LA Weekend

Dad Stubbs was flying into LAX today. So we decided to make a day out of it, especially because he was coming in right during rush hour traffic. Evan had never been to downtown LA/Hollywood Blvd, Sunset Blvd..etc. Not that its terribly exciting because its so busy, its definitely a place someone should say they have gone, especially after living in CA for two years. We started out our day by driving along Pacific Coast highway, drooling over the houses right by the water in Redondo, Hermosa, and Manhattan. We decided to find a place for breakfast. We ended up going to a cute little cafe called Creme de la Crepe. 

It was delicious!!! We had a regular breakfast then decided to get a sweet crepe..YUM!

Afterwards I wanted to go look for a rug in the fashion district, but after driving through it, we decided to x-nay that plan. We headed down to Hollywood Blvd to see the sites. 

A statue of the tallest man in the world-Evan seems short

Visited Grauman's Chinese Theatre

Walked Hollywood's Walk of Fame

Started singing Sheryl Crow's song All I Wanna Do.." Until the sun comes up over Santa Monica Blvd.."

On our way to the airport and we see this!! Pretty great ending to a great day in L.A.!

It was a great last day in California with my love!

Stubbs Farewell Weekend

We met up at the Riverside for a Drive-In movie. We watched Paranormans. It was an interesting movie. But more than that I appreciated the time we spent with everyone. 

We headed down to San Marcos. We went and watched Mia's soccer game. She played well and it was fun to watch her.

So glad we were able to just hang out and be together!

Oregon Reunion

The original "Brady Bunch"

“Siblings: children of the same parents, each of whom is perfectly normal until they get together.” 
― Sam Levenson

Added this adorable bunch 

“We are a noisy and blessed little family” 

― Nancy E. Turner

Which led to this Crazy Bunch!

“You are born into your family and your family is born into you. No returns. No exchanges.” 

― Elizabeth Berg, The Art of Mending

Sisters

How do people make it through life without a sister?

The beauty of simplicity

{photo credit: Jen Fallan photography}

{Photo credit: K.Ritchie Photography}

{Photo credit: B.I.G Photography}

Love and attention make all things grow -Chinese Proverb

Oregon Adventures

This was the summer all of us siblings ventured up to Oregon and visited for a week with Jess,Chad, the kids, Corey, Martika, and the twins. Our week was full of maybe one lazy day. We did just about something everyday. So many great memories!

Me & the dogs hitched a ride with J&B and kids.We drove up to Fresno to visit with Britts cousin to help break up the drive a bit. The dogs did pretty well on the drive. They slept most of the way and were most comfortable when I fell asleep and then they jumped on my lap and fell asleep. They had to share a kennel for space purposes. Evan was so great and worked for me so that I could spend more time with my family. I flew him up mid-week.

The kids played outside alot. They were always in clothes, then in their bathing suits, then back in clothes..there was also some rat killing in the barn going on for the older more mature crew..

A day at the Broken Dam. Water was cold, but the sun was warm and bright.

 A day at the indoor aquatic center.

Hanging out enjoying the beautiful weather. Eating lunch and dinners outside.

The ladies had a day out. We went school shopping for the kiddos, had a nice lunch at Olive Garden, and got pedicures. It was a nice quiet afternoon out. Loved spending time with my sisters and Mom (we missed you Jen).

The guys also had their own day going drop line fishing on a big boat. Seemed to have a good time!

Off to the Zoo with all the kids!

More Zoo!

Charlotte turned 8. Jason and Charlotte were baptized on the same day. Glad we were able to be there for that. We went to Hometown buffet afterwards. And then headed to Claires to get Charlotte's ears pierced. 

Gotta love this crazy bunch. There are so many of us now. We headed home Sunday after a great week together. Ev & I rode home with J&B and crew. We stopped in Sacramento for the night and continued our journey the next day. It was a long drive and I can't say I will ever want to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked thanks to Rubi. She really likes that movie. So thankful to J&B for carting us around. So thankful for my family. 

August 4th, 2012-August 12th, 2012 a great week to remember!

Pretty crazy stuff

Growing up in Nuevo, CA nothing ever exciting or disastrous ever happened, which is certainly not a bad thing. On Sunday, a tornado touched down in the small little town, population 7,000. Probably the craziest thing that has ever happened to the little town. It has caused a huge mess, with many roads closed and has left one very detoured way to get to the freeway. Glad that homes weren't destroyed or people injured. It could've been worse. Ironically, unless you live in Nuevo or heard it on the news, the surrounding cities had no clue what happened to the little ole town.

London Olympics 2012

USA takes the Olympic GOLD!!

USA Women's soccer beats Japan in the finals!

Score:
USA-2
Japan-1

Florida move Part 1-our life in a storage unit

Farewell to our 676 sq foot, little yellow house on Lime St. in Riverside, CA, where the ginormous hedges stole the role of the, should've been white picket fence. 

We were only here a short 6 months, but we have many memories. Packing up was never-ending or so it seemed. From the time I found out he got the job, I immediately posted our big things on Craigslist to sell because I knew we had a week and a half to move out {didn't make sense to pay rent for August since we wont be there most of it and Evan leaves at the end} and get our stuff in storage and trash the stuff that didn't make the cut. Evan worked hard all last week trying to get stuff organized. We had a yard sale on Saturday and sold some stuff but didn't sell our Pub table and chairs, washer and dryer or fridge, which all take up a lot of space in a 10 ft storage bin. Josh and Evan loaded all the big items we were taking and put them in storage. We had refrigerated & frozen food all over the kitchen and finally gathered it and took it to my parents. Really no one likes moving, it just has to be done. Things I wish I could change about the move- that the small things wouldn't annoy me, that the mound of stuff and boxes didn't seem to be getting smaller stressed me out, and that Evan and I, who hardly get in disagreements, had way to many tiffs about nothing really, it was pretty annoying. I said, "fetch" way too many times and I was quick to frustration. By the end we were both pretty spent. All the odds and ends were shoved in any spot that was found. We got to my parents house by 9:30pm and the dogs were so excited to be at Grandma's. We unpacked and finally ate dinner around 10:30pm. Since Evan leaves at the end of the month, we are staying with my parents and then I will be staying with my parents until its my turn to head to Florida. 

Such tired puppies. 

Moving is so hard. 

In fact we had to take apart their kennels and stack them to even fit them in the car. 

I am so glad we have this opportunity. We have truly been blessed. And with all blessings things aren't always easy along the way, but they are sure worth it.