Rewind---

Life is great.

Spring term was moderately uneventful, other than I finally finished my online stats class (that I've been working on for nearly an entire year), which was a HUGE relief. And I am pretty happy with my grade considering my track record with math and how much I put off that class. So wooo!

We were able to visit my family in California for a week early in June. It was so fun! I really miss seeing them, just spending time hanging out, playing games, and joking around with everyone. I am so lucky to have the family I do. We're not perfect, but we're good for each other.

I can't believe how much the kids are growing up! I don't really feel like I'm getting that much older, I still feel the same as I have for years. But seeing how tall the boys are getting and how mature the girls are just trips me out! I am so proud of the people they are becoming. I hope that I was a good enough sister while I was at home. There are definitely things that I would like to take back, things I wish I would have changed years ago, but what can you do. I guess the only thing I can do is just be the better sister now. But, it's just not the same.

I wish they all lived close by! Like close enough that it takes less than 12 hours to drive there and we can see them more than every 6 months. I like to know what goes on in their lives, their feelings, etc. without grilling everyone everyday. Regardless... for now I'll just have to deal with it. Sad day.

So while we were there, Alyssa was baptized! It was great... I am really glad we were able to be there for her special day! She looked so pretty that day, just pure and clean and innocent! Grandma and Grandpa Isom were there, as well as Grandma Lynn. We had lots of visitors, but I think it made it even more special for little Lyss. Nate, Trey and I went golfing together on Monday. We were not very good... Nate was 19 over par and he still beat us! (But I beat Trey--kinda) It was a fun afternoon together!

I kept trying to sneak a picture of Trey, and finally got one!

Alyssa's pretzel sand castle

Tuesday we went to the beach and got FRIED! We all got so sunburned, it was painful for almost a week after. We played in the sand, had Jillian fetch the volleyball from the water, kicked around in the freezing water and just had a good time! We then went to dinner for Trex's 15th bday at a DELICIOUS restaurant called Maggiano's. I was so stuffed I could barely move, but it was so worth it.

That was not a real candle

Wednesday we played croquet, just played around, and went to see Pirates of the Caribbean with Mom and Trey. It was really good! It was long, but it didn't seem to drag on like some movies do, so I was grateful for that. And it was the first movie Nate and I had paid for in a regular theater (rather than a dollar theater) in over a year! For some reason I'm decently proud of that... I think its because regular theaters are so dang expensive that I like saving money and exercising self control by waiting 2 months till it gets to the Provo dollar theater. haha.

Thursday Dad took the kids and grandma to the Ventura Pier so we could ride tandem bikes. It was really an adventure! They were more like pedalling go-carts, rather than two bikes attached, so we teamed up and raced up and down the beach. There were two little go-cart type vehicles, and one that was a mini trolley that sat 4 and they all pedaled while sitting up. That was the hardest to pedal on! It was realllly heavy and hard to maneuver. Poor Dad was in that one the whole time. Then we walked on the pier perusing the fishermen, their catches for the day and chasing pigeons!

Friday we were going to try to come to the beach again, but it was so cloudy and chilly we decided not to go. Mom and I had some girly bonding time shopping and the boys did some sport shopping. We just hung out, played more croquet, and my parents took Nate and I out to dinner to P.F. Changs! It was so yummy and fun to chat with them.

Grandma and Jill 

Croquet was the favorite game of the week!

All in all, it was a great trip. We left on Saturday, and by Sunday I was wishing I was back home!