Fortune Cookie says...

What a smart little cookie....and we are definitely going to take it's advice and head 

d

o

w

n

the coastline tomorrow to San Diego for the weekend!!! 

See you next week! =)

By way of the Swallows

Today Brody and I went down to San Juan Capistrano to explore the Mission and it's surroundings--it is such a cute town! We had a great lunch at Pedro's Tacos that is just across from the Mission--it was SO good!
After lunch we walked across the street to the Mission and had a lot of fun looking around and learning about it! We love things like this! =) And I had a lot of fun taking photos!





(my favorite kind of spider...dead & encased!)
Brody browsing in the gift shop...
...and I found a little Swallow friend
In the chapel.....lighting a candle


Make a wish!
(I set the timer for this next one. =)

He was going after Brodys finger!

On our way out of town we stopped in at the Trading Post and found some great Mexican Blankets for $7!

We also celebrated 7.11.09 by getting free Slurpee's at Seven Eveleen...
and then headed home up the coast....such a wonderful day!! =)

Happy...

4th of July!

The 4th of July is probably one of eveyones favorites, and how could it not be?! You have time off, great BBQ's, time with family, fire works and so much more! =)

This year was so fun and really mellow at the same time (which was really good for the guys since this is a busy time of year for work)! We had fun lounging out side by the pool in the warm sun & BBQing! The fourth is always extra fun because it is my Sisters birthday! This year I made the cake....and....we will get to that in a min! =) It was such a fun weekend!!

When we dropped off my car at Pep Boys, there was a firework stand in the parking lot and we just couldn't resits! So we bought some---which turned out to not be enough--next year we will stock up! =)

Some of our firework loot

What better way to start off the weekend then by relaxing at the beach...with patriotic toes! =)

This is a Ruffles Potato chip on fire! No, we did not add lighter fluid to this little chip, he is burning birght by is own greases! it made us all think twice about our chip choices! =)

This is the cake! I spent a lot of time on this one! I made the first one the night before, frosted it in the morning---and rushed myself a little too much and forgot to cut the dome off the middle layer. As you can imagine, on the drive over the poor cake started to crack and fall apart!! When we got to my parents house it was looking very sad. Brody offered to run to the store and get me a new cake mix (and luckily I brought my tools with me)....and I was able to save the cake (or sort of re-do it! =) And I think it came out really cute!

We did our own little firework show before heading off to watch the big one!

Brody had a lot of fun lighting off the fireworks we got (in his cute 4th of July shirt)! =)

So did John....he even got creative with how he would light them!

Our show was over a little too fast! We didn't buy much because we didn't know if we would get to them--now we know better for next year!

We ended up heading down to the water! It was SO SO pretty!! In the (really hard to see) photo below was the best shot I could get of the water with the TONS of boats all lined up to watch the show! The lots of lights toward the bottom of the photo are boats---one boat was playing patriotic music for a bit....it was so fun to see, because years ago my family took our boat out to watch the fireworks! =)

We had a great view of both the Back Bay and Big Canyon show---it was such a blast (no pun intended)! ;)

Brody and I with the two shows going on in the background! =)

We are so very blessed to live in this amazing country with all the freedoms we have, and are so incredibly grateful to those who fight everyday so that we can continue to enjoy these freedoms for generations to come! We hope everyone had a wonderful and safe 4th of July!!!

Date Night!

Brody has been in Dallas Texas for the past week at the Dallas market. He had a busy and successful show & I am so proud of all his hard work! When he got home very late Sunday night, he surprised me with the idea of a Disneyland date day/night! It was so much fun and I love having him back home!! =)

It has been awhile since we have done our tram shot...so here it is! =)

We ended up eating at Ariels Grotto (I think it's called). We have never been and thought it would be fun to try a new place (I love how we have been going to Disneyland for about 6 years now, and we still have new places to try), the food was amazing!! You pay a flat rate and get served a 3 course meal. The only thing you get to pick is your main course, everything else they give you a nice "sample plate". We loved it!

It was also part 'meet & greet' with the princesses---which we weren't really into, but it is great for young kids of course! =)

We went on several rides and then stopped in at 'It's tough to be a bug' 3D show, we have not been to it in well over a year, so that was really fun! =)

As we were leaving we walked out to this beautiful sunset!

It was such a fun date night!!

Girls Camp!!

Girls Camp was such a blast this year! I LOVE my calling!! These girls were so fun to hang out with and really impressed me everyday. My favorite part was the testimony meeting---my girls where the first up and I think all but one got up to bare her testimony! It was such a great experience and I just LOVE these girls!! 

I went and bought decorations before camp so the Camp Councilors from our ward could decorate the cabin for the girls with our 70's theme! They did such a great job, and the girls just loved it! 

The first day was took a hike to a river after lunch. And here are some of our girls enjoying the nice cold spring water in the hot sun! 

Some of our girls on a nice big log! =) 

Us (ward) leaders from the Oak Creek Ward

The girls and a couple of us leaders would stay up until all hours of the night playing games with them! It was a lot of fun!

Before lunch one day, singing some camp songs! 

The lake! It was so much fun! I got to go out on the water twice....I could have spent all day out there!!

The girls loved card games! It seemed like they were always playing something new. They know SO many different card games. 

The friendship bracelet I made! I made another one that was a lot better, but never took a photo of it! This was the first time I have ever made one! =) 

Ropes Course: One of my Girls

Our Young Woman's Pres on the rock wall 

Another Leader....

getting ready for the leap of faith...

leaping!

Me after I leaped 

One of our ward leaders leaping

The broken bridge 

Deer Lodge--Where we spent A LOT of time. Hearing speakers, playing games, and most importantly snacking! 

Bishops Game Night! 

More Camp Songs

Our ward on the swings! =)

Group photo! We are all flashing 'OC' for Oak Creek Ward =) 

Testimony Meeting! 

The last night we started a water fight with other wards around 12:30am! =) 

...I could go on and on and on about camp and little stories, like smuggling a Dite Coke for one of my girls! But, bottom line, it was such a blessing to be with these girls and we had a TON of fun!! =)