet Grams.....I love you so much! I miss you already. Give Gramps a big hug for me!

New Family Picture

Aren't we so cute???? I love this pic. Kate is the only one we couldn't get to smile....she looked like that in every picture. =) We had it taken in our front yard. That reminds me, I haven't posted any yard pics yet this year....coming soon!

Ballerina and Vampire

VAMPIRE!!!! AHHHHHH!!!!!

J/K It's just TJ =) His class in school put together their own opera. They write the script, then this opera company comes in and listens to the kids "sing" the words. They take the recording and put music to it. Then the kids helped paint the scenery and practiced....a lot. They have been working on it since almost the first day of school. It turned out great! I was so proud of him! He sang and did all the actions and actually ended up really enjoying it.

He's on the far right.

The vampires wanting to eat the lost princesses. TJ is in the middle on the top.

Great job TJ, I'm so proud of you!!!

BALLERINA!!!!

Alyssa had her dance recital last week also and she did such a great job! I have to admit, I think she looked so darling!

Isn't her costume so cute???? I love it. I think I want one =)

"The lovers, the dreamers, and me...." Anyone recognize the song?? "Rainbow Connection," of course! Don't they look adorable???

Great job Alyssa!!! I'm proud of you too!!