Universal Studios!

To celebrate Sean's golden birthday (22 on the 22nd!), we went to Universal Studios Hollywood! We did the studio tour, Jurassic Park, Mummy, & Simpson's rides. Oh and I also dragged my mom through the haunted house. She kept trying to hide in corners and I literally had to pull her through so more scary people wouldn't get us!

It was Ada's first night in a hotel and she did great. Slept through the night in her pack-n-play and didn't make a peep. Those pack-n-plays are wonderful! We stuck it right in between the two beds and she was a happy camper.

Here she is relaxing in the hotel room :)

It was a beautiful, warm day and we loved the water spritzer things while you stand in line. So refreshing :)

We had Ada in the stroller with the shades over her, she stayed pretty cool. She had so much fun people watching and smiling. The only time she cried was on the studio tour when the earthquake hits because people were screaming. Once that was over she was happy again!

I love the things you learn when bringing a baby somewhere for the first time. Did you know there is such a thing as child swap passes? Here's how it works: someone stays with the baby while everyone else goes on the ride. Once they get off the ride, you switch places and get a pass to the front of the line with one other person! GENIUS & AWESOME.

This worked out well for us...I was able to feed and change Ada then Auntie Linds (who was in town on her spring break) got some quality time in.

Also wonderful: the all-you-can-eat passes! We may or may not have cheated the system a bit, but we ate a ton of good food :) Burgers, pizza, Panda Express, oh my. A nursing momma is a HUNGRY momma!

18 Weeks & Utah Girl's Trip

That's a sweet potato for those who don't recognize it :)
Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon.
I feel little happy flutters and rolls throughout the day. I can't wait until Matt can feel his happy baby too!
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Here I am at 4 1/2 months pregnant. Maternity jeans are my new favorite thing. I think everyone needs a pair of these!

Just kidding...here I am for reals ;) That thing at Motherhood Maternity cracked me up though...it was all lumpy and awkward. I sent the picture to Matt and he was so confused. We laughed!

My mom and I drove out to UT to see Lindsay and Rachel and have some girl time! It was so fun. We shopped and ate out a ton. We went to: Cafe Rio, Kneaders, Mimi's Cafe, The Red Iguana, Macaroni Grill, Gurus, Sweet Tooth Fairy, and then some. I feel like we ate the whole time! It was all sooooo yummy! Oh and we got fudge at the BYU Bookstore, along with cinnamon bears for my mom & Matt.
Here are my old roomies, Allison and Natalie; I think we look alike in this picture. We had so much fun catching up! The last time the whole group of friends got together was when I was in town last year for Spring Break. I didn't plan it this way, but while I was in town - they were meeting up for dinner! So I surprised everyone (except Allison) and showed up. It was awesome :)

I don't have a picture with everyone in it...I was a loser and left my camera at the hotel. All in attendance: Eric & Kari + bun in the oven, Thomas, Mason & Allison, Natalie & Brian. After dinner we went to the Allen's and played with their adorable daughter, Ellie. Then we watched a slideshow of old pictures of us...ahhh memory lane!
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Okay, have any of you tried the Dyson hand dryer before?! (Same guy that makes the best vacuum cleaners in the world). It will change your life!!!! The first time I used one was in the Continental terminal at LAX. I was floored! The security lady and I got into a huge conversation about how incredible it is. It actually gets under my wedding bands dry! Usually water gets stuck under there.
This one was in IKEA in Draper and I was sooo excited to see it again! I made my mom and sister try it, it's so fast and like a little whirlwind for your hands.
My mom was so cute in IKEA, she bought so many cute wooden toys for the baby. We ooh-ed and ahh-ed over all of the adorable children's room setups.

See the bird in the clouds? He was hanging out above St. George. Where we stopped for Cafe Rio a second time :)

It was a wonderful, relaxing trip. Minus the day my mom got sick and Lindsay and I did homework in the library all day. The rest of the time was great though!

Virginia Vacation!

Matt and I took a well-deserved vacation to Virginia after finals week. My grandpa lives out there, and we thought it would be neat to tell him and my step-grandma that they are going to be great grandparents in person. :) They are thrilled! And Janice thinks the ultrasound picture looks like a cat. Haha! Bobba and Janice both...
We had a great time with my dad shootin' guns, flying planes, hiking around the property, dancing in Floyd, eating fried apple pies, feeding the cows, getting burgers & cheesy westerns at the Texas Tavern, and visiting Civil War battlefields. I used to go out to Virginny every summer as a kid. The last time I went was right before I married Matt. My dad and I flew Tiger Lily (orange plane in pics) to the West Virginia State Fair and saw Brad Paisley perform. I got pictures next to his private jet at the airport :) It was fun to show Matt around and see him soak in the good ol' South. He loved feeding the cows, catching snakes, laughing with ol' grizzy mountain men, and how friendly everyone is down there.
Here is a picture of our friend, "Gus Chiggins"

We met him while clogging in Floyd. He was hilarious. Matt thought he was dressed up...and I had to tell him that this guy was for real! He said to us, "I got stories what'd make you squeeeeeal!" He had about six teeth and smelled like he hadn't showered in a few weeks. Good times. For those of you unfamiliar with Gus Chiggins, here is why we named him that:
Will Ferrell Gus Chiggins skit

WPPI in Vegas!

My friend, Jasmine, told me about this convention. (Check out her beautiful photography here.) It sounded so cool, and she ever-so-gracefully invited me to go with her! Her adorable girls have made appearances on this blog before...here, here, and here. I'm kind of obsessed with their cuteness.
Back to WPPI...
It was indimidating, informative, inspirational (I ran out of i's...so much for alliteration), exciting, overwhelming, wonderful, and fun.
I realized that I have a lot to learn as a photographer.
I also learned that everybody has to start somewhere! So here I go...starting my beginning of becoming a great photographer.

Click on the collage to see close-ups of some fun we had!
Yes, we stayed at the Hooters hotel. I giggled every time someone asked where we were staying!

Vacation!

Going here:

& here:

Then here :)

That's Philadelphia...we're going to visit Ben, Alissa, Claira, & Dylan!
Updates & pictures when we get home in 2009.
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas :)

4th of July Weekend

Spent at the happiest place on Earth :] 

Matt and I had never been to Disneyland together, so this was a first for us! 

We went with Matt's side of the family: Clareesa & Felicia, Glen & Marsha and their kids, Karina (Matt's sister), & Kandie (Matt's sis-in-law). It's all about names that start with KA! 

I am angry that this sword would not come out. 

Matt's got the stance right!

Matt, Kara, Karina & Kandie on CA Screamin'

MY NEW FAVORITE RIDE!!!!!!! Tower of Terror...We went on it 4 times! 

Our bums after Splash Mountain...

There, there horsey.

I guess I have to explain the teeth. Marsha brought Billy Bob teeth for everyone to wear at this show. It's called Billy Hill and the Hillbillies and they perform at the Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland. Matt and I had never heard of it before, so we didn't know what to expect. It's 4 guys who are all very talented musicians. They jam out on the fiddle! The guy puts on Billy Bob teeth in the middle of the show, and when he did, we all put ours in. He totally got a kick out of it! He said, "Thanks for bringing teeth, y'all are nuts!"   

So ready for the Muppets! 

We had such a fun time with the fam. Disneyland is truly a magical place, even with all the crowds. I can't wait until we have little ones to take with us! 

I am so grateful that we live in a free country and for those who serve to keep it that way. We watched the beautiful fireworks from the ferris wheel at California Adventure and had the best seats in the house!  

Last Day of School/Work!

Such a fun last week of work! Yesterday we all went to Pepper Garcia's after "work". Jean Byrne was so sweet and got up and gave a very nice speech about missing all of us who are leaving Lakeview. Here are some pictures from the fun time! 

Ozzy & I

Mr. Carlovsky, who was Matt's principal at Cabrillo and my boss this year!

Mrs. Davis (whom I exchanged many recipes with this year!), Mrs. Tummolo, Kirky (who I love just as much if not more now as I did when she was my Science teacher!), and Ozzy enjoying her nachos!!  

Mrs. Reynolds & Mrs. Miller - the kids got us mixed up ALL year long! 

The student who always looked like this...it was usually a book though.

Pointing at Jimmie's scab from the waterslides!

Mrs. Ast, Mrs. Reynolds, & Mrs. Miller being silly. 

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Also, I got the job! 

I am so excited, it's the perfect job for summer. I am the only one in the Santa Maria area, so that means more business for me! :) Anyone need a sitter this summer? 

Okay, time to finish packing for Mexico!!! See you all in a week!