My Melissa...

My most favorite roommate in the whole world was in Utah at the same time as us. She was sadly there for her grandma's funeral.

We just met at the park in between us staying with Stefanie and leaving to go stay with my grandparents. We didn't get to see each other for long, and it had been about 3 years since we last saw each other. I forever wish that I lived closer to Melissa...she is like a soul mate of a friend. I can do retarded silly voices around her, and she does them right back. She gives good advice, and every time we talk on the phone, I laugh and just miss her.

I still remember the first time we met. I decided I better snatch up her as my roommate because she was so nice and made me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich because I was crying when my dad left. I hadn't met any of the other girls. I was so glad that we got to room together, she was the dream roommate!

Here we are with our kids...her and her little girl Chloe and me, Kadie and Laney.

Utah trip...first half

First of all...look what I got. It is actually an "early" birthday present. My art show apparently impressed Josh enough to go out and purchase this for me so that I can actually know HOW TO USE IT by the time my birthday comes. I got some good practice in Utah, but I have a long way to go to learn all of the cool facts and tricks. I LOVE my new camera. Beware of lots of pictures.
We stayed the first half of our trip with Josh's beautiful sis Stefanie. She was such an awesome host! She has such a cute house in South Jordan, and it was so much fun to spend time with her and her hubby Justin. We miss you already Stef!

I love how in Utah you can be at one corner with a huge shopping center, and just blocks away is an Elk Farm. This was just around the corner from Stef's. We sort of freaked out when Kadie tried to reach through and touch the antlers of one of them when it started to jump up off of the ground. I think we scared Laney more than the Elk.

We had a family barbecue, which was really fun. It is so hard to get to see everyone, and it was awesome to see aunt's, uncle's, cousins and grandma with the white hair, (as Kadie calls her).

Debbie and Josh's brother Spencer are always a lot of fun to see. We can't wait until they move to San Diego so that they are closer! Spencer is always claimed by Laney before he even arrives. The funniest thing is that Laney calls them both "Debbie". Poor Spence sacrificed this shirt playing with Laney. She bit right through it.

Spencer's new favorite toy...the I-phone. Laney's forever favorite treat...Ice Cream.

Josh's grandma Toni with Jake and Andrea's baby Morgan. Morgan is grandma Toni's maiden name. I love this picture, so sweet.

Ice cream, yet again.

Since the guys went golfing...a couple of times. Us girls went and got prettied up. I think that Kadie SORT OF enjoyed her first mani-pedi!

We had another family game and food night with the Waldron-Morgan clan. It was like a party the whole three days we were there. I will send you the pics Deb!

Debbie has just about the same camera that I do. So we had a little "photo session" with Morgan. I think she liked the bowl don't you?

What a cutie pie!

The last day we were able to go to Josh's aunt Cinda's office. She was so nice to buy the girl's a Hawaiian Ice down the road. The girls had a blast playing with the awesome toys at her work. Thanks Cinda!

It was so much fun to see all of you! Thanks for spending your days with us. We miss you every day, and can't wait to see you all soon!

Liscence and Registration Please...

We just go back from our annual Utah trip, which we might not be able to take annually if gas keeps getting higher, sheesh!

So as we left, Josh wanted someone to say a prayer, and so Kadie volunteered to pray we would drive safe and all. Josh told her to "pray I don't get a speeding ticket". Kadie said a sweet little prayer, but forgot the ticket part, so he asked me to pray again. Needless to say, my prayer didn't work. Or Josh forgot to try not to speed.

As I was Reading, Josh slowly pulls over on the freeway

Leisa "why are you stopping?"

Josh "I just got pulled over."
Leisa "What!"

Here comes the human version of Yogi Bear, hat and all. I must mention his huge smile too.

I really should have taken a picture of him.

Policeman " You on a long trip today?"

Josh and Leisa in unison "Yep, going to Utah"

Policeman " Oh, man. I just got back from Vegas last night, it was a long drive so I know how that is. Soooo, I clocked you going 81 in a 55 zone, and it is a construction zone which is double the fine."

Josh "Really? I apologize."

Policeman "Can I see your license and registration Sir?"

Leisa "Where is the registration Josh" as I fumble through the glove compartment.

I found it and handed it over. We were both just thinking "crap" when he walked away.

Then Kadie decides to take off her seat belt while we are parked on the side of the freeway so she can get a closer look at the officer.

Josh "Kadie! What are you doing?" And, he buckled her back up before I could blink.

I swear when my blink was over the officer was standing at my window, smiling at us again.

Officer " So I am just going to write you 10 over and wave the construction zone. I will be right back. Also, is it okay if I bring your girls some stickers?"

We both laughed and said sure. I was thinking "Oh sure, we'll pay $110.00 for a couple of stickers. Great."

He actually was the nicest cop either of us have met, so thank you Reno Officer. We were glad it was Nevada...since Josh got tickets in CA, and Wyoming last summer. I guess 10 over doesn't go to your insurance from Nevada either...so that is good.

Here is Kadie with her badge.

More pictures and stories from our Utah trip to follow!

Art under the Oaks

Last weekend, July 12th and 13th I participated in an art show in Livermore, CA. It was so much fun. It was at Alden Lane Nursery, and I had never even been there before. If you haven't been there and live close by, you should go. It is the most beautiful nursery I have been to. It was such a fun experience, and great to see some friends from Art in the Park in Danville.

Here was my set up:

I actually did really well, my small art collections were selling like hot cakes and I sold a lot of jewelry too. I think it was the most exciting art show I have done so far! You can check out my art blog to see more of what sold and a few more pictures.

Shelter Cove: Episode 3

4th of July: Small Town Style

Josh, the girls and I were able to go celebrate the 4th of July weekend in Shelter Cove. Let me tell you, it was anything but boring. Small towns really know how to throw a party.

First we started out by teaching Laney how to shoot her Uncle's air-soft gun!

Totally kidding...if any of you know me WELL...you know I hate guns of any sort. But she does look cute. No...It isn't loaded.

Kadie, while enjoying a Popsicle...crunched down on something a little harder than ice. And spit out her second tooth! The tooth fairy only brought her $1.00 this time.

We were able to enjoy some AMAZING fireworks at our own convenience. Poppers and those confetti things? What a show! Seriously.

Some of the poppers were duds. Nick and Josh figured out soon enough that they worked better if you blew them out of your nose or slapped them on your forehead.



We made Laney clean up the confetti mess.

These were two of my favorite quirky shots of downtown Shelter Cove.

The town held a parade, and a fireman's lunch across the street from the bait shop.

There was even this cute man who was giving free train rides to everyone. So, we hitched a ride down by the sandy beach.

I have never been able to catch an entire parade in one shot. But, after all of the waiting for the parade to start. It was over in seconds...literally. This is THE parade.

Kadie waved hard to the one fire engine and all 5 cars in the parade. And then her, grandpa, Nick and Josh just decided to jump in the parade themselves. I think our family doubled the audience.

With the hot sun shining...the girls got to relax in a little wading pool and cool off!

Later that night we went to see the fireworks. Believe if or not, this town had some seriously amazing fireworks...and they went on bursting in the sky for more than an hour! My favorite were the ones that would squeal...because Laney thought that they were crying, and she felt bad.

On the way back, we passed a van ON FIRE, with about 10 people staring. I don't know how the 10 people fit in it in the first place, but they were definitely a little...drunk, or high, or maybe both. We almost just passed them up because it was just a tiny oil fire under the van. Since it was pitch black outside, and no reception on any of our phones, we offered to go down to the marina where the fireworks were and wave down a fire truck.

We pulled up, and yelled out of our car to a fireman (the entire fire department is volunteer in Shelter Cove).

Fireman: "What was that?"

Big Josh and Gary: "There is a van on fire!!!"

Fireman: "Fire!! Fire!!"

I swear you would have thought it was Christmas for these firemen. They were all just waiting for something to happen. Every single one of them jumped in their trucks. We followed them back up the mountain, and counted 1,2,3,4,5,6...7 FIRE TRUCKS going up to take care of one van. I guess no on wanted to miss out of the action.

It was a good thing, because by the time we got up there, the van was consumed in flames and the fire was headed up the hill to a home what was just being built.

My little bro Josh bore his testimony about it in Church the next day, and about listening to the spirit, which was sweet.

I guess Josh and I have to keep up our crazy 4th of July stories since the year we were blown up.

We finally got to the ocean the last day...

The guys went fishing of course, and when they came home we ate a whole meal. We seriously were living off of the land. We got the crabs fresh from a fisherman, and cooked them right up. It was my first time eating a crab this way, cracking the shells and all. Kadie turned down an offer starting at $5.00 to eat some crab meat...all the way up to $20.00. It was an experience, and soooooo good!

We ended with some games of Skip-bo and fun "fat" pictures of ourselves.

Take a Stroll...

I saw this on Jaime's blog, and thought it looked like a lot of fun....

Here are the directions

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I have together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember
2. Next, re post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.

I am excited to see what people have to say, and crossing my fingers that there isn't anything TOO embarrassing.

If you leave a memory, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave a memory for you!

FRONT PAGE NEWS!!!

Kadie is officially a big kid. She lost her first tooth yesterday. It was very wiggly in the morning, and she basically wiggled, waggled, twisted and turned her tooth all day long. My sister Kylie came over for a little while and when we were talking we hear an "AAAaaaahhhh!" in the bathroom. Sure enough her tooth had come out! It is a bittersweet feeling, the excitement of your kids growing up with a twinge of "that won't ever happen again". Ah, these are the days.

Yes the tooth fairy came last night and gaver her $5.00! What? Well, according to Josh you get more money on your first tooth. I know, not fair...I only got $1.00! Kadie also came up with the conclusion that the tooth fairy purchases the cleanest teeth from kids that loose them and then makes crowns and necklaces with them. Maybe you will see a tooth pendant necklace in the Silver Loft's fall catalog! Kidding...obviously. :)

Going....

Going....

GONE!!!