Gilbert AZ Temple

we got the opprotunity to attend the Gilbert AZ Temple open house...and all i can say is WOW!!! it is beautiful inside and out.  Blaine was super excited to walk through a temple as well and was in awe the entire time.  we also picked up my Aunt Penny and took her with us...she had never been through a temple either, so that was a really cool experience to go with her!

it was really neat as a mom to watch m oldest son walk through a house of the Lord in total amazement.  i could tell it really meant a lot to him to be there.  we were also able to participate in the dedication which was broadcast to our church building.  since blaine is a baptized member of our church, we was able to come as well!    he told me he is even more excited now to be old enough to serve in the temple..just a couple more years.

Whitney!!!!

after 2 years we FINALLY got to meet m sweet, adorable niece WHiTNey!!  she is such a doll!  and it turns out she is going to be a BIG sister!!!!  Congrats to my brother Bob and sister in law stacey!!  they are having another cute little girl!!!  hope it doesn't take us 2 years to meet her!

Pinewood Derby

Blaine's final pinewood derby...he raced as a webelo!! we have loved doing pinewood derby every year...it is so fun to watch blaine's imagination!  there was some serious competition this year!!

 and congrats to Blaine for taking 3rd place in his den!  wahooo!!! way to go Blainey.  he made a "turbo" themed car this year!!  dos bros tacos...haha

Happy Birthday Blaine!!

ahhhhhhh!!!!! i have a TEN YEAR OLD!!! double digits!!! WHAAAAAAT?!?!  i can't believe my little sweetie is 10 years old!!!

 lucky for us, his birthday this year was over President's Day, so we got the day off of school and were able to PLAY.  we went to Pizza Hut for lunch with some friends and cousins

 then off to the clubhouse to mini golf and playing at the park

 
 Blaine was able to have 2 cakes, since now he is DOUBLE DIGITS, and we had a bunch of family and friends over to help us celebrate!

thanks everyone for celebrating with us.  still can't believe my first baby is 10...Blaine is such an amazing, sweet, smart and creative boy.  i don't know how in the world i was so blessed to be him mother.  he is constantly an example to me and this whole family.  not to mention an amazing big brother.  he is a staple for sure in this family and i am grateful everyday that he is my son!  love you blainey boy!  happy birthday!

my SUNBEAM...

can't believe this kid is old enough to be a SUNBEAM!!! he is officially in PRIMARY at church now!  i am such a proud mama!  why do my kids keep growing up!? 

this kid definately has his own personality and style.  love him to pieces!

FLASHBACK...to Blaine's first day of Sunbeams!  i see some similarities...they like their hands in their pockets for sure!

Pit stop

on our drive home, we took a quick pit stop in San Diego to see the temple.  such a beautiful place!  i still call it my own castle.  can't believe Jake and i were married there 11 and a half years ago!  wow...time flies!

Last day in Cali...Salt Creek

our last day in California we had to go to the beach one last time...so we headed down to beautiful Salt Creek!

such a beautiful day...even in January!  can't wait to come back and visit again soon!  we miss you already!

a new passion!!!!

so my brother Rich got me totally hooked on a new hobby....ROCK CLIMBING!  i really liked belaying best (climbing with ropes up really high) but i also liked the bouldering (free climbing)

 that's me up there at the tippy top....60 feet, no biggie!

 i don't know what it is, but it's almost like you feel like you are on top of the world. i guess i feel super accomplished and strong anytime i get to the top!

 and my little Ty guy likes climbing too. (no surprise there).  my brother built a rock wall in his backyard, and ty loved climbing to the top as much as i did!  little monkey boy!

Date Night

Date night at one of my favorite places....the TEMPLE!  and to be more exact...the NEWPORT BEACH temple! i love it there!

Playin with Burches

of COURSE any time we go to Cali, we spend as much time as we can with my family, and the BURCHES!!!  we miss them so much now that we are so far away, but anytime we get to play, it's like nothing has changed.  these kids (and us adults) will be friends for LIFE!!

 Blaine and Kam put on a talent show for us

 reunited and it feels sooooo good!!!!!

and a late night game night with there super awesome gun people!  Tripoly of course!  i miss game night with our buddies.  thanks everyone who came over to play with us.  and thanks Burches for always letting us come play.  we love you tons and miss you everyday!

New Years day at Balboa

in case you didn't know...I LOVE CALIFORNIA!!!!  it really was the best place to start off this year!  and the boys were so excited to go to the beach!  so we headed out to balboa island...one of my favorite spots!

 they wanted to make "sand angels"

 we rented bikes and rode up the board walk

 then we walked down the pier for yummy lunch at Ruby's  YUMMMM