Today

We're still here in Cali, but are leaving on Saturday. It's been nearly a month since we left KC, and in some ways it feels like years: Isn't this our home now? We're pretty much all moved in. In other ways it feels like only a few hours ago that we arrived: You mean in less than 2 days I have to get on an airplane with 4 littles? Really??
Jeff had to leave a week ago (for work), and we miss him. But the time has flown by and we are feeling sadder and sadder to leave. Happy to see Daddy again, sad to leave loved ones and GORGEOUS weather behind.

My Dad played this exact same game with me and my brothers when I was little. Falling down "the well" into a pile of snakes. Ah, memories.

Here We Are

We are alive and well living it up in sunny Southern California. There have been many gorgeous walks in the desert and many rock towers built. The hot tub has become a daily life fixture.

Today was the beach, Newport.
Tomorrow, Disneyland!
Wednesday, California Adventure!
Thursday, exhaustion.

Posts to come.

luvs

Thanksgiving in "the City" 2011

We went to Silver Dollar City for Thanksgiving again this year. It was our fourth year there for Thanksgiving and we had just as much fun as usual!



Gotta stop for free cheese at Osceola (AKA "Cheesetown", at least in our house)



Oz was not too excited to sit with the dancing girls from the saloon show.



The littles wrote their letters to Santa as they have every year from SDC. This year they asked for:

Capri - an MP3 player with earphones
Rome - a play bow and arrow set
Sable - a Minnie Mouse cup, Minnie Mouse bowl, princess silverware and princess plate
Oz - Tonka dumptruck








Rome was called up to the stage for the Frosty show. He was so cute about it and did a great job.





We got hot chocolate both nights we were there, it was definitely a favorite part of the trip - walking around in the cold drinking hot chocolate and seeing all the beautiful lights and decorations.



Thanksgiving! We all ate till we nearly burst.





Oz ate BOTH of those desserts in entirety. I am not exaggerating.





Serious chow down.



After eating we rode some rides and then got in a LONG line to see our favorite show, "A Dicken's Christmas Carol". It's a great show but this year we had the boy monster to deal with. And he REALLY showed his true monster colors during the show. Plus, the actors were all mixed up in different roles than usual and really didn't suit their parts. We also noticed that scenes were missing from our show, later we learned that other showings did have those scenes. It was weird. Even so, we did have a great time watching. Except for the moment when Oz head butted me in the nose really hard. That moment (and the few minutes afterward) kind of stunk.

We had a great time and were so thankful for all we have. I'll post video later if I can find the Flip that Oz apparently stole and hid. I just found the case in a winter boot.



Happy Thanksgiving!

SDC - National Harvest Festival

We decided to take a "Fall trip" and headed to Silver Dollar City on September 14-15th.

It rained the first day we were there. Still, even though we had to carry umbrellas and it was chilly - we had such a great time. We got a little damp, but the weather felt invigorating and by about 4:00pm the rain had stopped. The air smelled fresh and new. It was a great day to be outside.



The first show we went to was the Saloon show. It was a really good one (they change it a lot) and featured one of our favorite SDC regular performers. We call him "Mr. Bean" because he looks so much like Rowan Atkinson. He was hilarious in this show and we can't wait to see him at Thanksgiving as Mr. Scrooge again.

We also saw the show "Headin' West" which always plays there this time of year. It's one of our favorites and leaves us with the feeling that fall is truly beginning.



Powder keg!



Waiting for Jeff and Capri to ride "Fire in the Hole!!".






I think the sign says it perfectly.



During the Harvest Festival there are a lot of extra craft and demonstration booths. Our favorite was this one, it was unmanned and full of different varieties of pumpkins and gourds. There were free seed packets, we picked Lime Basil and Chantenay Red Core Carrots. I can't wait to plant them next spring.






By the second day, the rain was gone. It was sunny but not hot at all.







There were some really fun outdoor lumberjack shows going on as well. We were able to see the log rolling, pole climbing, and log splitting. I told Jeff that it's pretty cool if somebody asks you your job and you say "Lumberjack". That's the kind of job that people immediately think, "Whoa, Awesome".



One of the special features this year were chalk drawings done by this amazing artist (you can see her in the picture corner). We took this picture for Mar-Mar, we knew she would appreciate it!



Summer, we'll miss you. It's hard to beat flip flops and spray parks. However, we're happy to welcome you Fall and all the beauty you're sure to bring.

California: The Wedding

My littlest brother Dan is married. Married!



He married his high school sweetheart, Erin. She's gorgeous and wonderful. I'd hate her if she weren't so totally lovable.

Usually Erin doesn't hold her hands in such an awkward way. But I LOVE this picture for her profile and hair. I was very jealous of her hair. My wedding hair left a lot to be desired.





They were married on April 23rd in the Califronia Redlands Temple. My parents were more than generous and flew us ALL to California for the wedding and an extended vacation. It was such a fun trip (more on that later).

The Redlands temple is so surprisingly beautiful. Not that all temples aren't great, but this one really blew both Jeff and I away. The grounds and the interior are stunning. It was a gorgeous day, and I gained a sister. Words can't really express how I feel about that.



Me and my 4 brothers: Spencer, Dan, Josh, Rob.



Why oh why did I wear all black? What on this very green earth was I thinking?! And an ugly black outfit at that. I will never, ever, ever, EVER wear this outfit again!

Erin's parents on the left, mine on the right. Erin's parents are such wonderful people. They have embraced our extremely loud and often obnoxious family with open arms.





After the temple, there was a reception and ring ceremony at my parent's rental house. Capri and one of Erin's cousins, Natalie, were the ring bearers. My Mom made their dresses (along with Sable's that you see in other pics). The dresses were beautiful and the two girls were equally so.





The decorations were all gorgeous, Erin's colors were lavender and lime. There was tons of absolutely delicious mexican food, seriously I still dream about the guacamole sauce.











Rome with Uncle Rob.





Sable with Uncle Josh.



We danced till it was dark. We danced till after Erin and Dan had left. We danced till they shut off the music!





Cake!



Ready to leave for their honeymoon. They stayed one night at the La Quinta Resort and then jetted off to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for a week.



Congratulations Dan and Erin, we could not be happier for you!