Jayden's baptism

Such a beautiful day.  Seeing Jayden get baptized was such a special experience, especially seeing the transformation (even if temporary) afterwards.  While most boys his age have been wearing "future missionary" name tags since they emerged from the womb, Jayden has told me that he doesn't want to serve a mission, he'd rather live at home and play video games all day.  When talking about his baptism the one thing he was the most excited about was the candygram that my friend had promised to make for him.  I know he's still young, but now is the time to start planting the seeds of his testimony.  With that being said, seeing Jayden light up with the spirit at his baptism was amazing.  Seeing him read his scriptures on his own during sacrament meeting the next day and even marking his favorite verses just did me in.  It just so happened to be a missionary farewell and when he turned to me and said that he is so excited to go on a mission to Paris (he's convinced that's where he'll be called), I realized that this kid really is a good egg.  He may give me a run for my money, but he's got good roots and a sweet heart.  It's hard living so far away from family, especially during special occassions like this, but we are so grateful for our friends here that have become our family.  My friend delegated herself to be in charge of Ryder during the baptism and it was so nice to be able to just sit there with my arm around Jayden and focus on the speakers and especially the spirit.  We had a lunch at our house afterwards, I didn't get any pictures because I was too busy refilling (and eating) the brownie plate and hanging with friends, but just imagine our house filled to the brim with people and love.  So grateful for Jayden and the choices he is making, so grateful for the gospel in our lives and so grateful for the loving and supporting people we are surrounded by.

In case you haven't noticed, we don't have a beach in our backyard

As I was thumbing through the Family Fun magazine on our way home from the beach I found the perfect craft project to have on hand for when Maddox asks to do another crap project.  Because Maddox WILL be asking to do another crap project.  I saw something similar on pinterest, but it called for baby oil and let's be honest, I haven't bought baby oil since 1996 when I spent the entire summer on the back deck working on my skin cancer with the Spin Doctors keeping me company on the boombox.  This version called for vegetable oil, and I can do vegetable oil.  Just mix 4 cups of flour and 1/2 cup of vegetable oil for the closest thing to building sandcastles in the desert.  Two thumbs up, way up. 

How bad is it to have "fun" and "funeral" in the same sentence?

Jason's Uncle Simon passed away this past week. He had a stroke several months ago, followed by a heart attack. He was only 57 and the youngest of his dad's siblings, he was also in pain and ready for relief. The news of his passing was sad, but everyone also felt gratitude that he was in a better place. The funeral service was beautiful, atleast what I heard from the speakers placed outside the Rose Hill cemetary chapel while I dug hot wheels out of the garbage can, cleaned up little bits of styrofoam cup that entertained little hands for a solid 5 minutes and tried not to look like too big of an idiot running past the full length windows in my stillettos while chasing an irreverant toddler off headstones. This is the first funeral that my kids have been to and they were filled with questions which opened up some great dialogue about death and heaven and Maddox was relieved not to find a skeleton in the casket during the viewing. I only met Uncle Simon a handful of times, but I hear he had a great sense of humor and as we sat around the grave side with family and loved ones laughing and sharing stories about his killer British impersonations and his love affair with food that got him kicked out of all-you-can-eat buffets, I decided it wasn't so bad to admit that our trip to California for his funeral was actually pretty fun.  I think he would have preferred it that way. So tonight I made sweet and sour chicken just for you, Uncle Simon (and because I haven't gone shopping since we've been home and I had the ingredients on hand. But mostly for you, Uncle Simon, mostly for you).  You are loved and will be greatly missed, thank you for making the world a better place with your smile.

Jason's grandparents and great grandparents are also buried at this cemetary.  It is one of the most beautiful cemetarys that I have ever been to.

I love feeling like an honorary Asian when I'm with Jason's family.  I still don't venture too far away from the fried rice, but I have been known to say "shi shi" on occasion when necessary.

Sea World was the typical stuff amusement parks are made out of. Crowded, hot, overpriced everything, mediocre service and even more mediocre food. But after getting past the $18 deep fried chicken fingers, the smiles made it all worth it. The thrill of facing their fears on the roller coasters, the amazement of whales leaping out of the water, their wide eyes staring at sharks, the squeals when touching sting rays and the chorus of little voices asking when we get to go back next. Yeah, it was worth it. Just maybe not the chasing a baby all over creation and digging a used cigarette butt out of his mouth part. That I could have done without.

Maddox didn't know what he had gotten himself into when he wanted to go on Journey to Atlantis just like the big kids.  He said he kind of liked it, but mostly didn't.  And he'll never do it again.  Brave little boy, you can't even see his head, he's so tiny (we're in the last row).

And then came the beach. Oh I would take the beach over an amusement park any day {no offense, Shamu, we had a good run}. It was so nice having Ryder old enough to explore and not just sit on my lap eating sand. Jayden became the master sand crab finder (since Jayden is the master at whatever he does), Kylie overcame her fear of sharks and lived in the waves and Maddox devoted his time to sand castles, sand volcanos, sand bridges and what ever sand creations his little mind could come up with. We spent the next 6 hours sitting in the car with sand in our underwear, but it was a small price to pay for a beautiful day at the beach

Maybe I should have told them about the big wave sneaking up behind them?  Nah.