San Diego Trip Beach Edition

We have just spent the last 4 days in California for a family vacation. We had a nice and relaxing time and we took a ton of pictures and so tonight I am just going to post pictures from our time at the beaches.

The first day we went to La Jolla Beach. Behind the kids in the ocean we saw some seals sun bathing and swimming it was cool.

Preston and the kids. Natalie and Taylor enjoyed the sand much more than the cold water so that is where they spent most of their time.


Nathan and I in the water. We would write things in the sand and watch it get washed away.

Nathan chasing the seagulls.

Taylor and Nathan playing in the sand.

On Saturday we went to Coronado Beach. We opted to not put Natalie in her swimming suit since the water was too cold for her to really get in anyways. We covered the uncovered parts with sun block. We all enjoyed walking along the beach and watching the waves and the people and the birds. I like how Nathan is walking in his Dad's footsteps.

A close up of Natalie watching the waves.

Taylor didn't want to get in the water with me,but she would if her Daddy would hold her hand.They would play a game, when the waves came Preston would lift her up so she could jump over it. Nathan would jump over them by himself and sometimes they would try to outrun the waves.
We really did have a fun time and the weather was wonderful. We also managed to be outside for 3 days straight without sunburns. Thank you sunblock. My next post will have our pictures from LegoLand and other things we did while in California.

Our 4th Of July Weekend

As many of you know Nathan and Taylor got to go to Eagar a week earlier with their grandparents and then we met them up their for the 4th of July weekend. They had a ton of fun and I will need to get pictures from their Nana of what they did while we weren't with them. These are pictures from the time we were with them.

Nathan and his cousin Daniel on the trampoline after returning home from the movie Transformers 2. They got to see it with their Dad's and a few Aunts and Uncles.


Natalie with her Aunt Liz and cousin James (Joycelyn's son who is almost 5 months younger than Natalie but much bigger)

Nathan riding the little 4 wheeler that Grandpa had just bought the week before.

Taylor and Preston on the big 4 wheeler.

Parade fun of getting the candy thrown to us.

Nathan and Taylor watching the parade and most of Preston's family in the background.

Our whole gang posing for a picture before the parade started. Preston's Mom bought all of us matching Old Navy T-shirts and we had family pictures taken the day before since all the grandkids were there together. We have a parade picture for almost every year since Nathan was born, they are fun to look back on and see how our little family has changed.

My remodeling project

While the kids have been away with their Grandparents this week I have been very busy here. One of the things on my to do list was to decorate a wall in our family room. It took a lot of time but I do like how it turned out. A big thanks to my sister Sherri and my Mom for coming to help out with Natalie while I decorated. It made the process A LOT easier.

Beginning Stage

Preston took this picture of me about 10:30 on the first night. (I worked for about 2 hours after this picture) Don't I look so happy.

This is what it looked like about 4 hours into the project.

You put up random shapes and sizes of brown kraft paper by smothering it in wallpaper paste. This part of the wall that was needing to be covered looked like a sea turtle to me (probably because it was after midnight) but I had to take a picture.

A close up of the wall.

The finished product after about 10 hours of work. I am really glad I picked a small wall to do this to. I like it better now than I did after it was first finished. I was too tired to enjoy it.

Mixed Emotions about my QUIET House

Yesterday afternoon Nathan and Taylor left to spend some time in Eagar with their Grandparents. We will be going up on Thursday July 2nd for the 4th of July weekend, but until then it is just Natalie at home with us. The house is really quiet so it is nice and calm, but it is a little tough to have it so quiet when there has been almost constant noise for so long. I have a long to do list while they are gone and I know they are going to have a blast and will love being able to spend A LOT of time outside playing without melting. The weather there right now is highs in the low 80's. Oh so nice. I completely agree that absence makes the heart grow fonder. I do miss them already.

Here are some cute little things that have been said by the kids lately.

Nathan while saying our morning family prayer.
"Help us to listen to the Holy Ghost and to get closer to Heavenly Father"
So profound for a 7 year old.

Taylor after she was buckled in Grandpa's truck and was saying goodbye to me.
"Brother remember if I get sad you are going to help me be happy right?"
Nathan's reply "Of Course!!!"

They really do love each other and I think it will be great for them to be away together so they can rely on each other and get to be even closer friends.