Thanksgiving 2006

After our fabulous trip to Disneyland (see below), we all drove to LA where we spent the next couple of days. On Thanksgiving Day Taylor spent a large part of the morning cooking for our big feast. While the turkey was cooking we went on a drive to Malibu and walked along a beautiful beach. When we returned to the apartment we were overtaken by the wonderful aroma of a well prepared Thanksgiving meal. After a little team work in the kitchen we were able to eat a nice quiet meal since the littlest of the three kiddies were both sleeping! We were all thankful for that. It was a great meal that included Moms stuffing and gravy and Kayce's sweet potato soufflé. Brad and I are very grateful for all of our blessings this Thanksgiving. We are so thankful for the time we have had here in Southern California; for Brad's work opportunity and to be close to Taylor, Kayce and Axel for a few months. Brad and I are so very blessed with a great family, a good job and the gospel.
(sorry but we all forgot to take pictures on thanksgiving!)
Friday we went to the La Brea Tar pits near Taylor and Kayce's house. Ayden enjoyed seeing all of the extinct animal remains that have been preserved in these unique tar pits for a long time. After the tar pits visit we drove around Beverly Hills and looked at all the ostentatious houses and of course did some people watching. We even saw one of the Olsen twins (don't ask me which one) trying to drive through all of the paparazzi out of a parking lot and she pulled out right next to us. In the evening we went to Rodeo Drive and walked around all of the shops we can't afford to even walk in. The only notable thing from the evening is walking by Hilary Swank and going to the famous Sprinkles cupcake shop. We got some good star sightings for only being in LA two days!

Kayce, Alex, Ayden and I atop a giant sloth at the La Brea Tar Pits!

Taylor and Ayden riding the sloth.

Ayden and I pretending to be a vicious wolf as they are always unfortunately portrayed. We don't look so vicious do we?

Kayce and Ayden on Rodeo Drive.

LA

We have been spending a lot of time in LA this past week with Taylor and Kayce. Last weekend Brad flew home to Burley for his Grandpa Terry's funeral so the girls and I stayed with Taylor and Kayce in LA. Brad had a great time in Idaho spending time with his family and he was very grateful that he could make it back home for the funeral. A lot of changes have been happening in his family with the passing away of an Uncle and his Grandfather and the birth of a new baby while we have been here in San Diego and I know that it has been difficult for Brad not to be able to be there with his family. I was grateful that it worked out that he was able to make a trip home. While he was gone the girls and I had a great time with Taylor, Kayce and Axel. And it was very helpful to have them around to help me with the girls. The highlight of the trip for me was meeting Dr. Robert Rey from the t.v show Dr. 90210. Yes, for all of you who have heard but were not sure, he is Mormon. I met him at church and I also saw his wife Hayley and his two kids there too. He is not in the same ward as Taylor and Kayce but they meet in the building at the same time. Kinda funny, huh!
When Brad got back on Sunday we went back to San Diego for Monday and Tuesday and then early Wednesday morning left for DISNEYLAND! Taylor and Kayce met us there and we had a great time.

The girls and Goofy

Off we go!

Ayden is excited about the Christmas Tree. She asked Brad to take a picture of her with the tree. It is a new concept to us that you can be in the Holiday season yet still be able to wear shorts!

Taylor, Axel, Kayce, Jenni, Alex, Brad and Ayden on our last ride of the day, the Jungle Cruise.

Although Ayden got cut off and Alex is hiding under a blanket, this is the only group picture we have from Disneyland.

The cousins sitting on the Mickey Mouse's couch.

Alex just chillin as usual.

Ayden is riding Dumbo.

Ayden and River Sliding

We were looking through some of our videos and thought we would post this one too. It makes us miss River, but we will get to see him soon. We are teaching Ayden how to take turns.

By Popular Demand...

Ayden was not injured in the making of this film.

Leaving San Diego

I just wanted to let everyone know that we are headed back to Idaho sooner then we thought. It was unknown how long we would be here and we have found out that we are leaving the second week of December. The girls and I are flying to Park City on the 7th of December and Brad is finishing things up here and is driving back on the 9th. Brad should arrive in Idaho on the Sunday in time to pick us up at the airport in Boise Monday morning. We have had a wonderful time in San Diego and in many respects we are sad to leave but we are also excited to get back home to River, our house and our friends. Now it is just a rush to fit everything in we can during these next few weeks.

Our Recent Adventures

Brad took the day off last Thursday so we decided to go to Sea World again. We are just making sure we get our moneys worth out of our passes. It was our third time there and I was surprised how much there was still to do. We went to Shamu's Happy Harbor which is a play ground/splash park for little kids. They had a maze of netted tunnels extended in the air you could climb though and Ayden loved them. Brad and I also took turns and did the roller coaster. It was fun, but there is something about doing it with another person that makes it more enjoyable.

Come on, Daddy!

What a cute dolphin. I finally got to feel a dolphin! They did not feel like I expected them to. All the other times we went it was so crowded you couldn't get a space on the wall to see the dolphins. I was happy to see them this time, Ayden was too.

On Saturday we went to Moon Light Beach in Encinitas with some friends. It was a little cold and windy but that did not stop Brad from getting into the water. While we were all up on this hill playing with the kids Brad and H were building a sandcastle all by themselves. Now, who are the kids?

My Confessions

My sister in law gave me this idea... she did a blog titled "the confessions of a 25 year old mommy queen" where she listed some of her deep dark secrets and it really makes you think about some of your own confessions. I decided to give it a go and see what I come up with.

1. I attract freaks and old men. So if you are a friend of mine and you are not an old man you might want to reevaluate yourself.
2. I wish I was a doctor.
3. Brad and I have yo-yo competitions after the girls are in bed.
4. I center my life around when I get to eat next.
5. My biggest fear in life is that my kids won't turn out to be productive, good, God fearing individuals.
6. I once had the whole movie Clueless memorized word for word.
7. I have been on national television, a radio add and a billboard (for those of you who know why, don't leave a comment about it, he he).
8. I hate and won't eat anything that once lived under water.
9. Depending on my mood it is hard to make me laugh...unless you are a dog.
10. Until I was about 19 I thought that when someone said the word "bless you" after someone sneezed they were saying "ble shoe." Which I thought was just some weird nonsense word like "gazoontite," but gazoontite isn't even a nonsense word. It is actually Gesundheit which means good health in German.
11. I never knew a pirate's loot was called his "booty" until last summer (thanks Elizabeth).
12. People in general really intrigue me and I can people watch for hours.
13. I have a memory from when I was five years old that I still don't know if it really happened or if it was a dream.
14. I will not sit on a public toilet... even if it is covered with something. Squatting is the way to go.

What are some of your confessions? Leave a comment. (anyone can leave one, you don't have to sign in anymore)

Our crazy little girl

We are not so sure what Ayden is doing but it seems she thinks she is a super hero shooting people with her rays and using special powers to stop people in their tracks. I wonder where she got these super human powers. We might have a mutant on our hands!!!!

World Famous San Diego Zoo

The whole family posing for a picture at the end of a full day of looking at bears, lions and tigers, oh my!! Both Ayden and Alex did a wonderful job keeping up with the pace.

The crowd favorite, an Arctic Wolf.
Towards the end of the show, the crowd all howled with the wolf and it reminded us so much of our dog River. Seeing how much all the people loved this wolf it is no wonder why River is the most popular individual in our neighborhood in Idaho. It is miraculous watching the wolf and seeing how much River is like him...it is hard to believe that huskies are not any closer to a wolf genetically than any other dog. Oh, we miss River!

Jenni and Ayden heading up the moving sidewalk. Alex loved all of the sites and sounds throughout the day. I wish everybody could have seen how excited she was when we sat in a stadium waiting for the sea lion show to begin and 6 Macaws flew into the stadium.

Ayden decided to feign sleep for the picture. Do not be fooled by her calmness in this picture. Immediately after this picture was taken Ayden was growling like a lion at the giraffes, walking on all four making monkey sounds while announcing to the crowds that she was a monkey, climbing up on the fence and running around everywhere.