frozen...

We finally went to see Frozen and absolutely loved it! Our tradition is to go on Christmas, but since we had a lot of family things planned we waited until today. We had heard so many good things about this movie and we agree with it all! I'll be the first in line to buy it when it's released =)

This is my favorite song and part of the movie and I love how it's not a man that comes to the rescue and saves the day! Sisterhood is powerful.



ready for change...

I love this quote by Robin Roberts...

"If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present."

I have felt all three in my life, two more so than the other -- and it is PEACE and happiness that I'm going to work toward throughout this next year. A lot of change needs to happen... I'm ready to live in the present!

church and the pier...

This morning everyone met us at our church building. We took up two entire pews! I arranged for a sub to take my Sunbeam class so I could attend classes with the adults. Keri & Kam took all the older kids with them to classes and Julie's little kids stayed with her. John had been asked at the last minute to teach Sunday School for Paige Kakazu, who was in Hawaii with her family and couldn't find a sub. So he taught our class! Then during third hour the adults and the youth all met together for a lesson on family history. Church went very well!

We came home and changed and enjoyed dinner; swiss steak, potatoes, gravy, corn, fresh pineapple. Brigid was able to record their Christmas day Skype call with Alex on his mission in Chile! She brought it and we played it on the tv. He is already half-way through his mission. The kids put puzzles together at the table.

After dinner we drove down to Redondo Pier.

Brigid took a lot of good pictures - thanks, Brig!

We walked along the Pier and saw sea lions swimming around, lots of sail boats, and even a WHALE! It wasn't close but we could see it surface and blow the water up! It was really cool to watch where it was going. What a highlight. We were in the right place at the right time!

Afterwards we came back to our condo and had ice cream cones and visited. The kids hung out and put puzzles together. It's never fun to say goodbye but they needed to get back to their hotel as they're heading back home tomorrow. It was so nice to have visitors! We had a really good time together.

disneyland...

Getting on the first ride, California Screamin!

We could always tell where Sean was in his fluorescent yellow shirt!

 

Today was our Disneyland day! Now... we locals know that you avoid the parks during the holidays, especially the week between Christmas & New Years, but it worked out that this is when the family had time off. It was a good thing that we got there early, because the park was at capacity before noon! And that meant we had to maneuver through HOARDS of people! It isn't easy to keep a group of 18 together through crowds like that! At the end of the day a park employee told us today was the most crowded day of the year so far.

We were only able to go on about 6-7 rides: California Screamin, Tower of Terror while the younger ones went on the Cars ride, then over to Disneyland to get some lunch, waited in a nearly 2-hr line for Pirates of the Caribbean, then Indiana Jones, then we stopped for delicious Churros! The older kids split off together and went on Space Mountain while we walked back to the other park for the Soaring over California plane ride.

Then most of us stayed for the light show World of Color that was totally AMAZING and turned out to be the highlight of our day! A friend gave us a tip to get our fast pass tickets for this show when we first arrived and we're grateful we did with as many people that showed up today!

 

Sean & Kerianne on California Screamin! 

 

Tower of Terror - love Keri's expression! 

 

 

 

So beautiful during Christmas! 

World of Color at California Adventure! 

 

The show was done through the water! It was so amazing! A lot of the show/songs was taken from the movie Frozen which we have not seen yet. 

 

At the end of the show these huge snowflake bubbles shot up slowly into the sky! There were big boxes all around and it would make the snowflake and then puff it up! It was so incredible! We wanted to go on one more ride before leaving, but we could hardly get through all the people. After walking and standing all day we decided to call it quits and head home. Rob & Brigid left before the light show and Ted, Wanda, Julie & family left not long after it started. We wished they would've stayed for the whole thing!

Sister love in their matching California ScienCenter hoodies!

science center / beach...

Kaisha having fun with Tenley at the beach!

 

Another beautiful day with temps in the 70s.

John and the kids met everyone at the California Science Center. They explored and saw the space shuttle and then stopped for lunch. I didn't join them as I had grocery shopping and other errands to do. I met up with them at the beach. 

The kids loved the boogie boards! 

Playing beach games - while Brian relaxes! 

The water is brisk but nice when you get used to it. You're pretty cold once you get out! Kennedi got all bundled up.

John with his Dad. 

My gorgeous girls! 

I think Ted was the only one that didn't get their feet wet. He stayed in his sneakers the whole time! I don't think he's cut out for beach living!! 

Tenley being brave and trying out the boogie board. 

Kerianne & Aunt Julie, with Kaisha out in the background! 

Kameron playing games on the beach. 

The sky was so beautiful. I think everyone had a great time at the beach. They left Tooele where it was 15-20 degrees and feet of snow on the ground, to come here and pull out their bathing suits!

After getting cleaned up we all met at our condo. The guys had dinner and watched BYU play in their bowl game and we girls went to dinner at Ruby's and then drove through Candy Cane Lane. We had talked about going to a movie but everyone was so tired that we scaled it back a bit!

temple lights...

The Yorks are here on vacation for a few days

(Ted & Wanda, Robert & family, Julie & family) 

Tonight we went to dinner at Island's and then stopped by the Los Angeles Temple. Kerianne spent the day at Knott's Berry Farm with Nicole and her family and was able to meet up with us at Island's. The weather was so nice but we dug out some blankets just in case!

The temple grounds are so beautifully decorated.

Kerianne even spotted her Mini Mission Sisters in the Visitor's Center! She and Sister Ha showed us a short movie and then bore their testimonies. It was so nice to meet these sweet ladies that had such an impact on Kerianne's life. 

Sister Phillips (middle). Keri spotted her as we were leaving. So neat for her to catch up with them. 

christmas 2013...

The girls dancing away to Just Dance 3 (from the Lawrence family!) 

The most special gift we received this year: cute little journals from Grandpa Joel & Grandma Jill. We are learning so many fun things about them. I think something like this should be mandatory from all Grandparents! Or at least John & I will do this for our grandkids. 

Kameron using his new art set I gave him.

 

Three pictures is all I have from an entire Christmas Day? I am really slacking!

We did have a wonderful day, though. Kam was the first one up, at like 4am! He let us sleep in until 6am, thankfully! Here's what we each got for our Secret Santa gifts:

 

John had Kennedi : Bearpaw boots (that she really wanted!), tiger hat

Aimee had Kameron : art set, pajama pants, six pack bottles of coke, a picture of me holding him as a baby in a frame

Kaisha had John : new watch, new tie, sour gumballs

Kerianne had Kaisha : Moroccan Oil for her hair

Kameron had Kerianne : he named a Star inside of a constellation after her! It came with a laminated certificate with coordinates and a star necklace (this all came from Germany and arrived a little late)

Kennedi had Aimee : body wash, lotion, almond rocca, corn nuts, laffy taffy, pomegranate cashews

 

We enjoyed a delicious turkey dinner with the fixin's (all but mashed potatoes, as I forgot!) and then cleaned up the house. We have guests coming tomorrow! Another part of our Christmas this year is going to Disneyland on Saturday.

sleeping beauty...

This just melts my heart!

A part of me wishes the kids were still young enough to believe in Santa. And then the other part of me is glad they don't! But to walk in and find her sleeping with a Santa hat on was priceless. We were basically all in bed by 10pm!

new tradition: ice skating...

 We were invited by the Rahman family to join in on their Christmas Eve tradition: lunch at Ruby's Diner and then ice skating (the rink is right next to the diner). Most of us haven't ice skated since we lived in Boise. We enjoyed lunch and then the kids were off. We had so much fun that we're definitely making this our new Christmas Eve tradition as well!

Kam had a hard time getting his balance. 

Kennedi held the wall for a bit. 

When John saw how Kam was struggling, he went and rented skates and got out there to help! What an awesome Dad! 

Kerianne & Nicole helping Kam.

The three Stooges!!!

ocean views...

Gorgeous sunset last night. 

And then this amazing view of the moon reflection this morning while leaving for Seminary.

san fran / birthday trip...

 I finally made it to San Francisco! John has been there several times for work and my parents took my sisters many years ago (where was I, married already?) So we planned a trip up there for my birthday. I have always wanted to see Alcatraz and take the tour. My dream has now come true! 

First glimpse of Alcatraz!

Heading down Lombard Street!

What a neat street! 

Golden Gate Bridge, on our way to Alcatraz. 

Sooooo exciting! 

It felt a little eerie pulling up to "the Rock"! 

Inside the prison, three levels high. 

In one of the cells, showing where they dug through the back wall and staged a dummy in the bed. I could not imagine living in such tight quarters. 

An exterior view (again, eerie) out in the Rec yard. 

The Rec yard... what torture to see that beautiful view every day and not be fee to experience it. 

Heading back in from the Rec yard. So many great photo opportunities at the prison! 

Several of the famous inmates. 

Looking out at the city through a tiny, dirty window. On the tour they said that the inmates could hear parties & celebrations all the way across the bay.

Heading back to the pier with the skyline. I am a little obsessed with barges, too! 

So many boats! 

Our hotel was just a few blocks from Ghirardelli Square so we walked down and ate dinner. We didn't have one piece of chocolate, though!  =( 

On Sunday, we drove across the bridge (of course!). We took a nice drive and then looped back across into Oakland. We wanted to find the Oakland Temple as John said it was really pretty. 

And he was right! What a beautiful temple, with a gorgeous view of downtown San Fran. 

We toured the visitor's center and spoke with a really nice couple from the Midwest, who were serving a two-year mission at the temple. How cool would that be?! On the grounds was a really long two-story building, and the parking lot was full. They hold church for seven wards there each week! 

The famous Trolleys! 

We stopped in China town. There were a lot of people, a lot of very STINKY smells, and a lot of cute little shops with trinkets. 

We found this road where we could get a great picture, but you couldn't stop anywhere. I hopped out and walked a bit to get a shot. This is one of my favorites!

Before heading to the airport we stopped at Cheesecake Factory for lunch/dinner. I love their cheesecake!

All I can say is that it's breathtakingly beautiful in San Fran. I want to go back! And take the kids! And do the Alcatraz tour again with them! Walking along Fisherman's Wharf was cool and driving across the bridges was so neat. It was a really quick trip but I am so blessed we were able to do that. The kids took care of themselves and had a busy weekend as well. It is so nice they are older and we can leave them and not worry. We left really early on Saturday to catch our flight so I didn't get to see them much on my birthday, but I loved their calls and texts and Facebook messages and cards when I got home. Turning 41 was pretty wonderful!