YAY...Christmas Break!!!

We are so excited because Christmas break has started and John has two full weeks off work!! Kate's boyfriend, Jackson, came out to visit for a few days so we have been having a good time together!! We spent a day at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It was a lot of fun! There are a lot of fun things to see! The kids had a good time!

There were a lot of cool things to see in the aquarium!

Abby and Alyssa!

Kate and Jackson!

Kate and Jackson checking out the cool things in the touch pool!

Our family with Monterey Bay in the background!

Jackson and Kate!

My darling girls!!

Bubba Gump's For lunch! Yummy!!

We love being with our family!

Two little cuties!!!


We also went into San Francisco. We walked across the Golden Gate Bridge. It was windy and cold, but clear and beautiful! We got to see dolphins and otters swimming in the bay! So neat! We also went to Golden Gate Park and saw the King Tut exhibit at the museum. It was interesting. It was a fun day together!!

Us with San Francisco in the background...so beautiful!

Daddy taking care of his little girls!

Our family!

Jackson and Kate with San Francisco and Alcatraz in the background! So cute!!!

Alyssa turns 14 and John celebrates his 40th!

Alyssa and John had their birthday on December 19! We had a very busy day because our good family friend got married, but we still managed to celebrate! Alyssa got to miss school on Thursday and I surprised her by taking her to the Apple store and getting her an iPhone! She was very excited! We also went to Cheesecake Factory for lunch!





On their birthday, we got up early and opened presents so that John and I could get to the temple for the wedding!







After the wedding, we went to "Avatar" and out to dinner!





After that Peppermint Ice Cream Pie!!! YUM!





Happy Birthday to two of my FAVORITE people!!

John Celebrates his big 4-0!!

I surprised John with a trip to San Francisco for his 40th birthday! We went into the city and spent a few nights! We went to one of our favorite restaurants, Roy's, for dinner. Then we went to the broadway play "Wicked"! It was so good! I would highly recommend it to anyone who is thinking about seeing it! We had a great, relaxing time together! John really deserved some time to relax! He is such and awesome husband and father. He works so hard to provide a good life for us and we love him so much! We all wish you a very Happy Birthday, Sweetie!

John and me at dinner!

A Birthday wish from Roy's!

Me and John in the theatre during intermission!

Boo Hoo...we are waiting for the train to go home! There were "Wicked" ads everywhere! We had a wonderful time! Happy Birhtday, John!!!

Thanksgiving 2009!

What a great day! My sisters, Lezlie and Allyson, and my brother, Grant, were all at Mom and Dad's with their families for Thanksgiving Day! We ate at the club house in Mom and Dad's development, which made it wonderful for everyone. No preparation and no clean up! We just got to enjoy each other's company! FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

My AWESOME mom and dad!! Aren't they SO cute?!

Me, Allyson and Lezlie with my parents.

Me and John.

Grant, Tanya and their darling family!

Alyssa and her cousin, Sarah!

Kate with her cousin, Madi!

Abby is enjoying her dessert WAY too much!

My brother, Grant, with us girls.

My mom and dad with a few of their grandchildren!

Our family with my mom and dad!

Our family!



The next day, John and I got on a plane and headed to Utah to celebrate John's mom's 60th birthday! It was a great trip! We went to Temple Square in Salt Lake City to see the lights! We saw John's aunt and uncle who are there on a mission! The next day John's parents, all of his siblings and their spouses were able to spend a beautiful day in the Draper Temple! It was so special! I hope and pray that someday I will be able to spend the day in the temple with my beautiful daughters! John's mom, Carolyn, is a wonderful person! I couldn't ask for a better mother in law! She is an awesome mom and grandma! Happy Birthday, Carolyn!!!

Me and John at Temple Square with Aunt Cheri!

John's whole family in front of the Draper Temple! What an awesome day!!!

Nike Half Marathon!

In October, I had the opportunity to run in the San Francisco Nike Half Marathon! It is a highly desired race. They accept 20,000 runners. This year they had 50,000 applicants! I ran it with two of my best friends, Michelle and Paula! The course is absolutely beautiful. How many races have Union Square, the Trans America Tower, Fisherman's Wharf, Koit Tower, Ghiradelli Square, The Golden Gate Bridge, The Presidio, The Marina, The Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate Park and the Beach on the course? Not to mention that at the finish line you are met by members of the San Francisco Fire Department holding silver platters with little blue boxes on them...that's right, Tiffany Pendants! To top it all off, my wonderful family was there to cheer me on and meet me at the finish line! Needless to say, it was AMAZING! I am really hoping to get to do it again next year! Kate and Alyssa are planning on joining me...I can't wait!!

Yup...I'm Famous! They put the names of each runner on the wall at Nike Town in San Francisco!

Doesn't everyone jump on the bed when they check into their hotel room?

Michelle and me at the top of the Macy's building.

The Nike Women's Marathon sign on the top of Nike Town!

Paula, Me and Michelle at the starting line! It was an absolutely gorgeous day!

Paula and me in front of the famous Cliffhouse restaurant! It is right on the beach...so beautiful!

At mile 11 my amazing family was there to cheer me on! It was such a boost to see them!

Me and Paula with our coveted Tiffany necklaces...darling!!

The best family in the world there to greet me at the finish line! I couldn't ask for a more supportive family!

Me, Paula and Michelle at the finish line! It had started to get a little cold a this point, but I was so happy to be done! I am so blessed to have such awesome friends!! I LOVED it!!!