Vacation--Part 3, The End

I know that the last part of our vacation pictures and fun has been a long time coming. (We just moved into our first home!)

The reason why we chose to go to Utah when we did was because there was a Science Fiction/Fantasy Symposium going on at BYU, in Provo, UT. I call it the nerd convention! But while I was there rubbing elbows with famous and not so famous nerds I realized that I am a nerd too! But don't tell anyone, it's our little secret!

The girls and I went to a bunch of different lectures and panels, Erik and Austin attended a bunch more than we did. We attended a class about making jewelry, Science Fiction and Fantasy books for kids and how to incorporate them in the classroom, supporting your creative partner, and a few others. Erik and Austin attended classes on writing believable characters, intriguing plots, and other such writing classes, since that is what Erik wants to do when he grows up. Austin also attended a class about video games, since that is what he would like to do when he grows up.

The girls and I also got the job/privilege of standing in lines to get books signed while the others attended classes. We got a bunch of cool books, I know just what we need more books--just be glad you didn't have to move them all and try to find a place for them all to go.

We got to talk with a bunch of really neat people like, Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, Jake Black, Howard Taylor, John D. Brown, some of their wives as well as many others. And while they won't remember me from the next crazy person, they will be remembered by us! Jake Black in particular gave way more time than he needed to to answer Erik's questions and concerns about writing and supporting a family on a writer's pay.

One day Erik will be there as a guest speaker/panelist and I will still be the crazy wife but this time I'll be the crazy wife of the famous author!

After our days in Utah we then drove straight through to San Diego so Erik could attend a work meeting there the next day. While he was hard at work Austin, the girls, and I went and played at Balboa Park.

Austin, Mia, and Emma at Temple Square in front of the Salt Lake Temple. Families Are Forever!

Emma and Mia at the Paleontology Museum on the BYU campus in Provo, UT.

On the BYU Campus

Petting the snake at a live animal show at the Bean Museum at BYU

Butterfly Mural made with butterflies at the Bean Museum at BYU

Stuffed African Animal display at the Bean Museum

Mia and Emma by Shasta a female liger. Shasta was born and lived her life at the Hogle Zoo in Utah. A liger is a cross breed between a male lion and a female tiger. A tigon would be a male tiger and a female lion

Austin, Emma, and Mia at Balboa Park in San Diego, CA

Emma and Mia at the Natural History Museum in San Diego, CA

Mia and Emma at the playground in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

Emma, Mia, and Austin at the Japanese Friendship Garden in San Diego, CA

Mia and Emma in the Botanical Garden in San Diego.

Vacation--Part 3 Rubbing Elbows With Great People!

We saw a lot of great people on our trip and except for Grandmother I did not remember to take any pictures! I am so mad at myself, okay I was mad at myself but now I am just laughing at me because that is so like me!

But I wanted to make a quick mention of them and the fun times we had together. It was a super fast trip and we did not have time to see everyone we wanted to. We are sorry if we missed you this time, hopefully we will catch you next time!

The girls and I went and visited with Jennifer Lomenick and her kids, Mark did make a quick appearance at the end of our visit! It was great to see them again and I realized just how long it has been since they moved. The kids have gotten so big and they all had a great time playing together. Of course Jeremy wasn't thrilled when the girls where playing dress up and singing and dancing but he did get them to put away the froofroo stuff and play baseball. We had a great dinner with them, and Jennifer I need to get that recipe from you. Thanks for a fun afternoon and evening!

We also got to visit with one of Erik's old missionary companions and old roommates at BYU, Will and his wife, Are. He's one of Erik's closest friends from that time, and we try to visit them whenever we make it to Utah, which has not been very often. Erik likes to credit Will for getting us together. I went and proposed to Will on a dare while playing truth and dare. He turned me down, and Erik stepped in! The girls love to hear that story and on the way to Will and Are's Emma told Erik "Daddy make sure you make a joke about mommy proposing to Will." Which of course he did! We didn't get to see their sweet adopted baby girl, as it was late and she was already in bed, but we did to see pictures. Next visit we'll have to go earlier.

The girls and I also met up with some friends of mine that I knew way back when my family and I lived in West Jordan while my dad was going to BYU. Way back in Middle School. Marnee brought her two girls and Elan brought her two boys and we all met at a McDonalds so the kids could play at the play place while us adults caught up on each other lives. It was a really cool play place and I had to try it out as well! I was the only adult, not sure why, but all the kids thought it was a great and I had to go down the slide a zillion times with all the different kids.

We also met up with Erik's cousin, Jared and his wife, Caitlin. I had never met either one. I know, 10 years in the family and I finally meet the last cousin! We took them out to a BBQ place, if anyone knows us we love a great BBQ. And me wanting to make a great impression ordered ribs, yeah not the smartest move I ever made. But I guess they might as well get to know the real me! We had a great evening with them! Thanks for a fun evening!

The last people we visited was a family that I use to babysit for way back in the day when they were living in Grove City, the Whites. They are a great fun loving family and the little guys I use to babysit are now grown up! Boy do I feel old. But not to let my age drag me down, I had a good game of ball/tag with the two youngest boys and my girls! We had a great dinner with them and spent a lovely time catching up with everyone.

Thanks everyone for giving us a lot of great memories of friends and family, even if we have no pictures!!!

Vacation--Part 2 Snow Day

All the girls wanted to do in Utah was play in the snow! We thought that there would be plenty of snow for us to play in. According to the weather channel we were suppose to be driving through a storm.

When there was no storm while we were driving we were Erik and I were very thankful. But we kept assuring the girls they would get to play in snow.

Thank goodness that Grandmother's house had a patch of snow behind it. Okay. it was more like a crusty ice patch, but to a couple of Cali girls it was snow! There was no other snow our whole trip, sure we saw a couple of small patches of dirty snow along side the road but there was no nice snow to play in.

But the girls took full advantage of the ice, I mean snow, and spent a few hours playing!

Attacking Austin

Snowball fight with Daddy

Get him!

That's my girl!

Did he actually think that he would get away with using his phone when he was suppose to be playing with the girls? Crazy daddy!

Snow cone anyone?

Mia's snow angel!

Emma's snow angel!

Vacation--Part 1 To Grandmother's House We Go

After organizing and going through all the pictures we took on our trip and going over everything that we had done that short week I decided to break our trip into parts. Making it more reader (and lets be honest Writer) friendly!

We left early Wednesday morning and drove forever. Okay, it only took about 8 hours or so, but it sure felt like forever.

We arrived at Grandmother's Wednesday afternoon and spent that evening chatting and catching up as well as spending the night before our early leave Thursday morning.

The girls loved sleeping upstairs in the twin beds. They did have to switch beds the next time we slept there to make it fair. Gotta love those girls--they even switch bunk beds each night to make it fair!

We went out to dinner with Grandmother and the girls got to ride with Grandmother, the same car and same way Erik did when he was younger.

I have definitely been in the big city for way to long. I forgot that you can travel down a rode at less than 50 MPH! Life in Filmore is definitely much more laid back and slower!

Here are some pictures of our time with Grandmother!

Family! Isn't it great we can be together forever?

Erik and Grandmother catching up on life!

Out to eat

Austin waiting, uh patiently?

Mia and Emma hamming it up at the restaurant

Arriving at the restaurant in style!

Fun At The Bronson Film Cave

We took Austin to visit the Bronson Film Cave. Here is a short video of the fun!

Disneyland For Christmas

Once again the girls decided that what they wanted for Christmas was a day at Disneyland! So we ended up having another fun filled day at Disneyland.

The week before it threatened to rain, but luckily the day was a beautiful bright sunny day. And there was hardly any crowds, due to the fact that it was a Wednesday and it had been raining the days leading up to our trip. The longest we had to stand in line was at the Peter Pan ride and Pixie Hollow!

It was fun to take the girls and see what they were excited about this time that they never cared about before. We also had Austin with us and this was his very first time ever at Disneyland.

We also did a few things for the very first time on this trip. We rode the Matterhorn, a first for everyone but Erik, the lines are usually so long for that one that we just skip it but not this time. Emma screamed the whole time and said it was okay while Austin kept his eyes closed the whole time, but Mia and I enjoyed it!

We watched Fantasmic for the first time. I was impressed with the whole show. Disney really knows how to put on a show!

We also went and watched the Jedi Academy. Both girls got picked to be part of the academy! They had a blast!

We also watched the Christmas parade. Well Erik, Austin and the girls watched the parade while I made a run to the car to get the jackets.

One good thing is about going every year is that the girls don't feel the need to get their pictures taken with every character, which means we have more time for rides!

Mia's favorite part about Disneyland this year was "The Matterhorn, Fantasmic, and just everything pretty much!" Emma's favorite part about Disneyland this year was "The fireworks and Fantasmic!"

Austin and the girls!

Us in front of the castle, Thanks Austin for taking the picture!

The castle lit up with Christmas Lights!

Erik and the girls on the bridge on Tom Sawyers Island

Mia fighting Darth Maul!

Emma fighting Darth Maul!

Halloween 2009

It's become a tradition to go to Mammy and Grandpa's ward Halloween Party Halloween night. They always have it at the same place, the Ellsworth Ranch, and it's always on Halloween. This year was no exception.

Austin even came with us.

Enjoy the pics!

Austin in his costume. He went as Master Chief from Halo

Mia and Emma in their costumes. Emma is a zebra and Mia is a GI Diva

Austin soaking wet after bobbing for apples.

Austin bobbing for apples.

Mia after eating the marshmallow, whipped cream, and chocolate syrup without using her hands or any utensils.

Mia eating the above mentioned marshmallow.

Emma after eating the marshmallow, whipped cream, and chocolate syrup without using her hands or any utensils.

Emma eating the above mentioned marshmallow.

Emma bobbing for apples.

Mia bobbing for apples.

Mia and Emma eating dinner.