Nelder Grove

For Memorial day weekend we headed up to Nelder Grove for a fun weekend of camping with the Sapps. We went up on Friday to get a camping spot and it rained on us all day and night. Lucky for the Sapps the rain had stopped by the time they got there on Saturday. On Saturday while we were waiting for our friends we headed out to find Meghan and Kaleigh who were cleaning trails with Camp Fire. We found them at Shadows of the Giants, but we walked the whole trail without seeing them. So we waited by their cars, apparently they had left the trail to look at some pretty waterfalls. Some pictures of us hiking.

Here we are at the end of the trail... we surprised them with our visit. They had no clue we were going to be up there. and I believe my mom and sister are telling me that I am crazy for hiking. They thought I was trying to make myself go into labor.

Back at Nelder Grove.....

Tanner had just gotten this Batman coloring book on our way through Oakhurst on Friday. He sat forever looking at it. He even started saying Batman, which is a real big deal for Tanner.

On Sunday afternoon we were visited by my Mom, Meghan, Kaleigh and Brendan. They stopped by before they headed home. While they were there Grandma started a snowball fight with all the kids.... boy did she ask for it!

In this picture Brendan and Tanner were making horrible noises. Which, as you can see, they thought were really funny.

And if you go to Nelder.... you have to climb the giant stumps!

More pictures from our campsite....
My man chopping wood, I think he is smokin' hot!

Four pairs of shoes lined up by the fire.... must mean that four little kids put their feet in the water!

Before we went home Ellie and I took LaShay and Mason to see the Bull Buck Tree. It is a nice easy hike. I have hiked this trail many times growing up and I love it! It is definitely worth it to see this beautiful huge tree!

Scicon BBQ

Once again we went to the yearly Scicon BBQ and had lots of fun. We headed up the night before and stayed in one of the cabins. Ellie and Tanner loved sleeping in the cabin. The next day we went to Bea and Kevin's to visit and eat their yummy food. As Bea was leaving to start setting up the food serving area Tanner somehow got invited to go with her. I was prepared to hear how much havoc he caused while with her, but Brian said when he found them Tanner was eagerly listening to Aunt Bea and helping her with whatever she asked him to do! A few weeks later Tanner received an official letter in the mail thanking him for volunteering to help with Scicon.

Of course we went to the meat pits to help dig them out and get the meat.

Here is a nice picture of the of all the boys standing on top a still covered meat pit.

Tanner.... enjoying his time in the dirt.

Brian and his Uncle Kevin.

Even Ellie joined in on the digging....

Brian and his brothers.


All the cousins climbing the dirt mounds..... of course Lincoln was there too, but he'll have to wait till next year to play in the dirt.

Taking the meat out.

Relaxing as others work.... That's where I was hanging out too.

Diane sitting next to the Tortilla and Salsa man. Every year he comes to the pits, smokes his cigars, and brings tortillas and salsa to share. After the meat is all dug up we grab some for ourselves, put it on a tortilla and add some yummy salsa. I always eat the homemade salsa he brings, it's pretty tasty!

Down at the BBQ.....

Tanner was excited to see the big fire trucks that were parked down there. Oh and he also loved his new sunglasses that Grandma Diane bought for him while we were there.

The kids went to get their faces painted, but Tanner was the only one that actually let them paint on his face. He was very proud of the snake on his cheek. Ellie and Ethan got the backs of their hands painted instead.

We love going to the Scicon BBQ..... We get to see family, eat good food, and have lots of fun!

San Juan Bautista

My nephew Brendan is in the fourth grade this year and for him it means he gets to do a report on a Califronia Mission. My mom promised him that she would take him to see a Mission during spring break and me, Ellie, and Tanner were lucky enough to get invited to tag along. We decided to visit the San Juan Bautista Mission . It was a lot of fun. I remember visiting a couple of the Missions when I was in the fourth grade and doing my report.

Breanna standing with the Mission behind her.

All the lovely children who we let accompany us.... Of course that roosters that were at the Mission would have probably preferred that we left them behind. The four younger ones chased them everywhere!

Grandma and Brendan went inside the Mission, but we kept the trouble makers out of there.... especially that little blond one, you can't trust him.

Cemeteries..... Oooo..... Creepy.....

Breanna and her three trouble makers.... Ethan, Caden, and Brendan. This picture was taken in the garden area which I loved! There were so many beautiful plants to look at! I think Bree got some inspiration for her own house.
After we were done with the mission we let the kids play at the park for awhile. Then we decided that the adults needed to have some fun too! So we went to...... Gilroy! We looked through a lot of the shops and had dinner. We decided next time to make it a girl trip, leave the boys behind and bring Meghan and Kaleigh along with us.... did you know they ditched us and went to Utah instead, Lame! Oh well we had beautiful weather and they had snow.... serves them right!

Girls Weekend!!!!

Ellie and I got invited to go to the LA area with Meghan and Kaleigh for the weekend. Of course we jumped at the opportunity to have a fun weekend full of girlie stuff! We left on Friday the 12th and came home the 14th. The ride down was fun... and it went by pretty fast too. Our first stop once we got there was the American Girl store. This store is huge considering that it only carries things for American Girl dolls and their owners. I had so much fun visiting the store... I do have my own American Girl Doll.... and yes I still take her off her stand every once in awhile and change her clothes. Her outfit has to match the season, doesn't it?

Ellie and Kaleigh standing in front of the store with their dolls Molly and Samantha.

Lanie is the American Girl Doll of 2010.

This is where the story gets good... Kaleigh and Ellie are on the phone to their Grandma Candice who has just informed them that they will be buying a new American Girl doll! Thanks Papa Leo and Grandma Candice!!!

In this picture Ellie is pointing out the doll she wishes to buy, Rebbecca Reuben!
The lady in the picture with Ellie became our new friend who helped the girls find the perfect doll. Ellie thought she was great.... she kept telling her that she was nice and sweet. My little girl can be really funny sometimes.


Here are all the American girl dolls.... Yes that is my doll in the chair getting her hair fixed. Kirsten is 17 years old and I thought a good hair fixing would do her some good.

The Gals and their dolls... Aww...

Next stop... SPRINKLES!

Yummy Cupcakes here we come!

Meghan found this place on line, so we thought we would give it a try. Its quite the hot spot. There is always a line and we got lucky.... we only had to wait 20 minutes!!! Was it worth it? Yes, it was! MMMmmmm..... I got a Red Velvet cupcake with vanilla icing..... so tasty!!!

Next stop....

Visiting the LA Temple.

I love seeing the Temples at night... They always look so beautiful all lit up!

DAY 2

We started the day off by going to a Cheer/Dance competition that Kaleigh was competing in. We weren't allowed to take pictures so I have none to show off.

In between Kaleigh's two performances we went out to lunch.... and where did we happen to eat? At IKEA! What a fun place to have lunch... especially since the girls got to eat free that day! Plus the food was great!

After we ate lunch Meghan and I walked around and looked at all the fun stuff that IKEA had to offer. I wanted to buy a lot of things, but I was able to refrain myself. The girls got to hangout in a huge play area while we were wondering the store. They gave us a pager in case the girls needed us and to remind us when our hour was up. Ellie and Kaleigh had a blast playing at IKEA. I think they had just as much fun as we did.

Back at the competition...

I was able to take pictures after the whole competition was over. Kaleigh's group took home a massive Spirit Trophy that was taller than all the girls. Her team also got first and second place trophies.

Ellie getting put up in a stunt. Uh-oh... do i have a future cheerleader?

That evening....

The pool at our hotel was heated so the girls went for a swim! Swimming in February.... you can't beat that.

Day #3

We started our last day off with another competition, but this time it was held at Knott's Berry Farm! Once again Kaleigh's team did fabulous and brought home more trophies! After the competition we were able to go and enjoy the rides!

Meghan, Kaleigh, and Ellie on the log ride. Unfortunately I was not able to go on the ride because my very thoughtful niece read a sign that said NO PREGNANT WOMAN! So... I ended up sitting this ride out, but secretly I was happy.... what I mean to say is.... I stayed dry!!!!

We had lots of fun at Knott's Berry Farm, but were very happy to be heading home. I think all of us were very tired and were ready to go home and sleep in our own beds. The whole trip was tons of fun and on the way home Meghan and I discussed how we needed to have a girls weekend at least once a year. Plus, we felt we were missing two girls.... our mom and our sister Breanna. I'm thinking another trip to IKEA!