Mormon Night!

Very clever idea and the best turn out the Dodgers have every year. Last night Duke and I went to the Dodgers game and had a blast! I think it's the best pro game I've ever been to. We sat in the all-you-can-eat pavilian, the back right side of the field, and had all the nachos, peanuts and popcorn we wanted plus all the other game food.

Duke lovin' his Dodger Dog!

It was a really good game and the Dodgers won in the bottom of the 9th, so very close. The rest of the game the Atlanta Braves were ahead pretty much 2 points. The ending score was 5-4. Crazy FUN! Oh, and Elder Ballard pitched the first ball of the game and our man, Andre Ethier on the right outfield, made the homerun that won the game with 2 others on base!!

Site Seeing Weekend

Every weekend Duke and I try to do something here in California that is a little different from what we normally can do. We were told to go see the La Brea Tar Pits, which are in the middle of LA. The cool thing about it is they are continually finding more bones that are from thousands of years ago continually searching in the different tar pits around their site. The tar pits are natural and trapped animals and preserved there bones perfectly.



While we were in that area we thought we would look for more to do that would be different and we found a place called Griffith Observatory. It is on the mountain that says "Hollywood" that looks over the city and is more exciting when you go after dark. It has discoveries about the universe and different ways that men have used stars and planets for different things. It was pretty cool.

LA a night, looked beautiful

We were able to meet up with my cousin Mandy and her husband Brad for our little outing. Between our two stops we were able to venture through an art museum next to the La Brea Tar Pits. We also stopped by Wahoo's for some fish tacos. I never had had them and never really wanted to, but thanks to Mandy she talked me into it and it was great! We had a great time and our legs were exhausted by the end of it.

These were made out of tupperware, pretty cool

This was pretty funny...they had 5 cement blocks set up as "art," so I decided to make it "real art"

Duke thought this looked like the lighting section at Home Depot, just lamp posts instead...again "art"

4th of July

Check out all the boats on the ocean, kind of reminds me of Minnesota on the 4th, just not as big! (the boats and the water)

It was a great 4th. The first one Duke and I had together. We are so grateful for our free country and all the wonderful opportunities that it offers us, and for the day off!

That morning we got together with our ward for a pancake breakfast, that was an adventure in itself! We mapquested the way to get to this park and it looked like it was right off the freeway and by the airforce base. No problem! We got out there and followed the signs, until they stopped. That is when we couldn't find the road to the grove of trees in the distance. We went up and down the roads surrounding it and couldn't quite find it. We did find a cool musical highway, though, that has the vibration sections on the road that played different pitches. We were assuming it was the airforce song, pretty cool. The last road we took led to a dirt road that looked like it was only for 4-wheelers, but heck why couldn't the honda take it? Duke went for it and we found the paved road that connected to the park! We made it and loved it!

Love the drive up Malibu Canyon

We decided to take a trip to Malibu for the day, especially for the fireworks, that Duke heard were great. It was a ton of fun. We did more site seeing than anything and walked on the beach. The day was a little cold to get in the water, I thought, so we just enjoyed and relaxed. For fireworks that night, we sat on Pepperdine's hill. After we got settled the sprinklers in front of us turned on and continued up the hill section by section. We made friends with our neighbors as we ventured across the hill finding a place where the sprinkles had already been. It was pretty hilarious when a big group of people not noticing the sprinklers and everyone moving, got soaked; lots of screaming and scurrying around. We got home safe and ended the night with In-and-Out!

Enjoying the nice breeze

Comfy Cozy, waiting for the fireworks...

then the sprinklers started

waiting...

waiting...

Ready for FIREWORKS!

One GREAT Weekend!

Mother and Son ready to relax!

This last weekend Duke's parents came to hang out and they brought little Lacey, a niece. Duke took Saturday off and we took the day to explore Southern California! We first went to the fashion district which was shopping craziness. After all of our adventure there we took off to the beach.

We went to Santa Monica and hung out by the pier. Swimming in the ocean and soaking up the sun! For dinner we went to Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Fabulous food... I recommend the coconut shrimp and the spinach/artichoke dip, the best I've ever had of both. I was bummed that I had to venture and try something new so I had to steal a shrimp from Bill...SCRUMPTOUS!

Me and Duke ready to hit the beach!

The crew ready for the beach before we were out of the car...shopping never can wear you out enough to skip the beach!

Me coming in off an awesome wave on my boogy board

The boys, Father-in-law and Duke, getting ready for another big wave!

Where's Duke??
Me and Duke coming in on a fabulous wave that I caught perfectly

My mom-in-law and I soakin' up the sun

So in love...checking out the pier

When the sun goes down it's time to eat!!

Mom and Dad enjoying their coconut shrimp

For the rest of the weekend it was pretty much R & R. After church we had a wonderful dinner cooked by Duke, suddenly recipes are coming out of his finger tips!

After dinner we went to meet one of Bill's sons and his family. Duke got out his basketball skills we all had a great time. What a great weekend...visitors are so much fun!

Lacey and Duke playing a card game relaxing and letting the food settle before our next outing

Me and Duke on our way to Greg's

A fabulous week on the road!

For this whole year Mom and I have been planning a trip back to Minnesota. After moving to California with Duke we still made it work, and it probably worked out better, just because we were able to see more family that way! I flew into SLC and that's where the fun began.
Alisha decided to come along and bring her two little ones...it was going to be a long trip but we were ready!

Kinbree obviously doesn't know what she got herself into

We stopped in Colorado, at Uncle Fred's, on the way there and then on up through the great state of Nebraska. Surprisingly not as boring as usual, there was a lot more to look at after all the rain everyone has had. We arrived at Richard's, in Minnesota, late Saturday night.

Cute Ryan just chillin'. He's about a month old, just a little guy.


Hey, Hottie!

The next day we went to church in the new building that was dedicated last November! It was beautiful and also fun to see the branch and all the people there. After church there just happened to be a potluck. It gave us time to catch up a little more. I can't wait to take Duke back with me! Before the day was over it was very necessary to throw in a game of Rook with the Nelson's before they took off on their new adventure...a BIG move!

As the days came an went we were able to see a few great friends and spend time with the family.

The kids loving the sun, for a moment, and enjoying their popsicles

If you look closely you can see the lake in the upper left corner, through the trees!


Raegan not being to lovey dovey, but definitely curious

Giving Ryan a "Raegan hug."
-No arms necessary-

So what could I use these for?

Now that's precious

Miss Kinbree would hold Ryan anytime. She would just sit at out her arms out, "My turn!"

Happy Grandma! #17

Mason was sick of the rain and had to find adventure somewhere. It's a good thing it's not Grandma's house anymore!

Pretty Momma with her look alike. Raegan got sick but was still a trooper.

Isn't she pretty?!

Girls love the phones and boys...well anything to keep them busy

On the way home we stopped to see Mary in Rapid City. We had a picnic so the kids would have something to do while we did our little bit of chatting. As our journey continued, we stayed at Richelle's in Montana and hung out with them. All these kids are growing and growing and getting as cute as can be. We dropped Alisha off, the next afternoon, and that's where their trip ended. We saw Karissa ready to have a crazy dating weekend, busy as ever! Then Mom and me made our way back to SLC.

Garrett and Morgan having a fun day with Grandma

That night after getting back home we were able to go to the Ohquirr Mountain Temple Openhouse. Absolutely beautiful. Nice way to end our long trip. The next day I flew back, only to connect again with my hunny.