California- June 2009

Well this is probably my longest post ever. I have spent several days getting these pictures uploaded. Anyhow, So Jamison and I got to go out to spend some time with the family in Los Angeles. Grandma Betty flew Jamison out for his birthday and I of course was happy to tag along:). Unfortunately Terry had to stay home and work and stuff for a big test. We sure do wish he could have been there but he'll get to go out soon. Another great part of the trip was that Jessica and Andrew and all the kids got to come out too. We ALL stayed at my moms house in Eagle Rock. Everyone was very accommodating. Jamie not only gave up his room (with an air conditioner) to Jamison and I but he also gave up his car for the whole trip so we wouldn't have to rent one. Jenna also let have use of her room and her car. She was recovering from having just had gallbladder surgery so we know it was a sacrifice to give up her awesome bed. Thanks Jenna. And Mom had the house stocked full of food. It may be cramped quarters but it is so much fun to be able to stay with the majority of the family in one spot. We got to see more of Jake and Megan and Sierra, Jaeleene and Jojo and Brandon, and the kids get to spend the whole time together, The downfall is when you get home and your little boy wakes up looking first thing for his cousins and you have to try to explain that they are at their own homes now.

There were a few little bumps in the road during the trip. We had to spend a little extra time at doctor appointments for Jenna's raw hamburger wound that didn't want to heal. Aren't you glad that last staple popped out on it's own, Jenna? Hee Hee. And then there was that HORRIFIC!!!!! Tooth ache that landed me in the emergency room one night and the dentists office the next day with another day trying to wait for all the morphine to get out of my system. Aside from that we had so much fun just hanging out with each other, spending the days and evening swinging in the AWESOME hammocks out back while the kids just ran around playing in the pool, playing with the ROCKS ( I will cement those things down on my next visit!!!), and running all over like crazy kids.

I know bad bad. Who took this pic with my camra while we were having the dinner prayer. But I have to say I love looking at what all the kids are doing during the prayer and Jenna are you reading a text? :)









How to keep a child entertained during an airplane flight. Jamison Loves to fly. he is finally at an age where he understands what planes are and that they go up in the sky.








Breakfast with the cousins

Bath time with Jamison and Eric

One of our favorite places to go to is Griffith Parks Train and Pony rides

Sierra

Elizabeth

Jamison

We always have to visit Jane's Cakes where my mom works while we're in town to stock up on supplies.

Annie and I

Here the boys are hanging out in the courtyard outside the shop. guess a cake shop isn't quite as fun for 3 little boys. But give them food and they're happy as can be.

Elizabeth got to go to a cake decorating class at the shop with Jessica and this is the cake they made. Isn't it cute! I'm totally going to try it. They did it using the jumbo cupcake pan that's super hot right now.

!!!!!Disney Land!!!!!

Mateo,Ethan, Sierra, Elizabeth, Jamison

I know he doesn't look like it in this picture but Jamison about lost his mind with sheer joy when he spotted Handy Many at California adventure. He is his favorite!!

This was so fun!! During the party parade the dancer pulled kids out to dance with them. They got most of ours out there.

Oh man what a group. 17 people, 2 electric wheelchairs, and 4 strollers

Random kids eating picture

Priscilla Gets Baptised!!

Jamies girlfriend got Baptized while we were there. We were so glad we were able to be there for it. And what a treat it was to be asked to speak at it. :)

Patrick Cassidy came down from Utah to preform the baptism.

After the baptism we had a lunch to celebrate not only Priscilla's baptism but also Jake, Jessica, and Jamison Birthdays!

Mimi (my grandmother) and Nappy in the back

Auntie Jojo giving Jamison his birthday present

I LOVE this picture of Eric and Jamison. So sweet!! Jamison was giving him a hug and kiss for the birthday present they gave him.

Isn't Ethan too funny here?

Jamison was VERY excited to get some new swim trunks from Grandma. I think he had had one to many cupcakes. A little hopped up on sugar ya think. Or he just really loves swim trunks :)

The Aquarium of the Pacific

What a fun place!! Our aquirum sucks here in Utah!! Yes I'll say it again it SUCKS. So I was wasy excited about taking the kids here. Unfortunately my memory card filled up halfway through the visit.

Auntie Jenna's Food Fight

Jenna thought it would be fun to have a food fight with the kids. She had bowls of whipped cream, soda, pudding, etc. Let me tell you once I got things started, poor Eric freaked out and fan to the fence screaming. But because his mommy was so involved in the mayhem Pricilla scooped him up and took care of him. :)
Here she is comforting the poor child while his mommy opens up a can of whoop @$%!! on her sisters.

It was pretty funny, Jamison, Ethan, and Mateo didn't move an inch during the crazyness. They just sat there eating up the goods.

When it was all over we bathed the kids in the pool real quick. They were covered in the fall out from the fight. Note how clean JoAnna is, she ran inside so she wouldn't get dirty. Whimp!! :)

So Elizabeth had a few things on her wish list for her visit to California. One was to go to Hollywood. Well I am a wish granter. So one night after everone had gone to bed around 10:00 Jenna and I loaded her up in the car and hit the clubs!! So fun we totaly partyed till the break of dawn. Just kidding, no clubs, we just took her on a tour. Mainly around Hollywood and Vine.

She was so cute, the traffic was crazy due to all the mourners for Michael Jackson putting up memorials, so we would just stop and have her jump out real quick to take pictures.

II think all the Hollywood weirdos freaked her out a little. After a few stops she didn't want to get out anymore. She said "It's crazy hown here, like Holloween" True dat girl friend. Awh, love it, miss it, tear trickeling down my cheek. :)

Before heading home we stoped by Jenna work, The Jim Henson Studios. I had to really play with this shot to get Kermit to show up in the background. I love how they have his silouett on the roof along with the statue.

Hollywood will do that to a sista.

Eric and Jamison sharing a morning snack

One morning was spent out at Jake and Meghan's. Unfortunately Meghan had to work but it was good to finially get to their place. While there my dad was able to come over for a while and hang out.

Dad and the kids

Jess, Dad, and Elizabeth

Dad and Jamison

Jenna and Dad

On our way to feed the ducks

Yep folks this is how you do it in the Valley :) It was really fun. The kids had a good time feeding not only ducks, but goats, a pig, and chickens.

Well the end of our visit was approaching so we headed over to Mimi's place to say good buy.

Just like all of us, Jamison LOVES his MIMI!! I think I am going to frame this one for his room.

One last stop at the Americana in Glendale to watch a water show and ride the trolley.

Auntie Jenna taking us to LAX so we can get home and see daddy.

And back on the plane heading to Salt Lake.

What a fun trip. It was especially importan for us to all get together because JoAnna and Brandon are moving to Denver in August and we don't know how long it will be untill we get to see them again. It is always extremely hard to leave my brothers and sisters. We are a very tight nit group, we had to be growing up and it has stuck into adulthood. We all long to be able to live in the same city again and have Sunday Dinners, and early morning garag saling, and camping out for the Rose Parade, and Ihop runs, and all the other stuff we used to do. But life pulls us in so many directions. So for now we plan and look forward to our visits.

Fun stuff!!