Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Family California Trip..plus Brinley's Birthday

We went on a family rode trip to California last week. It was so much fun and the kids were awesome!! Not to mention the weather!!!!


Our first family photo was at the Arizona border. We were planning on taking a picture at each sign, but this was the only one we saw, maybe cause it is in the middle of nowhere!
Half way between Vegas and California, we stopped at a rest stop for a potty break, and we were "blown away" literally!! the wind was crazy!!!

We got to our very nice hotel (mini apartment) in good spirits. We needed to run around a little bit after the long car ride. We will definately stay here every time we go. It was the nicest hotel ever! We had a kitchen and everything. that is the way to go!

Our first night, we ate at the ESPN Zone, Chris's pick. The kids enjoyed playing in the arcade upstairs while we waited for our table that night.

The next day was my Brinny's 4th birthday!! We went to Disneyland. She wore this button on her shirt all day and it was wonderful how all the disney characters and workers treated her all day, like a Princess!! She loved it!

She loved to find characters all day, and since it was her day, we ran around and tried to find as many as we could. tinkerbell was cute to see.

We found her favorite Minnie at her house. She showed Minnie her "minnie mouse" earrings, and Minnie loved them!

We found Mickey in his movie barn behind his house.

That night, we ate at Goofy's Kitchen for her birthday party. It was a lot of fun, expensive, but so worth it.

Dale came out with her birthday cake as the whole restraunt sang to her. It was lots of fun!

they next day consisted of riding big rides! Space mountain ride was one of our favorites. Where is Brinley? She is so little, you can't see her!

You gotta go see bug's life in 3-d, the kids loved it.

That night, it was Taylee's pick for dinner, so we ate ate Ariel's Grotto. We had to have a picture with the redheads & the redheaded princess.

Cinderella is Brinley's favorite princess, and it was so cute to see her with Brinley. She made it really special for her.

Splash mountain, need I say more!!! AAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

The third day, we spent mostly in California Adventure. We rode the Grizzly river rapids, got SOAKED!!!!! But we dried, that is how warm it was in California, umm 75ish!

We met some friends from Utah there, Jason & Janna. It was Janna's birthday that day, that is why they were there. We enjoyed hanging out with them a bit and eating lunch with them.

The tower of TERR"OR!!! Chris hated it, Brin did not show any emotion, Austin, hugged the cage the whole time, and Taylee and I loved it!!

That night, Austin picked the Rainforest Cafe. He loved all the animals that moved in there.

Teh next day, we headed home. I have never at at In and out, but Chris said it was the bomb, so we tried it. I could not believe the menu. You have 3 choices, that's it!! But I will agree, it was the best hamburger and fries I have ever had!

That night we stopped in Las Vegas to the stay and visit the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. Austin really enjoyed this place.
We walked a little down the strip so we could go shop at the M&M Factory. We decided that Vegas is SSOOO not for kids. Too many things to see and too many weird people.
The kids by the M&M Race car. My night to pick dinner and I picked Panda Express takeout for Chris & I and McDonalds for the kids, and we went back to our hotel and watched a movie.

Then to the long car ride home. I have to give it to my kids for being troopers. They kept busy in the car, thank goodness for dvd player and lots of souviniers!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Lance & Jamee's Wedding

Saturday was a very special day for our family! My little brother got married to the love of his life. We are so excited to have Jamee in the family. It was a beautiful, very chilly, day, but everything went great.

Picture of Jamee & Lance as they walked out of the temple.

We had a lunch at the church. It was great food and fun to mingle and enjoy everyone.

My kids loved hanging out with their cousins, Bryson and Mckenzie. They live in Illinois, so we don't get to see much of them.


The three girls had mathing dresses and looked adorable. Lance and Jamee posed for tons of pictures that night. One with everyone.

Lance telling Brinley goodbye, before he left for their honeymoon in Mexico.
I love you Lance & Jamee. Wish you the best in your new life together!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

My Trip with 200 Teenagers!

Ok, you are all probably thinking, she is crazy to go all the way to California on a Bus with 200 people!! Yeh, you are probably right, but I had the time of my life! I have never laughed so hard that I cried and we had wonderful experiences that I will never forget!
The BRH Color Guard, Marching Band, Orchestra, Drama Club, & Choir all went on tour together. We had four tour buses full. The trip down, during the night was hard and I did not sleep well, but it was WONDERFUL to get to the hotel and sleep in my own bed!! I don't think I moved at all the entire night. I was in the same position when I woke up!
Our first day, we went to Cal State Long Beach for clinics. It was a long day, since we had been on a bus all night. The clinic we went to was ok, but I really enjoyed the band clinic. That college instructor spent time with each individual student and helped them play better. It was amazing of the results in just 2 hours!


The next 2 days, we went to Disneyland!! This is Myself, Kristy, my assistant advisor, and Becca, the choir directors daughter & sister to one of my color guard girls. We hung out all week, along with a few of our awesome color guard girls.
Kristy & I found Goofy, and decided to "plant one" on him. I was too occupied about where the camera was though. He was embarrassed after the picture. He hid under his ears for awhile.

I have never been to Disneyland and actually got my picture taken with Mickey. I have seen him, but always too many people or from a distance. I feel so tall when I stood next to him. doesn't he just make you want to smile!


Our favorite part of the time was going on rides and laughing at our pictures taken during the rides. This is Splash Mountain. We got soaked!! The funny thing about this picture is that the little family in the back of our "log" was from Tremonton. The dad played high school basketball with my brother, Bryan. What a small world!



I even got to see Minnie. What great luck I had with Characters!

After we performed in the parade through California Adventures, we all, 17 of us color guard, went on the Tower of Terror together. I few did not want to ride it, cause it was "scary". But we are all great persuaders, so here is the picture. I actually bought the picture, it is the only time we were all together the whole trip, besides performing.

The next day, we went to the walk of stars in Hollywood. I found this star! OOOH LALA!

I also found a man dressed up as the transformer, Bumble Bee. I had to have my picture taken with him. Our family is transformer fans.

That night we ate at Midevil Times. That is the most fun I have had during a dinner before. there was so many of us that we were split into 2 different teams. Which made it fun, cause there was a little rival going on. You have to cheer for your color of knight.

It was amazing how it was all set up.

Our knight was the Green Knight. He was evil, so that made it fun. He went all the way to the end except evil never prevails in these kinds of things, but it was so fun to cheer.

I had to take this picture of my dinner. It actually is not all here, but I could not believe I got a half of chicken!! Spareribs, potatoes, garlic bread & apple fritter came too! And ALL of it is eaten with your hands!!!
This picture I could not resist taking is on the ride home. I slept better on the ride home, but it is funny how everyone slept. Most were on the floor in the isle.
It was a great trip, I will do it again in 2 years!