A time of endings... some endings are harder than others!

Our good friends, the Rees's moved away. We knew it was coming for a while, but we didn't want to accept it. They were the kind of friends that are hard to replace. I still remember my first day at church and Amanda introduced herself to me. I found out she was teaching preschool the next year and the rest is history!!!! Our little girls also became really good friends. I guess you could even say, Brooklyn was her first BFF... as they called each other. We had so many memories with them. We went down and had dinner with them the night they flew out. I don't know what was harder saying goodbye or seeing how hard it was for Gracie to say goodbye. She cried the entire way home. Thank goodness for life long friends!!!!
Another ending....is Gracie finished first grade. I still find it hard to believe that she is in second grade already. But this is her on her last day of first grade!!!

But what would the last day of school be, without a pool party with friends. We wanted to start the summer off right, even if we would be in Utah for most of it, we had to live it up why we could!!!!

Our 2011 Easter...I am so far behind!

So I know Easter was several months ago, but I am trying to catch up on the blog...slowly! This past Easter, Deven was in Washington D.C., but the kids and I managed to still have some fun. We had Easter dinner with our good friends the Rees's and Vancour's and of course before dinner the kids got to have an egg hunt. They had a good time and got lots of fun treats!!!

The Easter bunny still found us this year, in fact, he left a little surprise for the kiddos. He sent them on a treasure hunt and there was a special egg at the end.

We enjoyed a neighborhood Easter egg hunt as well. The kids got to go to the park with some neighborhood friends and find some eggs. So much good candy!!!! We loved Easter!

Ward Temple Trip and Beach Day

Our ward put together a temple trip, where we could drop off the kids at the beach and then attend a session at the temple. This was really nice since Deven was away. Also they had just re-opened the temple so it was nice to actually get to go to a session. They had games for the kids to play and of course they fed them. After the session we had a ward potluck and then I let the kids play with their friends at the beach for a while.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DYLAN

Dylan turned two on April 11, 2011. We combined birthday parties for the kids this year since Deven was in Washington D.C. during April, but Gracie and I had to still do a little something for him. He loves sports of all kinds, so we figured we would do a little baseball party. We just had cupcakes and of course then we ended up playing ball with him the rest of the night. We had fun, even if it was just the 3 of us!!!

Spring Break Part II...Getting home

I did it again. I loaded the pictures in reverse. Oh well, I think it will still make sense. I picked up a van we had rented early Monday morning and then I picked up Amanda and her kids in SLC. We were off on a long drive down a desolate HWY to California. We had so much fun and the kids did really well all things considered. We drove all day and got to Reno about 5 that evening. The kids had been really good and we decided to stop at Chucky Cheese and let them run around for a bit. We were only about 3 hours away. We got back in the car, it had been snowing on and off on the road but nothing to bad. When we got to the pass from Reno to California they said the road was closed and we could not go through. We had no choice, we had to turn back and get a hotel room in Reno. We found out later had we not stopped at Chucky Cheese we would have got stuck in a terrible snow storm and still been forced to turn around at the top of the summit. When we woke up the next morning we found out there was a flight back to Hawaii that night, we just had to get through the pass. We kept checking on the road conditions and they said chains were required to get through. I am so glad I was with Amanda we decided we would just have to purchase some chains...and a few diet cokes, and go for it. It was crazy. When we got to the top we couldn't believe how much snow there was. We made it safely to the other side. We managed to get to Travis, return our rental car, and now wait to see if we would be going home. I guess you don't always get lucky. We didn't get on. At first Amanda and I were disappointed and we shed a few tears. But luckily we had booked a hotel on base just in case so we got a shuttle to take us there for the night and come up with plan B. People were so kind and we learned so much. We went to see when the next available flight was going to be and it wasn't until Saturday. We only had the hotel for one more night. We were tired and decided it was best to just purchase 1 way tickets home out of Sacramento. (Thanks MOM!!!) Even though we didn't get back on a space A flight. I had a great trip, with a great friend. We made so many memories and I will never forget it!!!!
Since we ended up spending and extra day in California, we decided to take the kids to the Jelly Belly Factory, and then of course we had to check out the outlet malls there.



The kids all wanted to sample flavors such as bugars...gross I know.

Tour Time!!!
This is all the snow at the top of the summit. You could barely see the road signs!!!


When we were in Reno, the kids decided they could fly across the beds. They entertained themselves all morning.

Here we go. Amanda and I decided we can do anything with a good friend and a diet coke.

Spring Break and Lee's Wedding

Ok, so I have not blogged in a while. Life got crazy and now I am trying to catch up. I just realized all my pictures are in reverse, but I think it will make sense. Spring Break 2011. It was my brothers wedding and I really wanted to go to the mainland for it. Deven was in Washington D.C. and so I was really looking forward to the trip. But I decided, due to the cost of airline tickets, I was going to try to take a space A flight. I had talked to several people who had done space A before, and my friend Amanda said she would brave the adventure with me. We got lucky, there happened to be a flight directly into SLC. This is rare but perfect for us. WE GOT ON!!!! We were so excited. Who is crazy enough to take their kid by themselves on such an unknown adventure. Well Amanda and I. We flew on a refueling plane and the whole way over they refueled fighter planes in the air. The crew was really awesome and let us go down in the window and watch them refuel the planes. The seats were nothing spectacular, but the kids were able to lay down on them and sleep most of the way. When we landed in SLC there was snow on the ground. I think the kids were most excited about this. We got to spend some time with Nana and grandpa as well. Gracie, Nana, and I got to go to Disney on Ice and do a little shopping at the Gateway. We had so much fun. Then it was on to Gunnison to help get ready for Lee and Lindsey's wedding. I am so glad we got to come in. I got to spend time with my mom and sisters, and Gracie and Dylan really enjoyed the cousins. The wedding day was windy and cold, but we still got to take some great pictures outside the Manti temple. Unfortunately all good things must end and so the kids and I spent our last night in a hotel room close to the rental car place. Because part two of our adventure was going to start. Amanda and I were going to drive 10 hours to Travis AFB just outside of Fairfield CA to try and get a space A flight home.
The kids outside of the Manti Temple, even though it was cold and windy, the grounds were still beautiful.



I got to help throw a bridal shower for our new "sister-in-law" Lindsey, My sister Shirece had a great idea and we threw a "fire shower" It turned out to be hilarious. We did a candy bar and of course I turned my head for a minute and Dylan helped himself.




Gracie and Nana at Disney on Ice!!!


This was our plane, nothing fancy, but it was a great adventure.

Ready or not guys... we did it, we got on a flight...our first Space A experience. WE ARE GOING TO SLC UTAH!!!!
re-fueling the fighter jets in the air.
We made it. We were waiting for Grandpa Cox to pick us up, but the kids didn't mind they had so much fun in the snow!!!!