New Port Beach

Can we get a what-what!! We just got back from a dream vacation to New Port Beach. I have to start out by saying that I have a love/hate relationship with this place. Love being with the family, love the posh accommodations, love the temperature, love the beach but... hate the lack of sun. Who ever said "sunny California" obviously never cruised up to Las Vegas. It was doom and gloom till about 2 pm and then when I about gave up hope it got sunny. I am solar powered!! When I put on my swim suit and head to the water I need skin sizzling temperatures and lots of sun. Ever try to get in the ocean when it feels/looks like January? Okay off my soap box. I really did have a marvelous time. It did get more sunny near the end of the week and I did get to catch a few waves... to the face. You know salt water in the mouth, ears, nose and sea weed everywhere else. I came out of the ocean looking like the Little Mermaid with wobbly legs and everything. I loved it! Nothing feels better than a nice warm jacuzzi after the beach. Ahhhh.

This is what we did:

Monday- Changed to better rooms, Ruby's for lunch (strawberry shake to die for), and swimming in the pool. Scarlett would let out squeels of joy in the jacuzzi

Tuesday- Overcast Beach (kind of fly infested), boogie boarding, sand eating (Scarlett of course), jacuzzi, and movie

Wednesday- HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH. The best trip to Disneyland ever!

Thursday- Disneyland hangover, sleep, 3-D Despicable Me movie ( first one in 3-D I have seen-cute) , Baja Fresh, Nick arrives

Friday- Sunny beach, the whole family on one freakin' bike, wave jumping or ducking, swimming, mom watched the kids (saint), California Pizza Kitchen (it's true the tostada is the bomb), Red Robin malts, movie/all crashed

Saturday- Laguna shopping, beach (crazy scary waves), swimming, 2 movies at night cause we are party animals and Clarah had never seen Sleepless in Seattle (really?)

Sunday- HOME ( but with a surprise ending...)

Beach Pictures:

Face plant

She loved it

Disneyland Pictures:

Growing up we never ate, peed or sat (not by choice) while at Disneyland. We would run from ride to ride ALL day. By the end we were so tired we never wanted to come back. That was my parents plan, sneaky little devils. This trip all we did was eat churros (Clarah was just a little too excited), take kids potty, and enjoyed the benches. It was splendid and I want to go back NOW! Who knew Disneyland had such great food.

Cotton candy disappeared before I could turn off my camera

Waiting in line for Splash Mountain

My dad in the front. He got soaked and screamed like a little girl. Oh the joy of disneyland!

This was her second ride of the day, Monsters Inc. Her first one was Nemo and she screamed the whole way through the tunnel. She would look out the window like she wanted to see the action and then scream. So cute yet I got some nasty looks walking out. Clarah liked Monsters Inc too.

World of Color @ California Adventures

My mom worked so hard to get seats to this show. It was worth it a million times.

We sang every song and it seriously was so beautiful I wanted to cry. Bellogio fountains better upgrade quick.

Suprise Ending:

Nick and I were about 30 minutes into our drive home and we both discovered we were not done yet. We had left early in the morning but had nothing to get home for. What did we do... turned around and went back. We walked along the board walk at Huntington Beach. All the passersby smiled at Scarlett and she smiled at them. We made a quick stop at Wahoo's for fish tacos and then started home again. This time we were ready!

Scarlett 7 months

She looked big to me today. I stood her up on my lap and her eyes met mine perfectly. In the past week she has discovered that this world is A-MAZING. She wants nothing to do with me. Nursing may even be a thing of the past as she would much rather hold her own bottle. I have a feeling she is going to be one independent gal. What I love most right now is her sweet voice. She talks to herself in the most angelic voice, especially when she says "dadada". Scarlett you are loved!

(watching cars in a part @ Cedar City)

New things: She scoots to get toys, loves mangos and water mellon, gets board of her toys, likes to sleep on her back while hugging her blanket, plays peek-a-boo, laughs super hard when Nick burps, likes to eat her hair bows, is dropping her third nap, LOVES to watch/play with older kids and go swimming.

(Swinging at grandma Kristi's)

(white trash baby: dirty face, dirty diaper, and naked)

(loving the summer in the pool)

Weekend in Brian Head

We needed some spontaneity in our lives so we packed up the car last minute and headed to Brian Head. Nick had his "favorite" mission companion's wedding near Brian Head this weekend. We used that as an excuse to go up but we just really wanted to ditch this town. It was a completely gluttonous weekend filled with reading till I fell asleep, watching movies in the morning, sleeping in, going on walks, and eating terrible but wonderful food. My favorite part would have to be driving through small town Utah to Marysvale (where the wedding was). Southern Utah is beautiful, breathtaking really. We both decided that one day we are going to have a "get-a-way" home in one of those small towns. Spend the summer in the country letting the kids get dirty and ride horses. Doesn't that sound wonderful?!

We took a walk. It rained. Scarlett got worried and Nick pondered the cosmos.

Then she got happy.

Then she fell asleep (it was pouring at this point)

Beautiful Brian Head

We stopped at a park in Cedar City to eat lunch on the way home. Nick slept and Scarlett watched the cars.

Team Jacob

So we finally saw Eclipse this past Monday. All the "die hard" fans go the night it opens, so I guess we are not that extreme. The movie was actually quite entertaining, all little cheesy at times (Edward to Jacob: I might actually like you if you were not trying to steal my everything) but still a pleaser. The best part by far was coming up with and making our t-shirts. Go Team Jacob (yes you are HOTTER!!)

So it is an eclipse... get it? "Fire and Ice" at the bottom is from the poem in the beginning of the book. "Of what I have seen of desire I side with those that favor fire"... I totally agree.

Just look how crafty we are

After eating at Panera Bread for lunch. Don't the shirts look great?!

"Oh mom I just hate Edward. He is such a bad man. I will never, ever have a boyfriend that is crazy like him"

4th of July Celebrations

HAPPY 4th OF JULY

Since I was little we have had a neighborhood picnic and it has made the 4th my favorite holiday. Hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, talking with old friends, little kids running around in swimsuits, sparklers, and fireworks. It is perfect and timeless all wrapped into on nostalgic package. I am so excited to share my same experiences with Scarlett. The next night we spent the evening with family and watched great fireworks at Dragon Ridge. While driving to watch them we sang one of Toby Keith's patriotic tunes and soon found we knew very little of the song. It made for a good laugh and the realization that we can not sing... at all. I am so blessed to live in this "promised land". Our founding fathers were inspired and I hope they are proud of where America is today.

First time on grass and it amazed her

Notice the perfect red,white, and blue outfit. Very cute Caity.

Watching the fireworks together

(Nate, Emily, Nick, Scarlett, Jensen)