Cali 2009- Newport Beach or Bust!

Newport Beach did not disappoint this year! And we were lucky to enjoy it for a perfect 2 weeks! Fun things to remember this year:

Collins' Family just down the street- Record Breaking waves from Friday to Sunday-Sprinkles- L.A. w/ Court- Dustin the Deamon- Eating out- Balboa Bars- Digging a scary tunnel- Hi Chews- Settlers and Cards- Ferris Buellers Day Off- Yet another sunburn- Mexican Seafood- Panini's- Friendly Neighbors- not "looseing" your kids- Nurse Ned- Seaside Donuts- Awesome Guitar singer on the beach- Jaycee girl loving the beach just like her daddy!

Lots of pictures again, but it's hard for me to pick which ones not to put in!

So fun to be reunited with Melissa and Jaycee. We hadn't seen them since Boston because they are living in Houston. Kyle didn't make the trip, but Jaycee did enough beach bummin' for her daddy! I think I took as many pictures as Jaycee as I did my own kids!

Always lots of fun on the rocks!

Crabs, starfish, snails, OH MY!

If you click on the picture you can see more clearly why this photo had to be taken- you gotta love babies in the sand!

Wesley the Stud!

Some sassy girls- as always!

Paige, Court, and Kaitlyn waiting for a good wave to ride!

Had to get Cooper and all that surfing hair!

Macy's eyes are so cool near the beach, they are the exact same color as the ocean!

Sally Sue taking a water break from a hard day on the beach!

Brig hard at work on that day's sand castle.

Kaitlyn coming in from a big wave!

The Collins' Family had a raft the first day and were having so much fun, we made a special trip to Walmart to get us a couple, the kids AND adults had a blast on these rafts- a new favorite!

Brig- making sure I knew he was not scared of the water.

Bobo and Conway, once again, Bobo FINALLY got in the water the last day! Hopefully next year he'll give it a try earlier in the week so he will get to enjoy it longer!

Some great entertainment on the beach- songs from High School Musical to the Beach Boys- really some great stuff!

Lookin' good Wes!

Taylor and Melissa

So good, even the babies were loving it!

Macy doing some underwater snorkeling for sea shells.

Most of the kids, that's about as good of a picture as we could get!

Last night at the Fun Zones- everyone took a turn on the crazy bungy trampoline.

Macy

Brig

Bobo

Taylor

Calee

Kaitlyn

Wesley

Hilary and Paige- we were so excited Hilary decided to come up at the last minute!

Time to go home, packed in like Sardines- seriously!

Taylor and her need for speed!

Sorry Tay, but we have to document your first driving experience/ car crash!

Taylor got here the beginning of July and is getting a little excited with the opportunity to get a drivers license just around the corner! After a few days of "hinting" I decided to take her to the church parking lot and let her have a few "rounds" around the parking lot. After 4 right turns, and probably 2 minutes later we have the following....

We love you Tay, but you may want to wait a lil bit longer on the driving thing!

And then it was Summer...

As soon as we were home from Boston, it was time to let the Summer fun begin.

First thing was our favorite Summer Theatre with Miss Jenee. This years theme was "School of Rock". It was a great theme for both the boys and girls. They really had fun "rocking it out" on stage. Thanks Jenee, you are THE BEST!

Brig attended Basketball Camp for 2 weeks and LOVED it!

Macy, Kaitlyn, and Brig did Swim Team. They were so good to get up early every morning Monday-Friday for practice and then early on Saturdays for Swim Meets. They all did so well. They have improved so much from last year and really love participating and winning ribbons!

Boston and New York! June 3-8, 2009

With a title like this, you know you're in for a long post with lots of photos!

My baby sister, Hilary, has been on a mission for our Church for the last 18 months in Boston. When my Brother Boyd served in Chicago, those who could made the trip decided to pick him up in Chicago and then do some sightseeing, etc... So, with the same thing happening in Boston, we put it out there for those who wanted to go. We ended up having all my brothers and sisters and their spouses and each of us took our 2 oldest children, (plus Court brought all hers) and we had 2 babies, all in all, we brought 24 people to Boston to see Hilary and see Boston. We all arrived on different days, some arriving in Washington DC, some in New York, but eventually we all were in Boston with Hilary!

This is our family on the bus from long term parking to our departure flight from Phoenix. We wanted to get a photo of all our different modes of transportation we would be using this trip!

My mom and I, she traveled both ways with us, which was an added bonus for us!


BOSTON

Macy and Kaitlyn waiting for the train to take us from our hotel in Boston to Picadilly Square in downtown Boston. (another mode of transportation!)

Just a cool street that shows some of the fantastic architecture and history of Boston! This all a part of a nice, free sightseeing tour called The Freedom Trail

The girls kicking back in front of Paul Revere's home!

Just breaking out into a dance along the Freedom Trail!

Even Miss Jaycee girl enjoyed all the sightseeing!

This was our first time seeing Hilary. Emotions were high, we were all so excited!

Davy having a moment while we went on a tour called Plimoth Plantation . This tour talked about the Pilgrims and Indians and showed us their way of life. It was interesting, hands on type of stuff, the kids really enjoyed it!

Us in a home similar to what the Indians would have lived in.

The girls enjoying rock candy from the store.

The last port of the tour was getting to see and go on an actual replica of the Mayflower.

Here we all our (except Kyle wasn't there yet!) It was pretty cold, we were all freezing! It was a little rainy, ALOT windy, heck, I was wearing shorts, we had no idea!

The Kennedys in the lower part of the Mayflower.

This church was the church Hilary was attending. It is in the Harvard University campus. Go here to read the story in her own words, it's a good one!

Being such fans of California, Newport Beach, and the PACIFIC OCEAN, we HAD to give the ATLANTIC some due time as well. It was so cold, but the kids wanted to say they all had been in the Atlantic Ocean! I think they all got in, was way too cold for us adults though!

It was a great spot to take some Family Photos. Here is all my family (dad couldn't make this trip!) We had to get the light house in the background!

All 25 of us!

All my brothers and sisters and our spouses!

My sweet family. The girls were great, they loved the trip and all we did. We were going, going, going all day, every day, and they were troopers and took it all in! Was so glad they were able to have this experience!

One reason they got to go on the trip was because it was both of their birthdays. So we told them if they got to go, that their plane ticket and everything we did there would literally be their birthday, no other presents or party, etc... They agreed, but we did got to eat at Hard Rock Boston and Macy got a free dessert and was sang to, she loved it!

NEW YORK

On Sunday of our trip, Lonny and I arranged to leave early in the morning with the girls and drive to New York from Boston, spend the day in New York, and then drive back to Boston, because we were heading home for Phoenix the next day.

Here are the girls waiting for the boat to take us to Staten Island to see the Statue of Liberty. This is the New York skyline (where 2 Trade Towers should be standing!).

On the boat to Staten Island

Getting closer to the Island! I couldn't believe how excited the girls were!

On Staten Island, we had tickets to go inside the Statue of Liberty, but had a little line to wait in. Here are the girls waiting in a cute little spot near our line.

The original torch on display inside.

Looking up from our tour into the top part of the Statue of Liberty. Starting July 4th, you can now take tour into this part as well, we were a month too early.

View of the New York Skyline from the Statue of Liberty.

Awww, got this one at just the right angle!

In front of the Brooklyn Bridge

At an old church near Ground zero. Most of these headstones were hundreds of years old!

Kaitlyn on the Subway!

Ground zero, you can't see much of it right now, this picture doesn't give the depth of the hole justice, it was quite large!

Macy in front of Macy's, of course!

At the top of the Empire State Building!

Playing in Central Park

Carriage ride around Central Park

Back in Phoenix. We all arrived home safely.

So, forms of transportation used:

Bus

Train

Car

Cab

Subway

Carriage

Plane

Boat

Shuttle

does walking count, because we did ALOT of that too!

Some quick thoughts to remember on this trip!

A friend of mine from High School, Dana Van Dyke, spent the whole day with my family in New York. She lives there and I had just seen her at Smitty's funeral the week before. When she mentioned she lived in New York, I told her we were going to be there in a week. She offered to meet up with us and show us around. She did JUST THAT! She was so awesome, she knew exactly how to get around, if it was faster to walk, take the Subway, what was a good deal or not. After I got home, I realized I didn't take one photo with her. She was so awesome, and made our day in New York filled with much more than we would have ever done on our own.

Thanks Dana!

I am proud to be an American. I love our American History! I am so blessed to live in the Land of the Free. I know it was hard earned and I am thankful for those who paved the way and continue to pave the way for our Freedoms!

I am thankful for my family. For the family I grew up with and for the family I now have a steward over. I love them ALL with ALL of my heart. This trip was so special and I will never forget the wonderful times we had traveling around together.

Welcome Home Sister Worthen, you were missed greatly, and it feels so good to have you home!

Smitty

One of my really good friends from High School passed away. Laura Smith-Foster (not related officially, but in one of our Reunion Meetings, we did mention we always knew we were sisters, and now with us both having the same last name, it was official!) I will miss her and her laugh and beautiful smile. The MHS Class of '88 really came together. Through various donations we were able to help provide food for the family celebration after the funeral and this beautiful flower arrangement!

Kim Huber, me, Coach Kerby, amd Marian. Some of my most favorite people!

Class of '88, we will all miss you Smitty!

me with Carla (Laura's sister) and sisters Lisa and Lori Nelms

In times like this, I become reflective of my own life and how short it could be. I don't want their to be any regrets. My family and friends mean the world to me, they always have and they always will. I am blessed to be surrounded with such good people in my life. I am thankful everyday for all of you! You mean the world to me!

End of....

Here's a post to celebrate a lot of things coming to an end...

The end of Lonny's 41st year, Happy 42nd Birthday! He celebrated by getting his free lunch at the Farm Grill, of course!

The end of Brig's last year going to school Half Day, These were his Kindergarten teachers, Mrs McKinney is on the right, he really loved school this year. Mrs McKinney said he is definitely ready for 1st grade, way to go Brig!

Brig with Ty Hamblin on the left and Addison Church on the right. He made many friends this year, wouldn't it be fun in 13 years to see a similiar picture but in suits and ties, getting ready to go on their missions. I can't wait!

End of Kaitlyn's 1st year at Club Dance. I have some more photos in her beautiful Ballerina costume, but I have to scan them, will add them later. She did a great job in her recital. We had a lot of fun watching her and how much she has improved this year!

End of a great T-ball Season, with Luke, our cousin and lots of neighborhood friends too.

End of Brody's Preschool

w/ Mrs Sarah, she was so great working with Brody. She really encouraged him to keep a positive attitude and always say "I can" instead of "I can't"! He also made some great friendships, with 4 other boys in his class. I will post some video of the graduation as soon as I figure that one out too, is so cute!

End of early morning Orchestra! Here we are at Macy's last concert.

This is Kaitlyn with her 3rd grade teacher Mrs Ferree.

Cousin Kohl was in the Band

Macy and Emma were in the Orchestra.

And now, finally the end of this post!

GNO Weekend!

The last weekend of April I went with some gals to Newport Beach. We had such a great time, I pretty much forgot to take photos. I did manage to pull my camera out after a lovely trip to Spinkles cupcakes.

We did alot of shopping, eating, shopping, and shopping. Some sleeping and did I mention shopping? I had a great time with everyone, the weather was perfect, the Goodman's Beach House is perfect, what more could a gal ask for?!