Aloha!

Alo----ha! Yes, come do the hukilau at our house this weekend! We loved the tiki torches in Hawaii and although we don't have shrimp as good as Bubba Gump's, we do have tiki torches. Now we are ready for a late night swim - just need the pool temperature to come up a bit. We can't wait to have pool parties this summer and light em up!

Spring Break in So Cal!

We just returned from a fun vacation trip to So Cal. The reason for the trip was for my nephew Mike's wedding in the San Diego temple on Saturday. We decided to pull the girls from school and join the rest of my family a few days before the wedding to play and party together. We had a great time and enjoyed spending time with the family again. Mackenzie and Brooklyn had a lot of fun being with their cousins. Thanks Mike and Jessica for giving us an excuse to come down and party! We took over 500 pictures...and these are just a few of them! We left Tuesday afternoon. We flew down to LA on a CR700 airplane. It was tiny and only had 66 seats. We even had to walk out onto the tarmac to board the airplane. The flight was so smooth and quiet. Not like what I had expected flying in a tiny jet would be like. Here is a picture of Brooklyn and Mackenzie boarding the airplane.

On Wednesday we all went to Disneyland and California Adventure Park together. Here we are at the entrance to Disneyland! We had a great time!

Looks like Steve is just barely tall enough to ride this ride!

We loved Pirates of the Caribbean ride!

Grandma and cousins waiting in line for Pirates!

The kids got soaked on Splash Mountain!

We entered the park when they opened at 8:00 a.m. and left around midnight when they closed. We took this picture on the tram ride back to our car that night. Check out Brooklyn! She was wiped out from a fun filled day at the Happiest Place on Earth!

The first 3 days we stayed at a beach house in Laguna Beach. This was the view from one of the balconies. Wow! Wouldn't that be fun to have that view everyday? Gorgeous!

On Thursday we went to the beach. Right next to the beach were some rocks and tide pools. The kids had fun exploring all the sea anemones.

Mackenzie soaking up the warm California sun shine!

One night we all went to Ruby's for milkshakes! Yum Yum!

They had a bunch of old classic cars sitting outside of Ruby's so we took a picture of the cousins by one of the cars. Mike (the groom) in the turquoise striped shirt joined all the cousins at Ruby's for shakes. Thanks Mike for taking the time to join us.

Steve and I by this old Chevy truck. Friday afternoon we went to a wedding luncheon for Mike and Jessica. We took this family picture outside by the restaurant.

Cousin picture! Boy these kids look great all dressed up!

Brooklyn at the luncheon enjoying her cherry 7-up!

Honoring Mike and Jessica!

Saturday morning following the marriage ceremony - Here are the cousins all lined up outside the San Diego Temple to wait for Mike and Jessica to come outside for pictures.

The San Diego Temple is an extra special place to our family - this is the temple where Mackenzie and Brooklyn were sealed to us.

Brooklyn, Steve and Mackenzie outside the temple.

Family picture outside the temple.

After the wedding we went to Old Town San Diego and had lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant. Here is a picture of Caleb wearing this homemade tortilla mask that Uncle Steve made him! Who let Steve out of the ZOO to join us for lunch?!!

After lunch Grandma and Grandpa Smith bought ice cream for everyone! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

Saturday night Mike and Jessica had their wedding reception at a friend's home in Anaheim Hills. The house was gorgeous and had a spectacular view.

A picture with the bride and groom!

Brooklyn, Heidi and Mallory dancing at the reception. All the cousins had a great time dancing together.

Jessica and Mike cutting the cake!

After the reception we went back to our hotel and the kids had fun swimming and sitting in the hot tub.

Sunday morning was Easter Sunday. Even though we were on vacation it looks like the Easter Bunny found Brooklyn and Mackenzie!

Everyone went home Sunday morning but our flight didn't leave until later that day so we went to church at the ward we attended for 11 years when we lived there. It was so much fun to see all of our friends again. Mackenzie was only 4 years old and Brooklyn was only 18 months old when we moved from So Cal. After church we went and visited with one of our good friends JoAnn.

We had such a great vacation. It was fun to be around family again. We really miss that. It was fun to see our girls having so much fun with their cousins. The wedding was beautiful and we were so glad that we were able to be a part of all the fun activities. We love you all! Thanks for the fun memories together.

Happy 13th Birthday Brooklyn!

Today Brooklyn turned 13 years old! Wow...do we really have two teenagers in the house now? We started her birthday celebration off bright and early with her choice for breakfast which was homemade wheat waffles. After a few Saturday chores we let Brooklyn open one of her presents. Inside the box was a blindfold! We blindfolded Brooklyn and put her in the car and took her for a wild ride. She thought she was so smart and could tell where we were going even being blindfolded. But Steve tricked her by taking odd turns here and there to throw her off until we eventually pulled into the parking lot outside of our destination. We took the blindfold off and wa-la we were at the Sprint cell phone store! Brooklyn knew immediately that her biggest birthday wish was going to come true...a cell phone! Brooklyn picked out a cute bright purple cell phone that has a slide out key board for texting. She was in heaven! Later that evening we went to Claim Jumper restaurant for dinner. After dinner we came home and opened presents and had cake and ice cream. Brooklyn had a fun day celebrating and - so far - it's fun to have another teenager in the home! Happy Birthday Brooklyn!
Mackenzie blindfolding Brooklyn!

Brooklyn blindfolded and off on a wild ride!

One, Two, Three...off comes the blindfold!

Brooklyn with her bright purple cell phone!

Steve and Brooklyn with the birthday treat they gave her at Claim Jumper!

Mackenzie and Cynthia at dinner!

One of Brooklyn's presents were these cool water squirters for the swimming pool. She ran right out to the pool to try them out! They shoot so far and we can hardly wait to use them this summer!

Brooklyn reading her cards and opening her presents!

Check out this cute teenager!

I made Brooklyn's cake and frosted it in chocolate frosting. Then Steve decorated her cake with big, bright colored flowers. So cute!

Happy Birthday Brooklyn! We sure love you and are glad that you are a part of our fun and crazy family!