san diego

Just got back from an awesome week-long vacation in San Diego with my family.  We've been planning this for over a year - to save up enough money and give people enough notice to take off work.  We rented a house in Ocean Beach, just three blocks away from the beach.  The weather was a bit warm, and humid and the house didn't have central air, so it got muggy in the afternoons/evenings, but over all it was a great trip and we all had a lot of fun!

Succulents everywhere

Pretty tile on the front porch stairs at the house

Our first night there we went to Hodad's for Julia's birthday dinner.  Mom and I had heard of this place thanks to the TV show "Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives" and they did not disappoint.  The food was great and Julia and I shared the most amazing chocolate shake on the planet.  Seriously.  It was the best thing I've ever tasted!

We all spent a lot of time down at the beach, since it was an easy walk or a short car ride away

Thursday night we had battered sea bass for dinner - freshly caught by Dad, J.R., Steven, and Julia who had gone deep sea fishing that morning.  Yum!

Friday was the 4th of July!

J.R. made red, white, and blue pancakes for everyone.  

Then some of us went shopping at Seaport Village.  

Saturday night we went to another "Diner's Drive Ins, and Dives" restaurant: Studio Diner.  It was another awesome meal.  I got the Monte Cristo and it was pretty great. 

Sunday we attended to local ward's Sacrament Meeting, then drove up to the San Diego Temple and then to the Mormon Battalion Historical Site in Old Town.  

We had a lot of fun playing games all together in the evenings. 

And playing in the sprinklers!

Monday everyone, except Steven and Kristen and family, drove up north to go to Knott's Berry Farm.  It was a lot of fun.  We got Panda Express for dinner in the park.  J.R. got his "traffic cone" size diet coke.  

Tuesday after we checked out, we made one last stop at the beach, then drove out to Point Loma where we had lunch sitting on a cliff over-looking the ocean.  

Then came the drive home.  Josh drove my car because I was too tired.  We listened to Disney songs most of the way.  It was great.  

We got home just in time for a torrential rain storm which made unpacking the cars fun...

falling behind

I'm so behind in my blogging!  There has been so much happening in my life!  I'm going to try to get all caught up....


Went to a play/musical with Julia for one of her classes.  It was out in Fountain Hills.  They had the stage decorated with pool noodles...

....I don't even know....

...bless their hearts.

Random shot of John helping Papa out in the backyard fix the sprinklers.

"This blanket is so fuzzy!" -John

Read this book in a day.  I really liked it!

Second Annual Mother's Day Chopped Competition.  My secret ingredient: Konnyaku.  Or, as I like to call it, coagulated snot.

I put it into a spinach dip to try and hide it.  It was okay.  But I'm never eating it again.

Making teacher appreciation gifts for primary teachers.

A trip to the temple.  A great way to get out of the heat.

Made some more of my awesome vegan chocolate chip cookies.  Seriously.  They're so good!

Barbara and Esther got sugar gliders.  They're adorable and named Sugar and Goldie.

Can't wait for this movie in a couple more weeks! Is it wrong that I have a crush on an animated character?

I found my favorite eye liner (that is now discontinued) at Big Lots and bought them out!  Got my three year supply...

Searched the city for red, white, and blue sprinkles.  Seven different stores, and finally found them at Hobby Lobby.

Memorial Day:

Had a family breakfast with my awesomely delicious vegan french toast.

And did a service project: collecting items and writing letters for care packages to send to the troops!

Made this really tasty tortilla soup:

Went on a nigh hike/scorpion hunt out at Usery Pass Park with Ranger B.  Really fun!

My new favorite thing:

Watched this movie.  It was a great book to movie adaptation.  I loved the book and the movie was great!

Found this book at an antique store.  I'm such a nerd, but I love it!

And, the biggest news of all, I quit my job at UOP and have gone back to school!  I started summer classes at MCC - working on getting the pre-req's I need to apply to Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.  I got a part time job working as the receptionist for a chiropractor.  It's a great job and I really like it so far!