Halloween Fun & Slumber Party

Samantha & Audree came with me to our ward Halloween Trunk-or-Treat party. (I left the camera at home so I didn't get pictures.) We had a lot of fun. There were lots of games and the girls had so much fun playing with Chloe a little girl that is in my primary class. Her & Samantha look alike, people kept calling Samantha Chloe. After we left the Halloween party, we continued the party at our house, the girls spent the night and we did some fun Halloween crafts.

Audree & Samantha holding up their scary hands that we made, Samantha wearing my shoes.

Audree & Josh, being silly

Samantha with her creepy spider that we made, it was really good.

We pulled out blankets, moved the couches around for a fun movie night. We watched Beauty and the Beast with popcorn & ice cream.

When the Beast came out it got a little scary, both girls said that they needed to sit with their Uncle Josh during those parts. It was really cute how they just cuddled up right to him to be protected. We went to bed at 11:30 p.m. Audree came and crawled into bed with Josh & I around 2 a.m. and Samantha woke me up at 8 am. We went and got donuts, and made breakfast. When Josh & Audree woke up we ate, played and then took the girls home. We had so much fun. Thanks girls, can't wait for our next slumber party.

Disneyland & Josh's Birthday

For Josh's big 31st birthday we went to Disneyland. The Stockbridge Family came out for the weekend, along with Brandon's mom (it was also Dawn's birthday & shout out to one of our besties Shakira a.k.a Katie also has the popular birthday of the 24th). The Stockbridge Family did this thing called ride max, it tells you which ride to go on and when, and when to go and get a fast pass for which ride, etc.. It was really neat, well, we were at Disneyland on a Saturday and didn't have to wait very long in a line for a ride. We had so much fun, thanks for the awesome weekend Stockbridge Family, can't wait for the next fun hang out.

Grandma June, Camden & Brandon getting ready to take Peter Pan's flight.

Getting ready to go on Pirates of the Caribbean RRRR. Josh, Grandma June, Saylor, Dawn, Camden & Brandon.

Jungle Cruise--the ride with the funny jokes (as Jennifer's niece says).

Mickey's house, hanging out, Jenn, Camden & Saylor.

Camden & Jenn, almost there to meet Mickey, Camden was so excited.

Camden was a little shy at first, good thing his grandma was there to help him out. Mickey was playing peek-a-boo with him. It was so cute to watch. This was Camden's first time meeting Mickey.

Stockbridge Family photo with Mickey.

Josh, Brandon, Camden with Lightening McQueen & Matter. Camden LOVES the CARS movie and was super excited to see them.

Josh & Camden making their silly faces.

Dawn, Saylor, Camden & myself went on Toy Story Mania while June, Brandon & Josh went on the roller-coasters. The ride is in 3-D and Camden wouldn't put the glasses on, we kept telling him he needed them for the ride, at the very last second he put them on.

Sunday night we had a family dinner at our house, my family came over, Dave & Sarah joined us as well. We had Cafe Rio with a very delicious chocolate angle food cake we got from Jolisa's bakery.

There were so many candles Josh got help from the girls.

Happy Birthday sweetheart. I hope that you had a WONDERFUL birthday. I love you & and so grateful for your birth. Thanks for being the LOVE of my life and making everyday a vacation for me.

Legoland

The Aaron Anderson Family came to San Diego for Ethan's 4th birthday. We were able to meet up with them for the day and go to Legoland. We brought Samantha & Audree along for the fun.

Samantha & Audree being camera shy.

There was an aquarium that we were able to experience. Audree enjoyed looking at the different animals, but she sure did get scared and was holding on really tight. Samantha wasn't feeling very well at this point and was napping in the stroller.

Ethan, Aaron & Kolby looking at the fish in the tank. It was so cute to see how excited Ethan was. He loved telling us all of the names of the different kinds of sharks and animals.

Ethan showing how brave he is by touching the sea slug and other sea creatures.

Ethan looking at all the fish.

Audree & Ethan playing in the Lego pumpkin.

Audree driving a Police car just like her daddy.

Samantha & Audree having fun playing with the lego people.

The girls were so excited to see the fun animals all made out of Lego's.

Vegas anyone? This was really neat to see, just all the details, looks like the real thing.

Boat ride, the kiddos LOVED it. They couldn't stay in their seats.

Mt. Rushmore

As we were leaving, it was really cute the kids all held hands while walking out of the park.

The girls, just being silly. We had so much fun at Legoland, after we left the park we headed over to the hotel for a late night swim party. The kids had so much together. We had a blast with Aaron, Katie, Ethan & Kolby. Thanks for inviting us.

1/2 Marathon....a.k.a 13.1 Miles

Josh, myself & my sister Jolisa did the "Say no to Drugs" 1/2 Marathon in Pasadena about 2 weeks ago. It was a great first 1/2 Marathon. We are all PROUD to say that we made it running the ENTIRE time, even up the really steep hill.


Josh & Jennifer ready to start our fun run of 13.1 miles.

Jennifer & Jolisa, we kept getting asked if we were twins, we really would have confused people if Jolynn was there in person, she was there in spirit keeping us motivated.

Here is the Finish Line, it was so fun to be approaching the finish line, knowing that we had made it. As we crossed the finish line we were given a medal for such a great job done and completing a 1/2 marathon.

We started and finished at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, it was pretty cool we were able to run around the Rose Bowl. After the race there was Jamba juice & other sponsors along with a pancake breakfast to re-energize all of the runners.

Josh, Jennifer & Audree. Steven & the girls came to cheer us on....It was really good to see & hear their cheers especially around miles 9 & 11. Thanks girls, & Steven.

Jolisa, Samantha, Audree & Aunt Gigi

Visiting the Francis Family in Iowa City

A little over a month, I saw airplane tickets to Iowa on sale for super cheap so Josh & I decided to go visit the Francis family (my sister Jolynn & her husband who is attending Law school). Well, last minute Josh wasn't able to go due to work. After checking with the airline what we could do about the ticket they said that because we paid next to nothing for the tickets, our best option would be to find someone else to go and do a name change. So my mom was able to come and accompany me. We left it as a surprise, and when Jolynn came to pick me up she was SURPRISED. Everyone LOVED the surprise. Although, the kids did keep asking where their uncle Josh was, they were happy to see grandma. We went for a long weekend and had a wonderful time. There are a lot of pictures, their were just so many great/fun ones, I couldn't choose.


How cute and sweet is this? I know right? So around 4 am Aleena wakes up telling me she needs her doll which is on the bottom bunk, so grandma hands it to us. Then about 2 1/2 hours later I wake up and Aleena is stroking my arm telling me if I want my back scratched to just let her know and she will do it for me. About 30 minutes later she was ready to get up so we went downstairs with Drake & Grandma. Grandma made us yummy chocolate chip waffles, while the parents slept in. The joys of the parents not being around was that Aunt Gigi & Grandma were able to feed the kiddos whatever we or they wanted. =) Thanks Tommy & Jolynn.

Grandma & Drake, they slept on the bottom bunk, look how happy Grandma is, she's smiling in her sleep.

Nauvoo "Beautiful City"

While Tommy, Jolynn & my mom went to the Temple I offered to take the kids and hang out in Nauvoo doing the kid stuff. I figured since I've been to the Nauvoo Temple before, I could sit out this one and let my mom & Jolynn go. I had fun with the kids, next time I visit with Josh we'll go together.

Eating a gingerbread cookie from the bakery. We were able to learn the history about the bakery.

Drake & Aleena watching how rope is made. They loved being able to play with the rope after it was made.

We were also able to make dolls out of string. Aleena & Drakie bud loved their fun new dolls.

Aunt Gigi, Aleena & Drake getting ready to go on an ox ride. I was even able to grab one of the oxen by the horns. The missionaries kept telling me how friendly they were. The kids weren't too keen on getting any closer to the ox then what we already were.

Drake & Aleena (being silly). After the ride in the wagon being pulled by the oxen the kiddos saw this wagon and wanted to play on it.

There was an area called "Pioneer Pastimes" with a bunch of activities for little kids. The kids loved the sheep and the fact that they were able to climb and ride them.

Drake saw this horse and just started climbing all over it. Drake just wanted to ride the horse. So Aleena grabbed the rope and started pulling him around. There were fun dress up clothes for the kids to dress up in as well.

Drake looking so cute in his pioneer outfit.

Aleena wheeling her baby around.

There were these 2 log cabins full of kitchen play stuff and school play stuff, Aleen & Drake LOVED it.

Hummm...... You've taught him well Jolynn, he's already ironing his own clothes, guess Drake is ready for a mission.

Mom, Drake, Jolynn, Aleena & Jennifer in front of the Nauvoo Temple

The Francis Family

Mom & her girls

On our way in to the Blacksmith shop Aleena saw this post and was asking what it was for as her and Drake started to swing on it, when we explained that it was to tie your horse too, she said oh, and kept swinging.

SLUMBER PARTY

Drake, myself & Aleena had a fun sleepover downstairs. Tommy made a sweet bed for us, we stayed up till midnight watching Clifford & Little Einsteins while eating sweets, and were up early doing a repeat. I had so much fun. Thanks cuties.

Cheese Factory & Amish Country

Watching the cheese being made. That's a whole lot of cheese.

Silly faces, must have been the cheese that made us do it. Don't you just LOVE our big bows???

Jennifer, Aleena, Grandma, Drake & Jolynn in the Amish Country farmland.

So, where we were was only about 25 minutes from where the Francis family lives. Crazy...and in this little town we were in, we saw quite a few of the Amish in town with their buggy's. It was pretty neat to see.

Of course I brought some fun nail polish to paint Aleena's fingernails & toenails. We had to close the bathroom door, because Drake was getting sad and didn't understand why I wouldn't paint his. Aleena wanted her nails to be FANCY so we did a fun pattern, orange, pink, etc..

SPLASH PAD

The splash pad is only a few minutes from their house. So we got lunch and brought it to the park. We ate and played. It was a perfect afternoon.

Aleena was even super brave and stood under the bucket while it poured water all over her for the first time. She kept telling her momma how she was going to be brave and she was.

Being silly. Thanks Mom for coming with me, thanks Francis family for the great time. Can't wait for the next trip. We love you.