New Years

This year New Years was a blast! I had to work until about 6:30 and the day didn't start off that well but then we headed up to Patrick and Wendy's. They rented a huge bounce house and it was hilarious watching all of the kids begging and pulling Andy into that house. They LOVED making him bounce them! Megan's friend, Rachelle, has a little crush on Andy and was completely devastated to find out that Andy and I were married and not just boyfriend/girlfriend. LOL it was SO cute!!! I sat there remembering flirting with Peppers friends and having my little crushes on them. This is a little different seeing as she is 10 and he is 27, but it is so stinkin' cute!
All of Wendy's family was over again and I mentioned that there was a costco New Years eve party that we might go to but I didn't feel like going because I didn't think I looked good. So...Marianne told Tammy (who loves to play beauty parlor) that I needed to get dressed up and she got out all of the curling irons and make up and dolled me up. :) This meant a lot to me since it is apparently really hard to "get in" with their family.
We decided to leave around 11:30 to possibly go to the party, but then I realized we weren't in Utah anymore and all of the drunks would be hitting the road in about an hour....I didn't want to be on the road or anywhere near it. We got home and I put on my little black dress my mom bought me and we turned on tv on the countdown. It was at 5 when we turned it on and I was just in time to kiss Andy :) it was a blast! I got to dress up and spend time with Family.
Today we went for a walk on the pier eating Gelato ice cream...what more can you ask for???

Christmas

This year was very different and hard for me. It is the first year I have been away from home for the holidays and I'm not so sure I like it. I am sure I will when I have my own children, but wow I missed my family and the snow!!! Christmas Eve we went over to Patrick and Wendys (Andy's brother and sister in law). Wendy's family all came over as well and we hung out in our pajamas, ate good food, then they had a little presentation for the kids.
Andy and Patrick made little mangers and Wendy bought little babies from the dollar store. Every child and our little family with no children got a baby and a manger. Patrick read a book called "The last straw" to all of the family (incredible book!) and explained how it depends on all of us to make Jesus' bed more comfortable by doing good deeds. Then we watched the part of "the nativity" movie where Christ is born. After that the children decorated cookies and made their own "gold, mur, and frankincense" for their baby Jesus, as well as colored a nativity scene picture.
It was really interesting how focused on Christ they were rather than the presents and all of the commercialized crap the world has come to. (It doesn't hurt that Wendy's dad is the stake president, lol) It was wonderful actually talking about the savior and the real meaning of Christmas on Christmas Eve. Being with family and remembering why we actually celebrate the holiday. My family was good at instilling the purpose but I don't remember doing anything that involved.
Anyway, Andy and I stayed there a little later than planned so I feel a little bad because "Santa" had to run to the shop WAY later than planned for the presents. :O


Christmas Morning Andy and I spent by ourselves opening stockings and gifts. I got a WII :) yay me!!! As well as a gorgeous necklace and I have to chose between going training with the Dolphins at Sea World or going on the Safari ride in the Wild Animal Park (inside the exhibit). I think I'm going to go with the dolphins. :) Andy didn't get so lucky because about two months ago I got too excited and bought him a 360. He got games and xbox live so he can play with his friends in Utah...kinda lame, but fun for him I guess. I think I'm the one that made out like a bandit. LOL!!!
Then we headed down to his dad's house and spent the rest of the day with him. It was a great Christmas, I just wish I could have spent more time with my family. I also wish I would have remembered to take the camera :( I will be getting the pictures from Wendy soon though and will post them. I am so lucky to have wonderful inlaws that make me feel like a part of the family and not be so lonely on Christmas. But even more lucky to have such an incredible husband!!!

Primary Pajama Party

Last night was our ward Primary Pajama Party and because we are teachers we were lucky enough to attend. It was so much fun watching the innocence of the little kids. They drew pictures of their families, decorated cookies, made ornaments and Christmas cards. We are blessed to be in such a wonderful ward!

Christmas at Disney

Andy and I decided that we would use our passes and head up to Disney for our day off to see all of the Christmas decorations. It was incredible! It was so much fun looking at all of the decorations. I realized that as many times as I have been to Disney I have not been during the holiday season for a VERY long time, I was always "too busy". It's amazing the things we take for granted when we have all the time in the world and then you get older and things become more and more important.

Utah

We were lucky to head to Utah last week and visit my family. We had a little Thanksgiving/Birthday/Christmas get together. We got there Sunday morning at about 5 am and Pepper was kind enough to let us have her bed for the week, so we went and fell asleep. Then we got up and said hello to the family. My grandparents came down to visit...YAY!!! Grandpa started radiation the next tuesday so they couldn't come down any other time. So we gave them their gifts. Hand picked Avacados and a robe. Dad also had a wonderful surprise for us. He has worked really hard to finish his play room outside. IT LOOKS INCREDIBLE!!! He hasn't finished it all the way, but wow! I am so proud of him.
Pepper set up a surprise early birthday get together for me. So some friends came over and we had cake and saw each other again. Tuesday my cousins came down to see me! It was so awesome to see all of them. It's incredible how much you miss family when you are gone. Wed we had our family Christmas party and opened some presents. Andy, Trevor, Eric and I also went shooting that morning. It was super fun!

It was a wonderful trip. A little crammed and I didn't get to spend as much time with my family or friends as I would have liked to, but I am so blessed to have so many people that love me that I can't spend enough time with them. :) It is going to be weird not being home for Christmas this year. I miss my family like crazy, but I am so lucky to have a wonderful husband and in laws that love me. All in all it was a great trip!

Missing the snow...

Everybody dreams of retiring to Southern California and now I know why. There is absolutely NO change in weather aside from nice and extremely hot. It is gorgeous all year round and you don't have to deal with all of the idiot drivers in the snow. Well I MISS THE SNOW dang it!!! The weather out here is gorgeous, two days ago it was 95 outside, but it's the beginning of winter people! Don't you know there is supposed to be snow on the ground?!? Two weeks and I will be back in Utah for a couple days...hopefully there will be snow out there. If not, at least I get to see the snow covered mountains!!! :)

8 means Hate?

That is what most of the "No on Prop 8" signs read. I have a problem with this claim. They say that people for 8 are the ones that "HATE" others and are taking away their rights, and yet the only thing that I have seen from them is destruction, vandalism, theft, and violence.
During the entire election period I never once saw a No on 8 sign that was taken or destroyed. The most that I saw it move was from one street corner to the next. Yes on 8 signs, however, we spray painted with No across it, stolen, or in my sister in laws case kicked so it was ripped in two (while on her personal property).
As for peaceful protesting and expressing your first amendment rights, it's all fine and dandy when they do it. Nobody complains, the most that happens from the Yes on 8 side is protesting on opposite corners of the street. They don't think we should have the right to go out and support 8 without repercussion.
As my sister in law was out with a whole bunch of Yes on 8 supporters she was approached by a 19 or 20 year old girl who asked if she was voting for Obama. When she said she wasn't there to talk about that the girl became irate asking everyone in her group the same question. Eventually Jeanette again in a stronger tone said nobody was going to talk about that. They were here to talk about 8, so the chick decided to take a swing at her. When she missed, she kicked her in the upper front thigh.
Of course everyone stepped in and made it impossible for her to get to Jeanette so she ran to the middle of the median, spoke with a car that had been trying to hit Yes on 8 supporters all day, then seeing Jeanette wide open ran at her and kicked her again in the other upper front thigh! They finally called the cops and it took them 40 minutes to drag her out of her hotel room kicking and screaming, spitting on the cops! What happened to our freedom of speech without being assaulted for it?
They have a problem against the church because we are willing to donate time and money to help support the family, but it's not just the LDS church that donated. Every Christian based religion in California did the same thing, including the Catholics! Yet we are the ones who are ostracized because of it. They vandalize our bishops home with spray paint. They make commercials directly against the church.
8 means hate? Yes, it does! It means all of those that do not support 8 HATE people that support 8, while those that support 8 still love and respect them for their decisions. It means supporters are now hated and will feel the wrath of those that don't agree and their first amendment rights will be taken away by force. Now please, tell me what is ok with this???