Our Family's California Adventure!!! July 12th-19th:

We spent last week in Newport, California and had the TIME OF OUR LIVES! Our family went with Steve's Brothers family- Scott, Katy & their 3 girls! That's right, we had 5 little GIRLS... 5 cute GIRLY GIRLS! Let's just say we got quite a few crazy looks, & people would stop and ask- "are they all yours?" Ha ha, I guess you get that outside of Utah!
We drove the first day to Las Vegas, and stayed in the EXCALIBUR Hotel, or as the girls called it: The "PRINCESS CASTLE"! They thought that was pretty cool. We walked down the strip & checked a few things out.

The next day we drove to newport, where we had the nicest, most enjoyable vacation EVER!...

NEWPORT BEACH:

This was Rylee & Milly's first time to play on the Beach! Rylee thought the waves that washed up on the shore were hilareous! She would run, screaming & laughing every time a new wave came and sunk her feet into the sand. So funny. She also loved jumping over "BIG WAVES" in the water with Steve.
Milly was not a big fan at first, she was a little taken back by the cold water. Once she warmed up to it, she enjoyed it. She splashed in the water, ate the seaweed, and rolled in the sand like a snickerdoodle!

BEACH BABY:

NAPS ON THE BEACH:

Cousins on the BEACH!

Abby, Anna, Happy Rylee, Eliza & Milly:

DISNEYLAND:

Disneyland was AWESOME!!! I don't know who was more excited- Me or the kids? It is such a Magical place! Rylee will tell you ALL about it: "I saw Cinderella's Castle at Diney-wan" and "held Snow White's Hand" and "I wide the Teacups"!

Amelia loved the rides as much as Rylee... The teacups were the best & funnest ride that everyone had a blast on. Rylee hates the scary Pinocchio ride- it's worse than the freaky Haunted Mansion in Lagoon? It was the only one that made her cry:( But the crazy Matterhorn roller coaster didn't scare her a bit.. she still managed to keep her arms up over her head! (is that legal?) Milly's favorite ride was Pirates of the Caribbean- she was wide eyed the entire time! Rylee was still traumatized from Pinocchio, and kept her ears plugged the whole ride:)

Princesses at the Princes Castle:
(or as Ry calls it "Cinderella's Castle")

*RYLEE's *DREAMS* CAME TRUE* AS SHE *DANCED* WITH *SNOW WHITE*...
*This picture doesn't do the story justice... but this was the Highlight of the entire trip! So, Rylee was wearing a Snow White dress at the Princess ball, where the Princesses were teaching all the little girls how to dance. Rylee was enjoying watching the princesses on stage. She danced around, then it was time to do a ribbon carousel. Rylee was picking a ribbon to hold, when all of a sudden snow white comes from off the stage, takes Ry's hand, and dances around holding her hand!!! Honestly, it was THE MOMENT! I was all emotional as I watched Rylee just in shock as this REAL PRINCESS was holding HER hand! She just kept looking up at her, then at me, saying: "mommy, that's ME!" pointing to Snow White!!!

DISNEY's PARADE OF DREAMS:
I wish you could have all seen Ry's face at the parade- she was just blown away that all these Disney character were right in front of her! She clapped, waved and blew kisses to all the princess. Every time a princess waved back, she'd wave even harder and her eyes would get HUGE, as she'd say "HI BELLE, HI BELLE"... So darling!

PICTURE WITH MINNIE MOUSE:

Rylee also got this princess autograph book that she was REALLY into! She may, or may not have been the only princess who actually signed it that day:)

And of course, you can't leave disneyland without your very own mickey mouse hat with your name on it!

Well, that was our fun trip to California! GOOD TIMES:)

STARS & STRIPES!!!

*WE LOVE THE *4th (and 24th) OF JULY!

*What a fun Holiday... in fact, it was so dang fun, & so busy, I never had time to post all the great pictures!*









We spent the entire week with ALL of Steve's family (5 families, 13 grandkids), we had a water day with hot tubbin & slip'n slidin, we went to Lagoon, had slumber party with an outdoor movie, & had LOTS of family bonding!































We had a pre-4th of july party with the Ralphs! We had a water/ bbq party, with a great firework show put on by Steve & Chad! Rylee thought the fireworks were: "too loud", and Milly was mezmorized by them!

The 4th was filled with a big Breakfast & Barbecue with the Ericksen family , and overlooking the Sugar House fireworks as we swam at the pool with the Smith cousins!

On the 24th- We had the Ericksen Family Traditional Breakfast @ IHOP, and went to the Days of 47 Rodeo!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRADY!

We went to the Jacobson's cabin & LOTS of FUN was had...

Is that a SNAKE CAKE? & some VEGGIE dip? Oooh...

TURKEY FARM! We took a ride to the Jacobson's Turkey Farm, and saw about a million baby turkeys. Seriously, see how far back they went... turkeys as far as we could see! Milly just laughed at them, Rylee talked to them, and the boys chased & caught them for us!

BABY PIGGY'S TOO!

Brady taught steve & nic how to catch one! At'll do Pig... they SQUEEL so loud like no other- Ry does a great impersonation of their screemin 'cry'!

We also got to feed a baby horsey, and see baby sheep! What, is it spring time or something?

4-WHEELIN!!!

Ridin the Ranger- Cami & all of Rylee's future, prospective Boyfriends! Hayden's lookin pretty interested?







And here we have our tough little Rider-RY RY! She thought the little 4-wheeler was pretty cool!

The Letter of the week is "S"

Sounds like the Start of a little something I like to call- 

SUMMER!!!

...Summer, Swimming, Splashing, Sunglasses, SwingSets, Slides, Swimsuits, Sophia, Sand Boxes, Serena, Sandals, Steven, Smith...

Here is a SPLASH of our Summer So far:  

 Our first Taste of CHERRY HILLS... Ahhh, that's what I like to hear:)  you've gotta love those Season Splash Passes! I have a feeling this will not be the last picture you'll see of Ry & Molly at this pool! 

Some T.C... We enjoyed an evening with cousins Abby & Anna @ the Salt Lake Tennis Club!

 A little Aquatic Center... We went with Belle & Catherine to the Aquatic pool, and Rylee LOVED IT! I don't know what Ry loved more? Our fun little picnic, Belle, or the Swimming?

We got a little cheezy swinging in...  Milly Absolutely LOVED these cool swings in the pool!

We of course, always manage to throw in A Few Play Groups...

Stop to Feed a Duck? We went with Karen Evans, Hayden & Quinny to the Duck Park- those ducks definately got their CARB LOAD for the day!

& What more could we squeeze in? Well, some Gardening...

Rylee helped, and Milly watched, as we built these beautiful 

BOX GARDENS!!! 

Ya, we thought we'd put our Martha Stewart skills to the test and make us some food for the winter? So far, lookin GOOD!  You now know where to come for all  your cucumber/squash/tomato needs:)

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

Family & Friends Side note...

So long, farewell! My Brazilian Brother-in-law, Gustavo, is off to CHINA! No, he's NOT escaping the country, he's just some Language GENIUS & is going to study Mandarin for the summer!!! We will miss Gus... But at least he's leaving my only true-blooded sister here, safely, with me! I love that sister of mine, and i'm gonna make her hang out with me all summer :)

Babies, Babies Babies!!! Amelia has 4 cousins all born a few months after her... Avery, Adalyn, Tradon, & Creed! How FUN will that be when they're older!

AWESOME FRIENDS! We have stayed friends through elementary, jr. high, high school & College... WOW! That doesn't happen often. It is so fun to get together for all the bridal/baby showers, party's, lunches, etc. It is crazy to see all the baby's being added:)

CONGRATULATIONS ERIN TAYLOR!!!  I am so so so very happy for my sweet friend Erin... On Saturday, I was able to attend her BEAUTIFUL, small, perfect wedding ceremony up at Wolf Creek. Erin (& the view) could not have been any prettier!  How neat to see her mary such an amazing guy:) She has been through some rough, sucky times, and now has found her true LOVE! Erin is so cute with my little girls... they were able to stop in, and NO ONE BUT ERIN would ever dare to dip 2 little girls in the pool, on her wedding day, IN HER WEDDING DRESS!!!  Ha ha... how can you NOT love "Ay-an"!