Nelson Family Photos 2015

It wasn't easy but we made it happen- and somewhat color coordinated too! Immediate family photos can be daunting but extended family photos; well they are just a whole other beast. We finally got wardrobe (ew not that color, I can't find anything to work with that), timing (well my kids have ____, then the dog has ____, my roots need colored by____), and willingness (do we have too) agreed on and we made it happen. We chose Corn Creek as the backdrop and the pictures turned out quite nicely. I know we will get a year or so off but after that we will be back to the planning stage (gotta have photo documentation of the family)!

Mom, dad, and the girls

All the boys

SISTERS! Karessa, Chandra, Stephanie, and Tiffany

Grandma, Grandpa, and the grandkids

mom and her girls

All the girls

Jeff and Debbie aka mom and dad aka grandma and grandpa

Easter 2015

The Easter Bunny brought a couple of baskets full of Easter joy for Lauren and Jace. He saved himself the trouble of hiding everything and just placed the baskets in plain sight. It was Easter Sunday so we readied ourselves for church. After church we again readied ourselves for our Easter gathering with the Nelson family. We enjoyed our usual Easter festivities and a visit from the Easter Bunny (aka grandma). We had a wonderful day being reminded of the Atonement and being with our family. 

I made these adorable deviled egg chicks...

Koben and Jace hunting for goods

Spring Break 2015

Lauren was invited by her friend Sydney to spend a few days of spring break at Huntington Beach. Of course she wanted to go- what teenage girl wouldn't! A few days before they were set to leave Sydney's mom Liz asked me if I wanted to come along since her husband couldn't get off work- umm ya! Except that I felt bad leaving Jace to his own devices, but we figured things out and he was able to hang out with friends and cousins. So off we went to relax for a few days on the beach. We stayed at the Hilton Waterfront right across from Huntington Pier. It was so easy to just walk across the street to the beach- the hotel even provided beach chairs and umbrellas. That night we walked through the shops and had dinner at a Mexican restaurant that overlooked the water. The next morning I went for a jog on the beach by myself and ran into an adorable baby seal. We spent the next few days shopping, eating, and lounging on the beach. I'm pretty sure we hit three different Brandy Melville stores, enjoyed Happy hour at Brio, and went to Balboa and Newport too. It was a great girls trip and I'm glad I got to go!

View from our hotel room

Huntington Beach from our balcony

Stereotypical toes on the beach pic

at the Mexican restaurant

Always love a beach sunset

She found something. I think this was Fashion Island

Happy Hour at Brio!! Amazing food!

My morning jog

My new friend on Newport Pier

The beach bums....

Japanese soda

It's My Party

March 12, 2015

Turning forty was surreal, like it couldn't possibly be occurring to me as a person, an aging human being. There was a lot of celebrating to cover up the fact that it was a really strange age to be. A year has since passed and forty one arrived with no invitation, it knew it was now welcome. I have come to embrace the numbers I thought were ancient and I'm buckled in for the long haul. Luckily wisdom, hindsight, and vintage suitcases stuffed with memories are loaded in because those are what seem to make this all worthwhile. To celebrate Jason and the kids took me to dinner downtown at Le Thai and of course my Winchell's signature donut for dessert. 

March 14, 2015

That Saturday, Jason and I went out to Primm to be spectators at the famous Mint 400 off road race. It was a great afternoon off road vehicle watching plus Jason had to check out his competition in the VW Bug Class 11 division. Good times!