California Family Vacation

We spent a week in California. We stayed in a hotel right across the street from Disneyland. The 1st night we were there (the night before we went to Disneyland) the kids were super excited. I told them I brought them a surprise. I got them a metal Disney thermos and a pair of PJ's with their favorite Disney character. They loved them. I got Paxton a Mickey snugly to sleep with.

I told the Monkey's they could jump on the bed for a minute :)

I made them close their eyes for their thermos and Pj's

Our family pictures

I have been wanting family pictures taken for awhile and I kept saying we would do them after tax season. Well right before we went to California I had an idea about taking pictures there on the beach since we have never done that before. Aaron asked his cousin who lives in Laguna if she knew of any photographers that were reasonable. And she mentioned her husband takes pretty good pictures and does it as a hobby like me. I was so excited when they offered to do them for us. So as we packed I figured we would wear the all white with tan pants so I packed our picture clothes before we left. One evening before the sun went down we met Aaron's cousins husband at this awesome beach in Laguna. It is a beach by a real nice resort so they have all kinds of pretty places to take pictures at. The only bad thing was getting the kids to pose well for the pictures. Hayden wanted to play but did pretty good, Emmie was grumpy and we had to keep begging her to smile and Paxton kept staring at the ground and wanted to get on the ground so we had to keep getting him to look up. We had a few turn out (with all the kids looking) and I just love the scenery! I am just so excited to have our family pictures taken like I wanted.

Pictures from my camera

Beautiful Laguna Beach

While we were getting our pictures done, Aaron's cousin Jenny was taking pictures of us with my camera. I still thought some of these were cute

Pictures all done! Now going back to Brad and Jenny's house. The kids had fun that night playing with each other and Jenny got us dinner from this yummy Taco place.

Hayden's preschool graduation

We just got home from our California trip in time for Hayden's last day of preschool and his graduation. He will start Kindergarten in the fall. His class had a little program where they sang some songs and recited things they learned through out the year. It was real cute. Then they walked out for their certificate. The kids were so cute and having so much fun. At one point I heard Hayden tell another kid "When we hold the papers in front of us its like we are going to jail." I quickly realized he meant it was like he was taking a mug shot. Hahahaha! I swear he thinks of the funniest things.

The kids recitals

Hayden's Tumbling recital

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgweVej6eI8



Emmie's last day of preschool program

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRfg60WRo10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpaSouMcejU

Emmie's last day of preschool

Since Emmie turned 3 she got to go to Early Intervention preschool for her delays, mainly for her speech delay. It is held at a local Elementary school, the bus takes her to and from school (which she loves) and she gets speech therapy once a week. Just in the last few months of going she has done so well and done so much better with her speech. Today was the last day of school and then she will start up again in the fall. Her teacher asked us to come in today for a small program. When we got their all the kids were sitting there so good. Aaron, Hayden, Paxton and I all went. Emmie was acting so shy, she wouldn't even look at us. Most the songs you could tell she knew but was acting shy and not singing them all or doing the actions. I think all those people watching her freaked her out a bit. But she got through the songs OK and they were so cute. Afterwards we had donuts and juice and talked with the teachers and met some of Emmie's friends. Her teachers said she is doing great and does act shy sometimes during singing time.

Arrrh! Wipe me booty!

Hayden left his pirate sword on the ground so Paxton grab it. I thought it was so cute how he stuck it in his mouth.

Gila Valley Temple Open House

We wanted to take our kids to the Gila Valley Temple open house. We drove to Thatcher there and back in one day but it wasn't that bad. On the way their you pass a very small town called Eden right before Pima. My great grandparents lived there, owned a store there and now are buried there. We wanted to check out the area and show our kids their graves. They thought it was pretty cool to see Eden and hear about some stories about their great great grandparents.

My great grandpa's old store


Right side- white circle barn is where they held church dances and President Kimball would go there

Left side- in those tree's is my great grandpa's old store

My great grandma's grave. This is my grandpa Fuller's mom. She died when he was young. I never met her but have always enjoyed stories about her and felt a bond with her. We have some things in common. One being our birthday is the same. Hayden's middle name is Wyatt like her maiden name.
Emmie and Hayden between my great grandparents graves





After Eden we went to lunch in Thatcher and then went to the Gila Valley temple. The tour was nice and it was so nice to sit in the celestial room with our kids. Even though we get to take them into the temple each time we get sealed when we adopt we don't get to sit in the celestial room. It was so pretty and peaceful. Its the best place on earth!







Shots I took of the Temple








Go to page 2 and look at the last picture.....Yep it's mine :) I sent them a few and I guess they chose to post this one. http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/gilavalley/gallery/