Daddy-Lukey Date Night

Friday night was Daddy & Luke's Date Night!  Luke decided that Boomer's was the place to go!  They had a blast playing miniature golf and playing games together!  Jeremy loves having these 1 on 1 moments with the kids!  And I think they like it too!

The Fellowship of the Ring in Concert

Happy Birthday to Me!

Last night I got my birthday present from Jeremy early.  We headed down to the Sports Arena to see the

Munich Symphony Orchestra, the Pacific Chorale Choir and the Phoenix Boys Choir perform the entire score and music from the movie.  They played while the movie played on a big screen in the background.

It was amazing.  I got goose bumps and tears in my eyes!  The music is so beautiful and seeing the movie again on the big screen was awesome!  We didn't know we would be seeing the entire movie and it ended up lasting 3 1/2 hours!

 In the lobby, they had props and costumes that were used in the movie...

 AND I ran into my friends from Comic-Con...the Hobbit Sisters!  These 3 are the cutest!

 It was a great night...I loved it!

Thanks Honey....I Love You!

Another Heart Happy Moment...

Last night I asked the "who wants to say the prayer?" question, as we sat down to have dinner.  Brody immediately raised his hand.  I was not sitting close to him, so I asked Gavin (who was sitting right next to him), if he could help Brody.  He, of course, said "Sure!".  Then the 2 of them went on to give one of the best prayers I've ever heard.  I got all emotional during the sweet prayer and at the sight of my oldest helping my youngest.  It really made my heart happy...

Tash n Trish-Excellent Adventure #3

Kingston-Edmonds Ferry

 For an early birthday present this year, I got to head off to Washington again to visit Tash.  The kids had a 4 day weekend, so I got hooked up w/ a Jet Blue Buddy Pass (thanks Amy!) and headed out early Friday morning.  Long Beach Airport has gotten rid of their cheap parking lots, so I took a chance and parked in the Marriott parking lot across the street.  I even took the complimentary shuttle to the airport.  Free Parking Baby!  My plane left at 8:00 AM and I was in Seattle by 10:45 AM.  Tash picked me up and then I got to run errands with her and Natalie.  Then it was off to her new house!  It is so dang cute and out in the country. She was just finishing up with the building of Natalie's bed, so I sat and watched.  She's pretty amazing!  Then we sat and tried to figure out what to do with our weekend.  We got on the computer and started searching.  

Well, I kind of wanted to got to Forks and check out all the Twilight tourist stuff AND I have always wanted to see Olympic Natl Park AND  The 1st Annual Geek Girl Con just happened to be in Seattle this weekend...so...there you have it!  The weekend was planned!  We decided to head out Friday night, since the drive to Forks was about 3 hours.  We booked a hotel in Sequim and went on our way!  We got to go on a ferry!  I was so excited....I have never been on one before!  It was so cool and so cold!

 The ferry drops you off in the cutest little town called Port Gamble.  It was dinner time, so we stopped at this awesome BBQ joint..."Mike's".  We had the yummiest tri-tip & pork sandwiches, with ribs and coleslaw!  Mmmmm-mmmmm Good!  Two thumbs up!

 We got to our Econo Lodge in Sequim (pronounced-Squim), around 9 and settled in for the night.  We got up Saturday morning, went down and had our free breakfast and then we set off for Forks!  It was such a beautiful drive.  We had to drive through parts of Olympic Natl Park and I was blown away by the beauty.  The leaves are just starting to change and there are rivers, lakes and bridges everywhere!

 When we finally got to Forks, we headed for the Chamber of Commerce.  The people there were so dang cute and we had so much fun being little Twilight Geeks!  We played there for quite a while visiting with the nice people and taking lots of pictures.  Then we hit up some more Twilight tourist spots, before heading to First Beach and Rialto Beach. 

The Twilight Gang and Bella's truck

First Beach

Rialto Beach

Driving through the Forest

So Pretty!

 We took so many pictures of the beaches, trees and waterways...you'll have to check out the picasa album to see them all.  But seeing those beaches were a dream come true for me.  I have always wanted to go there!

On our way back...we hit up Port Angeles and their annual Crab Festival!  We headed into the tent and had ourselves the Crab Feast!

It was sooooooo goooooooood!  After our feast, we walked through the shops and then down the pier, before heading back home for the day.  We got to ride the ferry again and I got to see Port Gamble in the daylight.  It was such a wonderful day!

Sunday, we headed into Seattle for Geek Girl Con.  We had tried to get discounted tickets early at the comic book shops on Friday, but they were all sold out.  So, we tried our luck at the door and were told they had just sold out!  NOOOOOOO!  So I broke out the, "but I came all the way from San Diego!" line.  That did it....the supervisor approved...and we were in!  Woo Hoo!

 We spent the day browsing the exhibit hall, attending panels and hanging out with some of the most wonderful geek girls I've ever met!  We even got to attend a screening and sing-along of "Labrynth".  It was so fun!  We ended the night with dinner at the OSF and got to sit in the train car!

I slept in Monday morning and spent the morning packing and watching Tash get the kids ready for the day.  We did head into the little town and had a delicious breakfast at the Maltby Cafe.  Then Dave came home and we all loaded up to head to the airport.  I wanted to stop and get some money out of the ATM, and that's when I realized my debit card was missing!  So...I called the OSF and they had it!  We raced downtown and picked it up and made it just in time to catch the flight.  It was such a wonderful fun-filled weekend. 

 I feel so very blessed to have such great friends, a  loving husband who lets me go and play and moms who help while I'm away!

When I got back to Long Beach....my car was still there in the parking lot of the Marriott....YAY!  I was a little worried it might get towed...but it didn't!  Free Parking Baby!  I know I already wrote that...but it was so exciting!

I was so glad to be home and got lots of hugs and loves from the kids.  I'm re-energized and ready to get back to reality!  I'm so very happy that I get to do these fun little trips and love hangin' with my Tash!

  Can't wait for the next one!

To see all the pix from our trip-Click HERE!

Mission San Juan Capistrano

 Thanks to my awesome moms, who let me have the day off, I got to accompany Cali and her class to the Mission SJC.  I don't think I have ever been here before.  It is absolutely beautiful!

They started their trip by making adobe bricks:

 Then I got to take this group on a tour around the place:

We really had a fun time!  I'm really glad I got to go too!

General Conference Part 2

Today was a family-filled day!

We started with a pancake/hash browns/bacon/cinnamon rolls breakfast at Nana's & Papa's with Aunt Mishelle and Scrac.  We all had a great time with the Conference packets I printed off of sugardoodle.net.  Everyone actually stayed in the family room, all together, the entire time!  After the 1st session, we went around the house and saw all the cool things that are happening to it! There's always some new addition or change whenever we go over.  It's so exciting!

We left at noon and headed over to Gammy's and Papa's for more food and Conference.  The kids had all the cousins, so they spent the whole 2nd session playing with them.  We did make them come up for the Prophet's concluding talk.  Then we all went on a walk down to the beach.  It was a beautiful day.  The kids had fun playing frisbee with "Tim from Indiana (foreigner!)" and his friend.  We walked back to mom's and had a yummy chicken dinner, before calling it a night.

I am so thankful for this time of year and for the leaders of the Church.  I was really touched by many of the talks given this weekend.  I'm really grateful that my kids seem to be "getting it" more and more as they get older.  It really strengthens my testimony and reaffirms to me that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is TRUE!

General Conference Part I

We missed the morning session, due to soccer.  But thanks to the internet and byutv.org, we can watch it whenever we want!  We came home and watched the News of the World and In the News, between sessions (those are my favorite!).  When the 2nd session started, me and the kids gathered around my laptop and were so excited to see and hear the Primary Choir.  The kids thought that was so neat.  Then, Cali and I sat and listened to the first two talks.  She was actually listening and asking questions....it was such a neat experience.  Then, Gav came back in for the 3rd talk and stayed until the end.  He was so engaged and was also asking questions.  He continued to watch the MTC special that was on after conference and also started watching "The Best Two Years" movie.  I had to cut him off to get ready for the Priesthood session...and he was really bummed.  He asked, "why don't we watch byutv everyday?"  Huh....maybe we will.

Gav got in his suit and left with daddy to join Papa Carl for the Priesthood Session.  My boys looked so handsome.  

I was so touched by the spirit that was in my home today.  I was so happy to see my kids participating in and understanding the messages that were shared today.  It was a good day and I can't wait for more tomorrow.