Smiley360

I love this company.  I have been able to try different products for free, and give my opinion on them.  I recommend this to everyone.

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San Diego

 Last January Ben and I got to travel to San Diego for a Valley conference.  Poor Ben was stuck in classes almost all day most days, but we did have time for some sight seeing.  It turns out that I LOVE San Diego!  It was such a fun, beautiful city.  We did the trolley tour around the city (twice), went to Balboa Park, the gaslamp district, I got to go to the Mormon Battallion and loved every minute there (I wish we could go again), and even got to go whale watching.

The whale watching was probably my favorite thing (since our dive got cancelled due to rain and high seas).  What an awesome experience!  On the way to find whales, a pod of dolphins was playing right next to the boat.  (We were lucky to rent a small rib boat instead of having to go on the huge sight seeing boat with 200 other people)

Even Pete did well, even though he's about as terrified of water as I am.

There's the back of one of the whales diving to go back underwater.  Our cameras were too slow to get amazing pictures, but that's ok.

On the way back in, there was a series of docks completely covered in sea lions.  It was a great day for sea life.  I love marine animals of all kinds.  As I said, I think the whale watching was my favorite!

 We got to stay at the hotel Del Coronodo (the company paid...  no we wouldn't be able to stay there normally).  The history there is really interesting.  All of the owners, movies and movie stars, fun corridors and rooms. 

We also got to visit the Midway.  I love history and the sense of pride it instills in our country to be able to visit a grand carrier like this.  It was fun to listen to people who had served on it talk about the different areas with the audio tour, and to see people who had served on it there to help answer questions as well. 

We have been really blessed to go on these trips the last few years with the company.  We owe Wayne and Ronda Andersen a lot and are so thankful they have taken us, especially me since I am not the one sitting through the training meetings! 

New Adventures

It has been a year of new things.  New house, new school for the oldest (middle school...  eek), a new trip to Minnesota,

(it was beautiful there!  I loved it!)

new ward, new callings that we haven't done (Ben is ward mission leader and I have been enrichment leader and activity days, primary teacher, and music leader in primary).

Its been a great summer and we weren't ready for school to start, but it has and life goes on.  We are looking forward to going home for Christmas, and whatever new adventures we can find during the winter.  For now, just a few pics cause I think they are pretty cute!  lol.

Goose is getting almost as tall as Grandpa!

Goose really liked the glock...  I do too.  Maybe J should give it to us!  ha ha

She also liked "diving" for the first time in the hotel pool with Uncle Jordan.  (they went to the bottom of the 12' part for a while)

This summer also meant knew glasses for shorty.  She still doesn't like them...  maybe someday?

What??? Start blogging again??

I quit doing the blog because I didn't think anyone was ever looking at it, and with how hard littlest was, it was just one thing that could go that I didn't have to feel guilty about (like the housework, cooking, time with oldest, etc). But I have had a few people ask if I am going to start again. So here it goes. I will try and keep up. I hope you can bear our boring life! I guess this also means that I have to start using my camera again instead of just my ipod. These are from Baby's first birthday (can't believe its only a few months til she's 2!!), and a trip to Yellowstone/Island Park last summer.

Shutterfly Christmas Cards

I LOVE Shutterfly! If you haven't used them before, they are fast, do a great job, and have super cute layouts. This is the company I have used to do my photo books and Baby's announcement cards, and can't wait to use their cute Holiday cards to send out a new picture of baby and big sis to family and friends! I love getting Christmas cards and seeing how much everyones children have grown and I can't wait to show everyone how much itty bitty has grown. With this Shutterfly promotion, now I can send out those cards! If you would like 50 free Christmas cards as well, go to the link below. I think I am going to use the Many Memories Tree card. So cute! I hope you can all enjoy the free cards offer!

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Check out some of their cards at:
Christmas Cards http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards
Holiday Cards http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards
Party Invitations http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-invitations

Swore Farms

Leaf rubbings. No matter how old I get, I still think they are cool!
What a cute cowgirl

Big Sissy didn't want to take time to pose by the huge pumpkins with lil sis.

Every year they have a corn maze, and this year it was even better! There are always agricultural questions along the way with an option for each direction. One way is right, one is wrong. Its pretty fun to learn some new facts every year.

Goose' pumpkin. It was puppy prints

Baby's pumpkin was a cute kitty, just like she was. (Mom helped carve, since she was in bed)

Dad's pumpkin.

For the last few years, we go to a family owned farm a couple miles up the road to get our pumpkins. We like supporting local families, and the guy that owns it has a sister that I really like who was in our ward. They have tractors the kids can look at and climb on, a corn maze, pumpkin fields, other fresh produce, and games. Usually face painting, fish pond, and a few others. Goose picked the pumpkins for her dad, while I picked them for baby and I. Dad and Goose had MUCH bigger pumpkins since Goose thought those ones were pretty cool. And I got some great seeds to roast and eat out of the deal.

Leaves

We have a huge tree in our yard and the fallen leaves from it are a favorite plaything in the fall. Goose spends TONS of time raking them into a huge pile and not only do we enjoy it, but our friend and his furry sister love them as well. When they go on walks, they would stop just to play. (Hope you don't mind me using the pic... it is just TOO cute!)

Silly Goose!

Where did she go? (that wasn't even all the leaves!)

My cute slave raker (actually, this was her way of getting out of other jobs inside!)

Itty Bitty's cute little feet sticking out of the leaves.

Look at those chubby cheeks! She is definitely NOT starving!

Love my two girls. Although the youngest was getting tired of this after a little bit so not cooperating in the pictures very well. Too bad the leaves are gone now. Fall used to be one of my favorite seasons. It is my favorite back home, where there are other colors than brown to make the leaves really stand out and look pretty and the weather is wonderful (sometimes).