California Lovin'

This past week we loaded up our car and set out for the 10 hour drive to Newport for our one and only vacation this summer. We spent the week with the Reynolds clan shopping, eating, playing on the beach, and soaking up some much needed sunshine.

The Reynolds have spent numerous summers in Newport staying in beach houses right on the boardwalk, and I used to go with my girlfriends during High School (I missed you all dearly), so we were all thrilled to get back there. We ate at all of our favorites places—Sharkies, TK Burgers, Charlie’s Chilis, Jane’s corndogs, and we all about ate our weight in Seaside donuts. Needless to say, we brought back a few extra lbs in addition to our suntans. But as Justin likes to put it…tan fat is better than white fat :) Right? 

We shopped and shopped and shopped at Fashion Island, Huntington Beach, the Las Vegas outlets, and all the little shops on the boardwalk. And I almost brought home a little puppy Maltese that we named Mo, but Justin wouldn’t let me. And yes, I do expect all of you to give him a hard time about this when you see him. Because it broke my heart. But no worries, I spent half the drive home on my phone searching the KSL classifieds for a new one :) All in good time...

 We spent everyday laying out on the beach just soaking up the sun, sleeping, and reading. I finally read The Help, a book I’ve been dying to read forever but just haven’t had the time. But I was determined to finish it before the movie comes out, and I absolutely loved it. Seriously one of the best books I’ve ever read and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

On Wednesday we woke up at the crack of dawn to head to…DISNEYLAND!!! I haven’t been to Disneyland in years and it’s one of my very favorite places…so I was giddy like a little girl the whole way there. We were there from open to close and I loved every minute of it. Justin may have had his Disney fix for the next few years (he gets a tad but queasy on the rides) but I already can’t wait until I get to go back with my little kids. It truly is the happiest place on Earth :)

A tab bit wet from Splash Mountain...

And one of the best parts of our trip? We got to spend a day with our good friends the Clevengers! Bryan and Amy are Justin’s good friends from college, and are probably the nicest people you’ll ever meet. Plus their baby McKay is a doll. I couldn’t get enough of his blue eyes and chunky little legs. The Clevengers drove a whole four hours from their home in Fresno just to spend the day with us and we were so glad they did. Plus our good friends the Nielsen’s were there for the week just four streets away, so we got to hang out with Dave and Mckell too. We love you all!

Now we’re finally home and back to real life. We’ve got about four loads of laundry to do and lots of homework to catch up on, but it was 100% worth it. We loved every minute of our trip and just wish we could’ve stayed longer. Thanks Corinne and Terry for such a fun week! We love you so much!

4th of July weekend.

This weekend was way too much fun. It was my first weekend without work in I don't know how long, and Justin and I got to spend whole three days celebrating and playing with our families. Friday night we went out to Olive Garden with the entire Reynolds clan to celebrate Grandma Reynolds' 81st birthday, and then went back to her house for some cake and ice cream and visiting. 

Saturday night we were able to go to the Stadium of Fire (thanks to my parents for the tickets...love you mom and dad!) to listen to some David Archuleta and Brad Paisley all from the 12th row. Not a huge Archuleta fan, but I have a major crush on Brad Paisley, so I was loving it (as was my mother, who kept running up to the very front to try to touch him. Love her and her country men crushes.) And then for the fireworks!

Sunday, after sleeping in until 11 and then also taking a long nap after church, we set out to Provo for the annual Knaphus family 4th of July sleepover. Every year my mom's side of the family gets together to eat, play games, watch a movie on the projector outside, set up our tents for the sleepover, and eat a big breakfast in the morning. Justin and I weren't able to stay for the sleepover due to Justin's boy scout duties at home, but we got to sit and visit with everyone while they ate and sang happy birthday to my big brother Joey. Happy birthday Joe! Love you big guy :)

On Monday our original plan was to go swimming at my parents house and attempt to get some kind of basic tan before our Newport trip in a couple of weeks, but since it ended up being cloudy and rainy we went up to Park City for some shopping with Corinne, Chris, and Cami instead. Then it was back to the Reynolds for a BBQ, and then to my parents house to see my family. I'll be honest, I was mostly just excited about being able to play with this little guy. I can't get enough of him.

And tonight we decided that we weren't quite ready to end our vacation, so after work Justin and I decided to ignore everything that we needed to get done and make dinner, cuddle in the lovesac and watch Tangled, and then set out for our favorite ice cream place--Golden Spoon.

Such a great weekend! And to make it even better...

Introducing the future Mrs. Barrus! My very best friend Ali Kay Heaps (also my cousin-in-law, how great is that?) got engaged this weekend and I could not be happier for her! She's an absolutely incredible person and deserves the very best. She and her fiance Mikey make such an adorable couple and I love them both. So happy for them!

Love you Al :)

Father's Day + a birthday.

Happy Father's Day to the greatest dad in the whole world! Yes, I realize that I'm a day late...but it's only because I spent yesterday with my fathers. Happy Father's Day first to my papa--the smartest, funniest, hardest working dad that I know. Thanks for everything dad!

Thanks for teachings me how important an education is, for always having such a strong testimony of the church and always encouraging me to gain one of my own, for always making me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world, for always hugging and loving me even when I'm mean to you (especially when I'm mean to you), for all of the lunch dates that got me through middle and high school, and for always having the best advice when I don't know who else to go to. You've been the best dad that a girl could ask for and I'm so blessed to have you in my life.

Happy Father's Day to my father-in-law Terry! You've made me feel like a part of the Reynolds clan from day one and I've always loved being around you. You always make everyone laugh and smile, and I'm grateful to have you. Love you Terry!

And finally, Happy Father's Day to my future baby's daddy, Justin. Even though you're not a dad yet, I know that someday you're going to make the sweetest little daddy ever and I can't wait to raise my kids with you. You're going to be the best. Love you sooooo much!

And on a side note, Happy 50th Birthday to my mom-in-law Corinne! You are absolutely incredible and I can only hope and pray that I'll look half as good as you do when I'm 50. You're the best! We love you!

Three birthdays and a graduation.

This past week we have been busy, busy, busy celebrating birthdays and a graduation with our families. And we've loved every minute of it...even if we have both gained a few lbs. in the process. So what if "celebrating" to our families means eat a lot, and than eat some more? We wouldn't have it any other way. 

On Saturday we were able to celebrate Justin's Grandpa's 79th birthday! We partied it up in Grandpa's backyard with the whole fam. Cousins even flew in for the event--so much fun to finally meet everyone! We spent hours sitting out in the yard, talking, laughing, and (yep, you guessed it) eating lots of food. I loved being able to just sit and listen to all the cousins talk about their memories growing up with each other and playing at Grandpa's house. I honestly married into such a great family, and Justin and I both had a very hard time finally saying goodbye to everyone that night. Happy birthday Grandpa Jennings! We love you!

On Sunday we spent the night at a BBQ at my parent's house to celebrate my dad's birthday. We ate lots of my mom's yummy food, went for a family walk around the neighborhood, and spent the night visiting, opening presents, and eating chocolate pie (my mom's chocolate pie is seriously to die for.) Justin's mom and our favorite family the Paulsen's came to join the celebrating. Such a fun night! We love you so much dad! Happy happy birthday!

And on Tuesday we had an extra special day...Elena's birthday and Maddie's graduation! This beautiful girl has finally finished High School and is off to bigger and better things. In August she'll be packing her bags and moving out to Orem to attend Taylor Andrew's. Can't wait to let her try all her new skills out on my hair. I know, I'm such a good sister.

Really though, Maddie has been my best friend growing up, and I got a little teary-eyed watching her get all dressed up in her cap and gown and receive her diploma. Maddie is such a kind, loving, hardworking person, and I am so, so proud of the woman that she has become over the last few years. Even though it breaks my heart to know that soon she'll be moving a whole 30 minutes away from me, I can't wait to see what life has in store for her. Congrats Mads! We're so happy for you.

Tuesday night, we finally got to celebrate this cute girl's 11th birthday! Elena was so patient and so nice to let Maddie share her big day with her. She waited all day for us to finally give her some attention, and then we spent the night bowling, enjoying some Costa Vida, opening presents, and eating cake and cupcakes. I always say that Elena is the little sunshine of our family. She is always smiling and laughing, and will chat your ear off with stories if you let her. She is such a happy girl and I love her to pieces. It blows my mind that she's  old enough to be starting middle school next year. When in the world did my family get so old?? Happy birthday babe! Love you!

Justin and I are so blessed to have such great families and there's nothing we love more than being able to spend so much time with them. And good news! With Father's Day and Corinne and Joey's birthdays coming up soon, there's only more celebrating to come! We can't wait :)