...Touched down in the land of the cactus trees in the middle of the blazin' heat. Okay that is quite enough of my terribly written lyrics to 'Walking in Memphis.'
This passed week I had the wonderful opportunity to go see my family!!! I flew to Mesa Thursday night and my family was there waiting at the airport:) I felt so special. Everyone looks great and so grown up. Little Caleb lost a tooth and is just about as "black as a berry from ridin' on the prairie," as Grandma DuRee would say. They are all so tan! I glow next to them... :/ Bummer.
Because they all moved in May, it was so weird that I was just seeing the city and house for the first time. The house is so so huge and gorgeous!!! But mom swears that so much is wrong with it. hahaha. Maybe I just haven't been there long enough to notice. and the pool in the backyard is great! We went swimming that night and watched Bryson jump off of the wall that separates our house from the neighbor's house right into the pool. That scared me a bit. Then he found a baby scorpion. Fantastic. I will never walk outside without shoes on in Gilbert because scorpions are scary. Very Scary. Earlier this Summer Dad even got stung by one and still hasn't gotten feeling back in his hand. Gilbert is a beautiful place, besides the scorpions, and the heat. Holy Hades! It is so very hot--and I wasn't even there during the day! The next morning we drove to California. Sticking 7 of us in a car for 13 hours will definitely provide a lot of bonding time, like sleeping hahah and sharing new music, and chitchatting about what's new in Colorado:) but oddly enough, it wasn't enough bonding!
Camilla and I, the BYUidaho fans, on the road trip :) I love her!!
On Friday night my grandparents came to my Uncle Mark's house for dinner and Grandma showed me the quilt she made for my graduation/marriage gift. It is huge and goreous, with pinks and purples and flowers. "Stitched with Love," she said, because she seriously stitched everything by hand. Incredible:) I also showede my Grandpa my portfolio I brought and he studied the pieces for a bit...I always feel awkward when people look at my work because I never know what they really think and I worry that they don't like it. oh Well. Grandma gave me the first painting she ever did as an adult. It is of a flower and it is very pretty. I love it. She also gave me a painting of some pigs that her dad did on the back of a cornflake box. It is so good! I had no idea artistness ran in the family on this side too.
Saturday we went to the Trout Farm because Bryson needed to catch some fish for his scouting badge. That was so nasty! I love fishing but I don't like to kill the fish. It is sad and gross, but there was a rule. No throwing the fish back. So... I caught one and yuck! I felt like a murderer especially because I figured we probably would not get around to eating them because none of us even really like fish besides my dad.
YUCK YUCK YUCK!!
He was trying to flip flop out of my hands..
Then, we went to Columbia! We go there every time we go to California. It is like a small pioneer town type of thing with little shops and great ice cream and sarsaparilla.
This girl is so pretty :) I love her
Ice cream....never gets old.
Silly Daddy
Columbia with Mommy and Megan
Sunday we went to Hughson Ward, where my mom was raised and I grew up in that ward for a while too. Lots of the same people, always surprised to see how much the family has grown up and stuff.
Monday we went to Turlock Lake, a gorgeous lake in the middle of no where.
My friend Sarah and her boyfriend came and we had a great time catching up. We went to the boat docks and jumped off of them and swam around and it was just such a great day! Later, we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house for the reunion and played games and ate amazing food. I taught Caleb and Lydia how to make volcanoes out of cups, food coloring, baking soda, and vinegar. It was awesome!! They were amazed. So cute :) Grandpa gave the Family Home Evening lesson out on the lawn. He told us stories about his side of the family. We always hear about Grandma's side, and never Grandpa's so it was really really great to hear him talk about his family.
Tuesday we went up to Pine Crest. I remember when I was a little kid we used to go camping there all the time. We used to play in the shore and get the chocolate ice cream cones from the little snack shack. This time, we hiked all around the lake, a total of 4 miles. Bryson and my Dad jogged practically the whole way. That is what crazy looks like. Caleb, Megan, and I enjoyed the lengthy pace. We also rented a paddle boat--let me just tell you a little secret before you go rentin' paddle boats-- it is a SERIOUS work out. My legs were like jello afterwards and so so sunburned. Dad also took us out on a little motor boat he rented. Lydia (5 I think) practically forced me to jump off by pushing on my bum. It was adorable, but I was terrified. Something about jumping off into the unknown is not appealing to me. I can jump off docks because I know that the dock will be there when I come up and I can easily get right back out. Boats are very different. I would have regretted it if I didn't jump off though, and I knew that. Afterwards, I got a chocolate ice cream cone just like old times :) That night we took turns shooting and the little ones rode on uncle Mark's tractor. We also did skit"s" haha. My family put together the cutest skit and I can honestly say that because the one other skit that we thought we were going to see was just my Uncle VV announcing that his skit was having my mom do karaoke. That was pretty funny. I don't think that I have ever actually seen my mom dance like that. It was awesome!!
Me and my favorite 13 year old stud brother :) What a handsome guy! I love him so much
Megan and Caleb after the long hike. Way to go Bubs!
My last day in California I walked over with the kids to see the alpacas next door. Llamas? I have no idea what the difference is.
Llama! Alpaca?...hmmm
Have you ever seen a Llama on two legs? That is okay, I hadn't either..
Caleb!!!
Then, home sweet home. :) Matthew picked me up from the airport and we had one of those moments that you only see in movies..and airports I guess. Coming up the escalador, seeing him behind the rope, running, and a hug. He's a sweetie. ..and this is for my Dad: "we are really good friends;)" I had the greatest time in California seeing my family that I miss so much. See you guys again soon. I am so making the most of being home :) Trying to pack in as much stuff to do that I can in about 3 weeks.
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