Summer Vacation 2011!!!

Disclaimer: This post has an OVERLOAD amount of pictures!!! Get ready to enjoy our fun trip through the lense!

We had a SUPER SUPER SUPER fun, SUPER PACKED, SUPER BUSY, SUPER Great trip to Arizona the past week and a half! It started out a little crazy with our flights having issues and us throwing the luggage and kids into the car, flying to Lynchberg to catch a flight from there so we could still arrive as planned late Friday night! (which actually turned out to be Early Saturday morning, as in 1:30 am!) When we got there we were hit with a heat wave of it still being 98 degrees outside at 1 am! However, it seemed good to us because it was dry, and so actually felt cooler then what we expected. The trip was not the greatest, but could have been worse! Griffin was cutting 4 teeth that day and so was a bit fussy, and cried a lot of the flight before he finally fell asleep. He also had a rough night once at Grammys, but after that first night he was great and transitioned awesome the rest of the trip!

Saturday morning we woke up and drove up to Grandpa and Grandma Bear's cabin where everyone was for the family reunion! We had a blast! It was so much fun, and Cash was pretty much in heaven with all the other little kids up there. I didn't get any pics because in the rush to leave I forgot the camera, and my phone was dead the 2 days we were up there, but I am getting some from the relatives so will post those later! It was great to just kick back, laugh, eat great food, hang out, play in the lake, and visit with Chip's relatives! Sunday we drove back home to Mesa and got re-packed for our next adventure of heading off to Sandiego!

We woke up, packed the Brown's Dodge mini-van (yes, at first I was worried if it would make it there without breaking down!) and then headed off! The drive was smooth, the kids were great, and it was a wonderful little trip for our family! Jayton came with us and that was a blast for us too! In fact, the trip there made me think that I really WANT a mini-van now! I had decided after years of growing up with vans that I never wanted to have one, but they are SO convenient, easy for kids, and a smooth and great ride that now I think it has moved to the top of my list! So we'll see what happens when we finally get ready to make that big purchase! Thanks to Charlie for letting us take it! We found a beach condo enroute as we drove from our Iphone, booked it, and hoped for the best! It was in Oceanside and the closest to the ocean you could get. It turned out great for us, although it had rocks blocking the waves and when the tide came in you did have to walk a little ways to get to the sandy beach part. For surfing though, and bodyboarding, it was perfect and had amazing waves! We then went to Lego-land, the waterpark, the aquarium, and La Jolla shores beach and had a great trip - the pictures below show the fun we had in California!!! Enjoy!

Griffin enjoyed the beach for many reasons, one being getting to eat lots of sand!

We took a walk along the beach by our house right when we got there.....Jayton took Cash to walk in the water, and a wave came in and washed Cash in with it - a scary moment as a mom watching my little son get swept under the waves - lucky Chip was quick to the rescue!

Here comes a soaked little Cashee!

He didn't love the taste of the salt water.....although wasn't as upset as I thought he was going to be!

We rented a stroller at Lego-land for the boys and this was a very fun day! Look at the excited little faces - these boys were in heaven here!

It is amazing the amount of legos that goes into each little piece - I thought the park was fascinating too!

Cash had a blast shooting water at this big lego structure!

So many fun things to see and do!

The boat ride with lego statues of different fairytales! Super fun with music to go with each!

We loved the 3 little pigs!

Dad was in the boat ahead of us with Jayton and Griff, and told us to say Cheese! Cash was really enjoying it!

Don't get eaten by the lion Cash! (perfect for the boy who is always growling at everyone!)

They had a lot of fun rides Cash could go on, and a few big ones for just the adults too!

Check out the lego corn stalks...loved these!

I had fun riding with Cash on a bunch of the little rides!

At a fun play area - Griffin doing what he does best - SMILING!

Wow - cool!

Peek mom!

Cheese!

My 2 cute kiddos!

This Volvo car COMPLETELY made of legos was SO COOL! (Cash was really happy here although it looks questionable in the photo!)

Going on a fun, twisting, boat ride! Hands up!

Cash had a blast on this ride, laughing the ENTIRE time!

Looking to daddy for a pic!

Fun times!

Jayton tried it out first - made him a little sick he said cuz it was very spinny!

I loved the mini-land! They had the coolest cities in the US made all of legos - NY was my favorite!

They were all really amazing! The details were incredible!

Family shot (Griffin was asleep for this one)

Cheese!

Cash enjoyed driving the boats that were in the water by the San Francisco exhibit!

Cash and Jayton!

Checking things out!

Another fun ride I was able to go on with Cash!

It was fun just hearing him squeal with excitement!

While J and Chip went on a big roller coaster, Cash and I went and found cool things to take pictures with and checked out other rides! He loved sitting on the camel here!

Trying to stand just like the Pharaoh

One more - this Pharaoh was HUGE!

We also went to the waterpark they had attached - it was fun too, although we were a little chilly due to a breeze that picked up! Cash and Jayton had fun building a huge lego tower next to the lazy river!

Griffin had fun just grabbing legos!

so cute!

My favorite pic of the day - King of the Lego tower......and as usual, displaying his happy smiling face!

The next day we did the aquarium - Jayton and Cash at the beginning!

My favorite - the jelly fishes!

The boys checking things out!

Family shot by the underwater exhibit!

Cash and J in the tank - cool little place!

Cash likes to talk about sharks, but was actually scared by this thing! We had to get a quick picture before he bolted away!

\

Then it was off to La Jolla beach for the day! So much fun!

Cash got dad and Jayton to help build a big sandcastle!

Running to help out!

Working hard at the project!

This beach was much more crowded than we are used to from the beaches of the east coast!

Cash kept saying he liked this beach, but asking when we were going to the other one (meaning the outerbanks of NC)

I must say, although it was great here, I like the east coast beaches better too!

But it was so much fun too - and these 3 were busy for hours with their project!

Griffin had gotten burned badly at legoland the day before, so he spent the beach day under the umbrella, hidden from the sun!

I enjoyed hanging with this cute face! He is always so happy!

This was at our place - the surfing waves were awesome, and we had fun watching all the good surfers! Chip and Jayton had their try at boarding too!

After a few days in Cali it was time to head back to AZ for the main reason we came - Becky and Ryan's wedding! It was a really great occasion and everything turned out really nice. Chip did ALL the cooking of the meats and making salsa and everything for the dinner (it tasted SUPER delicious honey......even if a bunch of the people did get sick!) and it was fun to get out my catering skills and help set up the buffet and stuff for the dinner as well! Elder Cook married them, and that was special too! Becky looked absolutely gorgeous, and it was great to be in the temple with them and remember how important temple marriage is and my own wedding and the promises I have made. I love weddings for lots of reasons, but especially for the chance to get to be an eternal family and the specialness of having that knowledge. I am very grateful for my own marriage, and for the reflection and also the chance to set new goals to make it even better! Congrats Becky and Ryan!

The night before the wedding Becky and Ryan and Betty and Charlie had a nice dinner with Elder Cook and his wife!

The happy couple!

Impressive Ryan!

Becky is gorgeous!!!

At her home, getting ready for pictures!

the rings!

the shoes!

A little hair touch-up!

the gorgeous gown!

Coming out of the temple!

The whole gang! (It was 112 degrees at this moment! Way too hot for lots of pics!)

At the dinner afterwards! Griff had crashed in a bedroom at this point!

6 pm and picture time - 115 degrees, SOOOO HOT! These 2 handsome cousins were ready and happy though!

In the car waiting for the bride and groom to show up to get these photos done!

Handsome dudes!

Cash was excited to wear the tux because "dad I have a suit like you!"

So much energy, and so smiley for a few pics!

Shot with all the kiddos!

Hard to get everyone looking, but we managed to get a few!

Becky and cute little della!

Hugging the bride!

Cheese!

Emily caught the bouqet.....or rather at least stole it for a pic!

Too much fun!

I loved this pic, even if Beth's arm was in the way!

the boys!

cheese!

Cohen made it in too!

Don't love this pic - but Kimmy only one of the side of my hair so it's for you!

The girls!

Another!

Love my sisters!

Family photo!

Trying not to sweat TOO much!

Cash is trying to leap out of photo!

Way too hot! Almost done I promise!

Cash and Cohen enjoyed getting the rocks and throwing them and running - these 2 together were a little crazy!

After the wedding we just enjoyed a down day, especially because Cash, Chip, and Griff were among the bunch that got a little sick! Not sure what caused it, but glad it was very short-lived! We just hung out at Grandma's house Saturday and Sunday and enjoyed some rest and relaxation! Cash enjoyed eating watermelon out back! And I got my hair done from Emily!

We had SUCH a fun time and it was really hard saying goodbye! We left on Monday morning at 7 am......and then due to horrible delays, cancellations, weather, and missed flights didn't get home til around midnight - so a very LONG 15 hour travel day! Not the best way to spend the 4th of July.....although we did see some fireworks from the plane! However, I wouldn't want to spend the day anywhere else without these 3! I love these boys! What a great trip! Now we need another one to look forward to!