Beach Trips- Summer 2010

We were able to make a few different trips to the beach this summer with friends and family. We are blessed to be surrounded by such great friends and family. The kids love the beach!

Happy Birthday to ME

This month I turned 27. As part of the celebration for this glorious occasion, I went to dinner with Hillary and Vikki. I've known these girls since I was a little scrawny beehive, so it's been a LONG time. As much as I love making new friends, nothing can replace the old ones.






After dinner we went back to my house where my in-laws came and joined in on some cake and ice cream action. Is it really pathetic that I bought my own birthday cake? I felt kind of funny telling the lady at the store to write happy birthday michelle, I had to laugh and tell her it was for myself. But what's even more pathetic is that my mother-in-law offered to bring a cake, but I told her I wanted to pick out my own since I'm a cake nazi and there's only one kind of cake I like. :)



Yes, even making that face, he's still my best friend!


Then, a couple days later, Darryl surprised me by taking the day off of work and taking me to the Hollywood Bowl! I've never been there before, and it was quite the cultural experience. The Hollywood Bowl is the largest, oldest ampitheatre in the United States and it really was a cool thing to see. Darryl got us tickets to see the LA Philharmonic. I know to some people that probably sounds like such a boring outing, but being the musical nerd that I am, I was pretty excited! I've always wanted to see a live orchestra, so now I can check that off my list of things to do before I die. :)






Another year down, many more to go!

Happy 4th

Darryl had to work on the 4th of July this year (Oh joy!). All of this "working on holidays" junk is for the birds. I'd say that's the hardest part about being married to a police officer. I wish he could have the same days off as every other husband, but that's just the way it goes so we try to make the best of it. After church I took the kids over to my mother-in-laws where we had dinner, dessert, and watched the fireworks in their backyard with a bunch of friends and family. Turned out to be a fun night!

Swim Lessons

We're really lucky that we get free swim lessons every year from grandma! The boys both did great this year and are good little swimmers. I'm just glad they are safe in the pool and I don't have to worry.

Kyle racing Makenzi


The famous Charlie and the Chocolate Factory goggles....






Damon was a little freaked out when she wanted him to float on his back, but you'd never be able to tell. :)


This is one of those pictures I am going to set aside for his future wife, just because he looks so hot in it....




Valerie hated swim lessons. The minute I started putting her bathing suit on at home she would start crying, "No grandma's bath!" (She called the pool grandma's bath, which made me laugh everytime she said it) And then on the whole drive to the pool she would whine and cry saying "I no want it. I no want grandma." Even though she would scream and cry the whole time, she would still do everything grandma asked. She would be screaming "NOOOOO!" and then grandma would say to float to the step, and she would say "OKAAAAAY" still crying, and then do it! It was pretty funny.

Happy Birthday Kyle!

Kyle turned 6 last month! To celebrate, daddy took him and Damon and a couple of his friends from our ward to see Karate Kid. He loved the movie, but when he came home he made sure to tell me that he never wants to move to China. I asked him why, and he said "Because people get beat up in China." So I guess we'll be staying in the US for now.

Ready for the show!



The main thing Kyle wanted for his birthday was a new suit and tie. I'm telling you, he's so easy to please....and I'm very grateful for that! He is obsessed with wearing a suit, he refuses to wear anything else to church. I think it's really cute.



He wanted brownies with m&m's on top for his birthday cake, so that made it easy for me! All the cousins came to Grandma's house to sing to him. Pretty cute 6-year-old if you ask me!







I love bithdays because it takes me back to when they were first born. His birth was literally a miracle, and he has been such a blessing to our family ever since!

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

This video was exactly what I needed to hear this week. What we are doing as mothers is so very important, and sometimes I need to be reminded of that.

Visits With Family

My brother Erik and his family took a trip to California, and we were lucky enough to spend a couple days with them. The kids had a lot of fun playing together, and it was so nice to be able to spend some time together since we don't get to see them very often.

My parents also came to California the same weekend and I found my dad and Damon like this.....