The Beach!

While we were in California, we were able to go the beach 3 times. The first time, it was cloudy and chilly, so I stayed out of the water with Stacie and read while Kevin went boogie boarding. The waves were pretty mild (green flag was raised) and he had a really good time.



The next time we went, the weather was more cooperative with slightly warmer weather and fewer clouds. However, the lifeguard flag that was raised was the yellow flag, meaning the currents were a little stronger and the waves bigger. Kevin went boogie boarding this time as well, however, I again opted to read on the sand.



The third time we went, the sky was clear blue and it was HOT and as luck would have it, the flag was red (BIG waves and a strong rip current). Kevin AGAIN braved the water and I followed suit thinking that this would be the last chance to boogie board with him for a while. It was like being in a river, the current was so strong! We had fun anyway!

Best Friends and a Baby

While we were up in northern Utah, we were able to spend a little time with our wonderful friends from Williamsburg, the Crawfords. We have missed them so much, but it was so great to see them and to meet their cute new little girl Abby. We were able to visit with them twice, and both times they fed us our favorite foods - Cafe Rio for lunch and then yummy doughnuts for breakfast - you guys are the best! We are so sad that they will be leaving the country (not sure where to yet!) but we are excited about the possibility of visiting them in really remote and cool locales!

Me and little Miss Baby Abby

This was taken the next day when we came over for breakfast and Abby was wrapped in the cutest fuzzy blanket! Kelly has the best taste!


Don't the doughnuts look AMAZING!! I wish I would remember where Kelly said they were from. With flavors like cookies and cream, mint chocolate, and s'mores, you can hardly go wrong!

For some reason, I didn't take any pictures with Kelly, Chris, Sam, or Liam...probably just because I am getting a little baby hungry! And the doughnut picture is probably because I am hungry hungry!

Horseback Riding with the Burgesses

While we were up in Alpine for the wedding reception, Shana and her dad, Clark, were nice enough to take us up to the Alpine rodeo grounds to ride their two horses, Strider and Ellie. We LOVED it!

Stacie happily grooming away...

Trying not to stand too close to his hooves! I am not so secretly scared of horses... and this was part of my equinophobia therapy (I made up that word - sounds pretty good, huh?)

Shana looking super adorable with her big pets

Stacie's ready to ride :)

Kevin's taking her out for a spin

I feel a lot better when I am on top of the horse...then all they can do is buck me off, right?

After we had had our turns riding, Clark and Shana REALLY rode them!

It was such a beautiful day!

After we finished riding, we thought that the horses needed a treat from the orchard. This is me trying to prove once and for all that I am not afraid of horses! Of course, it actually freaked the heck out of me!

Calling All Angels

One of the perks of my dad's business is our Angels season tickets. I can't stand to watch baseball on TV, but I really enjoy going to the ball field (I think it is all the treats I usually buy!). As a kid, my dad would take us all the time and I even got to go to game #6 of the 2002 World Series...it was awesome!

Do you think we look like sisters?

Kevin, me, Stacie, and Mitch

Little hams!
:)

Getting goofy...

We won!

Most Recent House Pictures

Our wonderful realtor has been really great about sending us pictures of our house every week and these are some of the most recent batch!

They are now working on the exterior brick/stone

This is a shot from the master bedroom into the master bath

The master bedroom

This is a shot from the great room into the dining room (on the right)
and the kitchen (on the left)

This is a shot from the great room looking at the entry on the right

and the dining room on the left

The Alpine Reception

My new sister-in-law, Shana, grew up on an orchard in Alpine, UT, but moved down to Southern California to go to nursing school a few years ago and thankfully met my brother Mark in the local singles ward. He is so lucky to have such a great bride and I am so lucky to have such a great new sister-in-law!

Well, two weeks after the wedding, our family took a road trip (which was very interesting, to say the least!) up to Northern Utah for the second reception. We had a great time getting to know Shana's family better and becoming increasingly more jealous of her upbringing in one of the most beautiful cities in Utah with tons of land and horses to boot!

Here are just a few pictures before the reception started :)

Baby Lydia Arrived!

On August 6th baby Lydia arrived...and her Uncle Kevin got to be there! When Kevin's sister Lisa went in to labor she gave us a call and Kevin drove up to St. George as a surprise to be there! It was worth it!