It was so great to be back at our old stomping ground. Todd and I had memory after memory of our 2 years in San Diego and all the friends we made and missed so very much. So coming back to San Diego was awesome....especially to see all the family we hadn't seen in so long. We first spent 2 days at Sea World. The shows were great, the rides for the kiddies were super fun and we got a chance to stay for the night time show of Shamu. Definitely awesome. I highly recommend it to anyone. The kids had a great time even though they were so dang tired! Sea World added a new kiddie play area in which there were rides as well as Elmo and friends coming out and singing as well as posing for pictures:
We also got a chance to spend some time at the beach....oh the beach. I've forgotten how calming and soothing it can be to just dig and play in the sand as well as play in the ocean. Well, maybe not for Ashlyn or Ethan. Neither one of them liked the ocean at all!! Oh well, maybe next time.
After the beach, we cleaned up, gave the kids a nap and met at the SDSU Institute for dinner, swimming and a fun activity for the kids...hitting a pinata. It was fun!!
The cutest part were the little kids trying to hit the pinata...they were great!!
On our last day, we had a kiddie talent show. We saw cartwheels, summer saults, piano and vocal duets as well as some pretty cool karate. The kids ended the talent show by singing "I Am a Child of God." They were amazing. 
Thank you Grandpa and Myrna for putting it all together.
And to all the aunts and uncles and nieces and nephews....we miss you already! Love you tons.
Our good friends Todd and Kristie (yes, we have 3 "Todds" in our ward) invited us to a Buzz Baseball game....in the suite....Sweet!! The kids had a good time and Ashlyn loved the fact that she got to eat a whole box of popcorn (although it was intended for ALL the other kids too). They also invited some other friends from the ward too. Anyway, here's us with the "Buzz." Ashlyn got a little scared and wouldn't go near the mascot.
(Eddie, Amanda, Anabelle, Lilly, "Buzz", Damon, Me, Ethan)
For Pioneer Day, we had my family over for dinner and for some swimming. We had a great time!
After they all left, we went up to the loft to watch the fireworks from Cottonwood Heights. We talked to the kids about why July 24th was so important. First, it's Pioneer Day and second, it's Grandma Ginny's birthday.
Ginny had just finished radiation for a brain tumor the doctors had found 7 months prior to our wedding. I found it to be absolutely miraculous that she was still with us when we got married. I was very worried about her stamina on the wedding day, but she did quite well and we have been so blessed to have pictures as well as videos of her on our wedding day. I can't say that I knew my mother-in-law as well as my other sister-in-laws but what I did know about her was that she was very, very kind.
I won't ever forget the first time I met her. I had gone over to Todd's parents place to meet him for a date. It was going to be one of our last ones before he left for Oregon to do a PhD program in Biology. She was on her way to a Mormon Tab Choir practice and she stopped to ask who I was and when I told her, she just lit up and was so happy to meet me. I adored her right then and there. She had a big heart. She LOVED Christmas and she LOVED her family and grandkids. Before she passed away, she told Todd that she wanted to be with the family....she just wanted to be around, here on earth with us.
I don't know why her time was limited on this earth or why she just couldn't be "around" but I do know that she was a big part in the success of all her kids. They all knew and felt of her big heart and her willingness to always, always help them in whatever circumstances. Family was a huge part of her focus and that has certainly passed on to her children.
A pioneer is defined as someone to be the first to open or prepare way, one to lead the way for a group. That was Ginny. I know that she lived long enough to prepare her children for life and to set their focus on the importance of families being together in this life and in the life to come. I hope that Todd and I can live up to that tradition.
This is Ashlyn "hiding" with Devin peeking over the sofa for Uncle Todd
We've been super busy...and I can't even tell you what has be preoccupying my time. Just life I guess with 2 kids that keep me busy, busy, busy. So forgive the 2 months of catch-up.
A visit from Emily and the kids
July 4 - July 8
Oh my goodness - we had such a fun, fun time with Emily and the kids (Hunter, Lynnsey and Rachel). They came in for Emily's dad's reunion but afterwards, we partied!! We took so many
pics, I don't even know where to begin...so here I go:
On Friday, July 4th, we went to Gateway to play in the water fountain. Hunter and Lynnsey had fun. Ashlyn - not so much. And Ethan, well they led him out to the water but when he got sprayed from the bottom up ... he was so done. Afterwards, the kids had snowcones and Ashlyn was the only one that finished hers - you go girl!! Then we did Temple Square. It was great to go the visitor centers for some relief from the heat and to have some nice cold water. The kids were super smart when it came to identifying the various pictures that depicted biblical stories. Now for the "grand finale" - and I do hope that I won't be offending anyone, but Ashlyn was bound and determined to see a "fountain" and I could not talk her out if it. SOOO...since our car was across the street from the Conference Center, we walked over there and let the kids put their hands in the fountain. Then, they were putting their feet in it....then, we noticed steps INSIDE the fountain leading into the water..so the kids got a little crazy and started diving in - oh my goodness!! The only signage Emily and I saw just said that the water was recirculated water. So we thought - what the hey!! Let the kids have at it. So...enjoy the slide show. Oh, and thanks Todd for the fireworks - they were great!!
