A Glimpse...

I always feel bad when I don't post for a while, I guess it's the guilt of imagining the 2 or 3 people who read my blog getting anxious or something...anywho... life just keeps rolling along at what seems to be a never-ending fever pitch. Does that make sense? Probably not.

Happy Birthday to Me!!! I'm so old that I need 2 cakes.

Of course I always have to throw in the gratuitous adorable Mia photo!

Jason survived the week long scout camp as scoutmaster, and Jacob survived his first scout camp! Hooray!

This is my favorite scout camp picture... just out of bed!

This photo represents one of the more liberating evenings I have spent in a long time. ROCK ON!!!

P.S. Living in So Cal= AMAZING!!! sorry, Mesa

Chef Jarom

First, big shout out to Tyler and Wendy for hooking us up with this incredible experience!

Next, giant shout out to Jason Knibb, executive chef of Nine Ten restaurant in La Jolla!  

Jarom has been a total foodie for a long time, and has dreams of retiring to Hawaii and opening his own restaurant.  For his birthday, I was able to arrange for him to shadow this AMAZING chef at a swank La Jolla restaurant.  He was there for about 7 or 8 hours on Saturday.  Chef Jason gave him a chef coat and showed him the ropes.  He had a total blast, and can't wait to get back there.  He actually worked... plated food, cooked a few things, total once in a lifetime experience-except they invited him to come back and do it again whenever he wanted!!!  He is already trying to figure out when he can get back there!  Jason and I went in before closing and Jarom made food for us.  He was on cloud 9 and couldn't stop talking about what an incredible day he had.  I can't stop thinking about how much I'm going to enjoy letting him use his skills to cook for the family from now on!!  

This is before he went in.  He wasn't sure what to expect... I think he thought they would make him mop floors and wash dishes, but he was still stoked!

Jarom and Chef Jason.  This is one seriously nice guy.  He is also a seriously skilled chef.  If you are near La Jolla, save your $$ and go to his place!  You will not be sorry!

Still smiling after a full day in the kitchen!  I love this kid!!!

Sweet Sixteen!

Although it seems like only yesterday that he was a funny looking little cone-headed newborn, my Jarom is SIXTEEN!!  Yes, that's what I said... sixteen years old!

An occasion such as this calls for multiple celebrations...

Party #1:  The family.

He seems pretty impressed with his cake!

Can we get some heat in here?

Party #2: Dinner and disneyland with mom (aka: first date)

The big surprise!!!

I know... super lame there is no sound.  Also, keep in mind that it is 5:40 am so the "Price is Right" reaction didn't happen.  I think he was actually in shock!  By the time school was out it had finally clicked in his mind that he had an awesome truck to drive!

Party #3: Bonfire at the beach with friends

Sorry... no cool pictures, but I'm sure if you use your imagination you will get pretty close.

More Birthday!

More photos of the birthday girl!!

Grandma and Papa gave her some much needed bling!

Princess Mia Turns 2!!!

The signs have been there for a few months, but now it's official:  Mia is two!!

What better way to celebrate this momentous occasion than to head for Disneyland!

Grandpa Andrews sent her some fancy dress ups, and she decided that this was the perfect opportunity to show off her Tinkerbell costume!

Wherever she went people kept stopping to tell her how adorable she was!

The first characters she encountered were Chip and Dale.  Unfortunately we had video camera issues, so we couldn't capture her jumping up and down and shrieking with delight when she saw them!

She REALLY wanted to share her granola bar with them, so they had to keep ducking their heads so she wouldn't rub slobbery granola on their noses!

Then it was on to pixie hollow to meet Tink

Tink was not nearly as exciting as the giant squirrels.

Daddy making the fairy fly!

The next day, I left Jarom in charge of Mia and Jase while Jacob and I went on Twilight Zone.  This is what we found when we returned:

Time to go HOME!!!!

My Girl

One Word:

PRECIOUS

Spring Break = Heaven

I LOVE SPRING BREAK!!!   

This boy is the sweetest thing!  

He is the best big brother a girl could ask for!

Love the action shot!!

Don't hate me because I have the world's sweetest kiddos!

See the seals behind them?

"GET OFF MY BEACH!!"

Dancing Queen

I'm starting to see a pattern here...

Every time Jason is in charge of getting Mia dressed, she comes out in a tutu and ballet slippers.

Sping Break!!

Today is a sad day!!  Everyone went back to school!  :(

Spring break was a total blast... we tried our best to have as many adventures as possible!  Unfortunately I only have pictures of one, (camera issues) but there are more on a borrowed camera, so someday I'll get them on here!

The following pictures document our camping trip to Camp Pendleton.  We love our Marine friends for getting us on base to this awesome campground!  It's right on the beach at one of the most famous surf breaks in So Cal. (Trestles, for those who care) That is why Jarom is not in any of the photos... we couldn't get him out of the ocean.  At the end of the trip, Jarom summed it up best  "Having this much fun shouldn't be legal!"  

This is Mia at the end of her nap on the last day.  Can you see those fingernails?  Yummy!  Green stuff on nose: sunscreen- not boogers!

Cheese puffs were the "must have" food item of the trip!

Kara=Extremely low tolerance for cold!

The old "lost my head" photo trick!

Fun with shovels!!  *no digits were lost during this activity

Teaser!!

I am hideously guilt ridden about not posting for so long!!  So many momentous events the last 2 months...  Just so you don't think we dropped off the face of the earth, I'll give you a little breakdown of what's coming if I ever get time to breathe!

Awesome event #1: Jacob turned 12, was ordained a deacon, passed the sacrament for the 1st time, and went on a thrilling camp out with his new scoutmaster (his dad)!

Awesome event #2: Jase turned 7, and took us all to Disneyland for his big day!

Also a few not so awesome events, like our day today in the emergency room at children's with Jase.  Oh well, into each life a little rain must fall...

Life is BEAUTIFUL!

Mia has developed quite the little personality!

Tell me this face doesn't just kill ya!

Jason took the boys to the big Legoland New Years Eve party, and I know the picture is bad- but Jase's face is seriously hilarious!  Is this child abuse?

The dog is very patient.

Remember the salsa post?   Apparently Mia's love extends to all spicy condiments... thai peanut sauce included!