Newport

Our week at Newport Beach this year was better than ever. The girls were angels on the car ride to Utah and the plane ride to California. The girls LOVED the ocean, playing in the sand, and the option of going to the pool too. My favorite part of the trip was going down to the beach after dinner when the sand was nice and cool and the hassle of sunscreen wasn't as necessary. It was lovely.
My grandpa came up for the day and it was fun to see him. We rented bikes with seats on the back and road to the wedge with my parents. We went on a lot of walks and ate a lot of soft serve and donuts beachside. I also got in a few runs that were glorious and gorgeous.

We took the girls to Disneyland and had a great day. It was overcast and the girls did pretty well. Evie was terrified of Mr. Toads Wild Ride and Pirates of the Carribean and Rosie had a rough time after not taking a long enough stroller nap. But the girls were crazy about meeting Minnie and were all over her. We went on a ton of rides and hardly waited in line at all. They also loved watching a band perform and the goats at the little petting zoo there that I had never noticed before.

Great day. Great trip.

Stars and Stripes

Oh how I love the 4th of July. Good fun with family and friends. Delicious food. Fireworks. Even better with these two patriotic peaches.

We were excited to be in town this year and check out what Colorado had to offer for the holiday and it didn't disappoint. Within 10 steps of our front door, a neighborhood church puts on a very cute, fun, and FREE carnival on the greenbelt across the street from us. Bouncy houses, petting zoo, slip n slides, blow up water toys, face painting, rides on a fire truck. Awesome.

Cindy and Chris came down from Greeley to join us and it was so fun to spend time with them. Evie was a stinker-to-the-max during this portion of the day when we took most our pictures but oh well.  We still had a good time.

Then we went off to a delicous BBQ with some of our favorite friends and loved that Rosie and Evie were able to just run and play with all the other kids. Nothing like a little freedom and independence on today of all days.

We came home and let the girls take a cat nap and then slid their sleepy bodies into the stroller and went on a short, lovely walk to the open space behind our gym for an excellent firework show. Even though Colorado has been ablaze with so many fires, Broomfield was able to still have their show because they till up the ground so much. Lots and lots of dirt.

 The girls were crazy for it. Rosie sat snuggled in my lap, with her head against my chest and kept whispering "whoa...." and "wow...". Evie on the other hand would not be held and jumped up and down on the blanket screeching and clapping. They practiced their colors by shouting them as the fireworks exploded and are still talking about it today. Evie woke up this morning and pointed to the ceiling and said "Ooooo lights??  yay!!!!!".

 Happy Fourth of July! (now frantically packing and cleaning for our trip to Newport/SLC tomorrow.  Can't wait!).

Ta-mee

 One of my very best friends came into town last week for a few fabulous days. Tami and I met at Bennion Elementary, both went to West High for middle and high school, and then on to good ole BYU. We spent some glorious time on Venice Beach. We talked about moving to California together and then both got married instead.  We spent pretty much every other weekend the next year hanging out as couples. She is one of my very favorite people and I have so many wonderful memories with her.
The girls love her and Evie has been waking up from nap asking for her again and again ever since. Ta-mee? Ta-mee?
Nothing like old friends.