Hop, Skip, Jump

Love the parks in California. This one is a favorite for the kids...because it's so different.

Choo Choo

We had a chance to visit a train park -- these amazing little trains take people for rides around this large park that these dedicated train buffs have built. There were several kinds of trains...even working steam engines. It was very cool.

We met up with our friends the Thomas' and had a great day!

My Fair Lady

The Orange County Fair is going on right now and I was excited to be able to go a couple of times. There are few better places to take photos than at a fair!

My friend Amy goes to fair every year and posts these amazing photos of all the yummy food she samples -- and I was beyond excited to try it out with her.

It did not disappoint.

We tried: Deep Friend Chocolate Covered Bacon. Yum.

It also happened to be food truck night and we sampled from Chunk-n-Chip. This little slice of heaven is a german chocolate ice cream and peanut butter cup ice cream squished between a brownie cookie and a snickerdoodle. YUM.

And a deep friend Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. YUM. YUM.

And best of all...I got a chance to practice my night photography.

I love California!

Hands On

I can't believe how quickly our time in California is passing.

We are mostly hanging out, but we have managed a few day trips as well, including the beach.

We also went to the California Science Center - which is awesome! The museum is highly interactive and hands on, and the kids had a really good time.

We were able to pick up a 6,000 pound truck -- all by ourselves.

Ride in a flight simulator.

Stand in a wind tunnel and experience 80 mph winds.

Make goo.

And build towers.

Excellent day.

The science center is really cool looking too.

And seriously...love these shoes.

i do.

our main purpose in coming out to california so early in the summer was so we could attend my cousin kim's wedding. three of the girls really needed haircuts...and they really turned out so cute!

i know i say it every time, but i just cannot believe how grown up my girls are getting!

and the other kids really turned out quite well too!

katie and becky were flower girls in the wedding...and oh gosh, was it sweet. they were so cute and did such a good job!

how cute was everyone blowing bubbles after the wedding?

and my cousin, Kim, was breathtaking!!!

 

and seriously...here cake topper? painted just like her and her husband, Ian.

I am so glad we could be here for their special day...and wish them so much happiness!!

footloose and fancy free

well...we did it.

we drove for 39 hours...stopping only for gas, food and potty breaks...and we made it safely to utah.

we were able to spend the 4th of july up on kolob mountain...it was lovely and cool and a super great way to spend the day.

look at the size of these dandelions! they were almost as big as Katie's head!

and of course, I had to get a photo of our tree.

then...as if that were not enough...we got in the car and drove 6 more hours to Cali...to spend my birthday with my family.

I don't know why...but 41 seemed so much more difficult than 40...but it's been a great 41st year so far!