15th Anniversary

Jim and I decided to do something extra special

 for our 15th wedding anniversary. 

We had an absolutely amazing trip just

 the two of us in Southern California.

 

 

 

Day 1:

Our very first picture from our trip

 and our first  attempt of taking pictures of both of us. 

We are right outside the Mormon Battallion museum.



Me in front of the Mormon Battallion visitor center.
 This was seriously one of the best/ most planned out/ interactive
 visitor centers I have ever been too.

 



Jim panning for gold :) Jim really liked this!

 

 

We ate at this place twice. It is in Fiesta des Reyes (in Old Town).
 It was  perfect patio dining, good food and company.
 If you notice the musicians in the back... later they
came to our table and gave us a personal serenade.

 



Proof that we did think of our kids :)

Relaxing at the beach. 
Here we are at South Carlsbad Beach

 

 

Beautiful sunset to finish out our first day.
  Carlsbad Beach

 

 Day 2:

Hiking at Torrey Pines.  I would highly recommend this place. 
 Especially take the trail down to the beach.
  It was gorgeous the whole way and once you
 got to the beach you were there exploring
 with only like 10 other people.

View from Torrey Pines

Absolutely gorgeous view!

Amazing.  Torrey Pine trees.

 

Later in the day we drove up to La Jolla and saw these!

 

 

Impromptu trip to see the San Diego Temple at night.

 

 Day 3:

Before heading home we really wanted to go inside the temple.
 We didn't pack any church clothes.  This was our solution.
  Here is Jim with his new suit/ church shoes/ tie from the Goodwill.'
 

Once inside we did a sealing session.
  The inside is just as gorgeous as the outside.

 It was an absolutely perfect vacation. 

 We explored, sat by the beach (a lot) and enjoyed each others company.

 

 

Until next time.......

New phone


I got a new phone.  Well actually Jim got a new phone and I got his old phone.  While I still don't know how to use most of the things on it, I have fallen in love with the camera aspect.  So much better than the camera on my old phone and SO MUCH better than even our digital camera. So easy to crop, add stuff and just mess around with pictures from my phone. Plus it just takes better pictures in general (crisper, quicker, etc.)  Here are some of the cool effects. 



BEFORE: Here is the original.  Like how I have my finger in there?
  I do that a lot.  That is why I am even more excited
about cropping I can do straight from my phone.

AFTER: I really like this picture.  It is from their 4th of July parade.
 I cropped it then added a vintage setting.



Before editing.

Yet, another cool picture with the vintage effect.
  My kids just hanging out on a summer day with Abraham Lincoln.
 This picture definitely shows their personalities :)

Cute picture of Lizzie and our neighbors dog Bella.

Even cuter picture of my Lizzie.  Just cropped from the picture above.

Ethan reading on a summer night.

 

Ethan reading on a summer night with  glimmer setting.

Shaving Cream Party

 

Here are some pictures from our

2nd Annual Shaving Cream Party

with our friends the Spilletts. 

The kids LOVE it!!! 

 

*as a disclaimer this day actually happened about a month ago

 

1.  Put out a big tarp for them to slide on  (the shaving cream makes it slippery)

2.  Give each kid their own can of shaving cream from the Dollar Store

3.  Our only rule was  you can't spray in faces.

3.  Let's kids be kids and have their fun

4.  When everyone is done

 (or more than two kids are crying at once)

rinse everyone off with the hose.

5.  Break out the popsicles before heading home.

 

 

Spraying in action!

She is even adorable covered in shaving cream.

To say Lizzie got into it is an understatement. 
  It was hilarious!

Closest thing we could get to a group shot.

 

Trek 2013

Jim had the opportunity to go on Trek this year.  He was the Medical Coordinator. He was gone Wednesday morning June 26th at 6:30 till about 8:00 Saturday night June 29th.  I think that is the longest Jim and I have ever spent apart.    It is amazing how much planning went into Trek.  It is even more amazing thinking of the strength and courage of the pioneers who made the "real" Trek.

 

 

Jim with some of his Trek apparel the night before he left.

Jim was one of the few who could have a cell phone (in case of medical emergencies).  The reception was too bad to call each other but we were able to text sporadically.  Here is a sampling of some of the texts.  Who knew a cell phone could be such a great journal :)

Wednesday June 26th
 2:31 P.M.- Still walking lots of blisters
3:37 - Still walking. Pioneers were tough people
4:46- We still have not had lunch
6:17 - Just finished lunch. A sandwich with about 2 pounds of meat, chips and warm water.  It was awesome.
8:22- Still walking. No end in sight. Still having fun taping feet
9:24- Still walking. Sun is going down
10:01- We just arrived at our first camp. I don't even think I am going to bother with a tent.
11:41- Goodnight. I love you.

Ma's and Pa's with their family pulling their handcart

Just a cool picture with the sun shining down on them.

Thursday June 27th
11:21 A.M.- 13.1 miles yesterday. Still tired. Still miss you more
1:27 P.M. - People are dropping like flies (they weren't really dropping....lots of heat exhaustion, though).  Keeping Busy.  Miss you so much I could cry.
3:39- I will be out of service for 18 hours or so.  So goodnight.  We are not walking anymore and I am well. Love you. Just saved someone from heatstroke.
 

Jim said there were tons of sheep. 

This is Jim with some of his Young Men from the ward.

Friday June 28th
12:09 P.M. - Walking more. Able to meet and help lots of people. Miss you a lot. Doing well. Love you.
2:26- Stopping for today. No deaths (Jim's personality shining through:)
9:39- I don't know when you get this. Coverage is pretty spotty. Beautiful sunset tonight. Treated a bunch of people. Had someone pass out in our first aid tent.  Miss you and as always, I love you.
 

 

If you look very carefully you can see the people walking along the trail.

 

Absolutely gorgeous sunset.

The medical tent. 
Jim and his medical committee spent TONS of time
 helping with blisters, taping sore feet,  dehydration, heat exhaustion, etc.

The Medical Team on Trek.

Saturday June 29th
11:34 A.M. - Back to suffering
12:41- Walking. Halfway through our last day. Yeah
4:31- Still walking. Losing health units (quote from Toy Story that Jim and I always use)
5:29- Currently gaining health units :)
7:07- Be home about 7:45-8

He said it was an incredibly hard, uplifting, amazing and spiritual journey
- all at the same time. When asked if he would do it again- Absolutely!

The kids missed him!

Nice to have my Jim home :)

"Hard was the work of those who have gone before us.  Magnificent is our heritage.
 Tremendous is our responsibility."

-  President Gordon B. Hinckley