California

A year ago I got bumped on Delta and was able to get a $300 flight voucher. We had to book a flight and use it before October 8th so I texted my cousin Amanda and we planned a fun weekend in California staying with them in San Clemente. I also had a free car rental from work so it was perfect! Free flights, free car, amazing cousin to stay with...we're there! We left on a Friday afternoon and got to CA at about 3 pm. We got our car and headed down to the Santa Monica Pier. We shared a hamburger and walked along the beach, the sat watching the sunset stretch across the sky. It was so beautiful and perfectly peaceful. We then met our good friends Kim and Dave who moved there recently and walked along the 3rd Street Promenade. We got dinner and talked with them for a couple hours. It was great to catch up! We then drove to San Clemente and talked with Blake and Amanda before we went to bed. They gave us their bedroom which I thought was so thoughtful and generous!

The next morning we woke up and went to a delicious breakfast. I got eggs benedict and coconut pineapple pancakes with coconut syrup. We ate outside the weather was absolutely perfect. We then headed to the beach and laid out and played in the waves. Xander was so cute and wanted me to let him go into the waves by himself. Not so fast, buddy! Xander then had to go home for his nap so Tyler and I went back to the beach by ourselves and wrapped ourselves in towels because it was getting a little chilly, then listened to music and watched the sun set. Dreamy. We went back to Blake and Amanda's and showered and changed, then went to dinner at the most delicious taco place. We got shrimp tacos with delicious guacamole. YUM. We then got gelato for dessert and walked around then went back to their house and played card games.

The next morning we got up and had German pancakes compliments of Blake, then Tyler and I went to Balboa Island. It was the most charming day walking around all of the adorable houses. I couldn't stop snapping pictures! It was cloudy at first then the sun broke through. We had a second breakfast for lunch and I got eggs benedict again. We walked along the shoreline and crossed using the ferry. We walked along the beach and rented a tandem bike. Tyler didn't really want to rent a tandem bike but I convinced him to do it and it was hilarious! It was hard to steer it but it was such a blast and we rode along board walk all the way past Newport Beach. That evening we went back and had dinner with Blake and Amanda the house then went to have a bon fire on the beach and roasted 'mallows. We then went back to the house and played card games and finished by watching a movie.

The weekend was a dream! Seriously. It was so nice to get away and just enjoy time with each other and with the people that we love. No stress, just doing fun things and eating delicious food and relaxing. I could get used to weekends like that.

We were walking in the mall and turned around to see Tyler pretending to be a mannequin ha ha ha

Insurance Dinner in Park City

We went to an insurance company dinner in Park City at an incredible cabin. It overlooked the valley and you skied right out onto the ski slope. It was amazing!

We went

Halloween 2014

I decided to be a whoopee cushion again this year because it's easy and hilarious! I downloaded a farting app on my phone and walked around the office farting all day. It was great! Jocelyn worked at the Mozy offices for a few months while doing a collaboration with her company iTok, so we had to take a sister picture. It was hilarious because we would ALWAYS get up and go to the bathroom at the same time without planning it. We would see each other walking from either side of the hall and say, "SISTER!" On Halloween night we went on a walk because the weather was so nice, and we ran into our friend Russ and Trisha Jacobson. We ended up walking around and trick or treating with them and their boys, then we went to see a movie with Jocelyn. Her boyfriend Leigh wasn't feeling well so she just came with us. Oh, and the bottom picture is my friend Jen and her newborn baby. She was on maternity leave but decided to come into the office to hang out for our Halloween trick or treating festivities. It was a fun day!

I

Dinner with the Gedicks Girls

Amanda and Annie were in town so got all of the girls together for dinner at Mama Chu's. Xander was so cute watching the iPad. We tried to get a picture with all of us girls at the end and were cracking up because we couldn't get my mom in it. Her eyes were popping up from the bottom of the picture though! It was funny. Annie is moving to Germany and Amanda lives in California. It was great to get together! My mom and I went to the gym afterward. This was also the night that we found out my grandma has bladder cancer which she is now getting treatment for. We are praying that she gets better!

Halloweeny Events

My mom, Jocelyn and I went to Gardner Village to walk around. They have the cutest witches and set up for Halloween. After that we went to Fashion Place and did a little shopping! I got some cute bins for mud room and some really cute new dishes. They remind me of Kate Spade dishes and I love them! I also got a pretty mirror for above our bed that I love. It's always a fun time hanging out with them and we laughed our heads off the whole night.

We went to Hee Haw Farms and got pumpkins and did the corn maze with Marin and Drew James. Drew and Tyler kept trying to hide and scare me and Marin, and throwing corn so it would make loud noises and scare other people too. It worked! We had homemade chicken noodle soup at our house and apple cider. They carved pumpkins and I roasted the seeds. The next night we went to a neighbor's house and Tyler carved pumpkins again. He is so creative and did a great job. He was very proud of his pumpkin and he thinks he won the contest :) I'm not sure if there was a contest, but he felt like he was a winner in his heart and that makes me happy.

The next day we went up to Park City because Ty's friend gave us VIP passes to the Utah Olympic Park. We went down the mountain coaster and the zip line. The lines were really long though so we were glad we didn't pay for it ourselves! On the coaster, there were old ladies in front of us and Tyler caught up to two of them, and then I caught up to all of them! They were sooooo slow. After our zip line ride we were hungry so we met my mom and Steve at Zupa's. Tyler and I wanted Cafe Rio so we brought it over. They then took our passes and were able to go on a few rides. We headed back to Provo and went to our ward Halloween party. We ate and played games. It was a festive evening! On actual Halloween we went on a walk because the weather was so nice, and we ran into our friend Russ and Trisha Jacobson. We ended up walking around and trick or treating with them and their boys, then we went to see a movie with Jocelyn.

Bikers

Our nephew Ryker LOVES Tyler. I'm convinced he would do absolutely anything for him. He is Tyler's shadow. We went to dinner at the Parcell's house last Sunday and I snapped these cute pics right before we went on a little bike ride around the neighborhood. Ryker also came over to visit this past week and his brother and sisters were asking him for his sucker. When Tyler asked for it he gave it right to him without hesitating. He has such a sweet heart and he adores Tyler!