San Diego Temple

While on our trip to San Diego, we made a special stop at the temple on Sunday.  It was beautiful and nice walking around the grounds.  

Landon's first time in an umbrella stroller

What a beautiful place it is, and we are so glad we were able to take time to visit on this trip!

San Diego Trip

A couple weeks ago we found out that Brett got a new job!  

We are so excited about it, and feel so blessed that he found something.  I have to brag for a minute...

Brett has been looking for a better job more related to the direction he wants to take his career.  He has been looking for over a year now, and it was very discouraging at times.  We just had to keep reminding ourselves that this is a hard time for everyone to find a job, not just us.  But he never gave up and always was diligent in applying for jobs and looking into different options.  After lots of praying, applications, and interviews, he finally landed something that he is excited about!  He is also thinking about starting a Master's program soon.  But more on that another time.  

To celebrate, we decided to spend the long weekend in San Diego.  I have a really cool uncle, named David, who is an attorney in San Diego (he is also an author, he wrote this book.  It's awesome, check it out!  You can even get it on Kindle).  His family lives here in Mesa still, so he comes home nearly every weekend to spend time with them.  He gave us an offer we couldn't turn down...a weekend to stay in his vacant apartment.  

Since he lives there on his own during the week, we refer to it as the "bachelor pad".  It is literally across the street from the ocean, and tucked away in a quaint little part of La Jolla.  Not a pot or pan is stocked in his cupboards, but he is fully equipped with surf boards, boogie boards, beach chairs, and cable TV.

He gave us some great restaurant recommendations, so we had a blast walking around the little shops, lounging at the beach, and taking lots of naps.  Since this time of year is "off-season" we just felt like locals.  For some reason, this trip was exactly what we needed!  A low key, relaxing, fun time, just as our small little family.      

Sleeping in and lots of naps were had.  We pretty much just co-sleep/use the car seat for Landon's sleeping while out of town.  

Loved wearing the Moby wrap with Landon while we walked around and explored this pocket of La Jolla.  

Landon would even take little naps in it while we were out and about...

For lunch one day, we ate at the Cheese Shop--super delicious sandwiches.  It was full of vintage candy, and even popular Canadian novelty sodas and candy.  Brett enjoyed looking through stuff and telling me things about the different Canadian items.

 About to brave the cool California waters and skim board...

 At Piatti, an Italian restaurant that was seriously delicious.  I could have eaten their bread with oil and balsamic all day long.  It was embarrassing how many baskets of bread we asked for... 

And then it was time to head home.  We have a good little traveler.  We love having the mirror on the back seat, so we can see what he's up to during the long drive.   

Anniversary Weekend

Brett and I just celebrated our anniversary weekend.  It happened to be the culmination of our first year together, along with my graduation from ASU, and Mother's Day!  So we decided to make a quick get-away and go on a "stay-cation" at a resort in Scottsdale.  We had a great time!  And seeing how it is "off season" time for the resorts here in the valley, you can score some really good deals! 

We started off the celebration with dinner at Cheesecake Factory (thank you Aunt Kaye for the gift card!). We spent the rest of the evening relaxing, talking, and of course...indulging in some sweet treats--chocolate covered strawberries and some bubbly!

It was nice to have an evening away from "regular" life and have time to reconnect and relax together. 

Brett has been an incredible support to me and has loved me unconditionally.  He makes me laugh often, he works so hard, and he listens to me when I need a sounding board.  I can't imagine where I'd be without him, I am the luckiest girl to be married to him!

One year down...Eternity to go!

Brett's Birthday Weekend in Sedona

Remember this post?  Brett and I had a blast staying in a cabin-for-two in Sedona.  Seriously, we would recommend this adorable bed-and-breakfast to anyone!  They are called the Canyon Wren Cabins, check them out!  And if you don't believe us, look at TripAdvisor, they have phenomenal reviews!

We drove up early Friday evening (we stayed in the Honeysuckle Cabin) and grilled our own steaks, had baked potatoes, steamed veggies, and Brett's favorite Strawberry-Lime Jones Soda.  Topped off dinner with Sprinkles cupcakes (lit with candles of course!).  We watched a movie on Brett's laptop, and just chatted and relaxed in front of the fireplace. 

Saturday morning we woke up and had a delicious breakfast.  Then we were headed off onto a beautiful hike (of course I forgot my camera!  But we took a few on Brett's phone).  The hike was gorgeous.

That afternoon we napped, relaxed, and watched a movie. 

We hit a cozy Italian Restaurant that is frequented by the locals.  Complete with some live music and candles, it was a delicious recommendation by our hosts.  After dinner we walked through Uptown Sedona, and bought a souvenir.  Then we went back to the cabin, started up a fire in the fireplace, drank hot chocolate, made s'mores, and played speed scrabble. 



This is the life!

S'mores!

What a goofball!  Haha!

We had a wonderful time together, and it is amazing how much fun you can have when the TV and the internet aren't even an option!

Birthday Weekend

(source)

Brett and I are going to be staying in this adorable, cozy

cabin-for-two this weekend to celebrate his 25th birthday. 

We can hardly wait to hit the road this afternoon!

Weekend in Willcox

Brett and I went to Willcox a few weekends ago.  I love weekends away there.  They are slower paced, full of family togetherness, and wonderful weather. 

Here are just a few highlights from the trip:

fire burning in the fireplace and hot chocolate on chilly evenings

solving the worlds problems during family discussions

watching Brett round up 2 horses for us to ride, but a whole swarm of 10 followed him...he's the horse whisperer (or it possibly could have happened because of the bucket of grain he was carrying :)

a romantic horseback ride up into the mountains with a picnic lunch

(and Brett ripping a nice hole in his trousers)

taking the nieces and nephews on horseback rides and playing with them

homemade apple crisp from the apples in the backyard

being one of several fabulous "Sister Allred"s at church

a Fall feast of chili and cornbread

visiting brother and sister-in-law at their new beautiful home that is only surrounded by mountains and fields (she is just like Pioneer Woman!)

having chewy praline fudge for breakfast

picking out fresh produce at Apple Annie's

long talks and random dance parties in the car while driving

just being with the family

(I sure am going to miss my mother and father-in-law)

I've discovered that a huge part of me is a small-town girl

and I am lucky to have married the best cowboy around!



Ward Campout

Well this was several weeks ago, but I am just now getting around to blogging about it.  We decided to attend our ward campout because Brett had that Saturday off, and we knew it would be a good opportunity to get to know our ward members better!  We decided to carpool with another fun, young couple in our ward--The Whitings! 

Since Brett had work on Friday, we got a bit of a later start (and we decided we should stop at In-N-Out on our way...ya know...because it's a requirement to incorporate In-N-Out into roadtrips!).  We drove up in Brett's Corolla, and we were packed into the car.  The trunk was full, and the things that wouldn't fit were squeezed into every nook and cranny in the car, including on our laps.  I wish I had gotten a picture!

But the drive wasn't too long, although unfortunately, the ward handed out the WRONG maps to the location they would be at, so after we almost got stuck in the muddy road and when the gas light turned on and we were still looking around with no success, we just pulled off to the side and camped at some random campsite by ourselves.  Aubrey and Thomas couldn't even fit their tent in the car it was so full, so we even shared a tent.  But it worked out, because we were less scared of those weird noises we heard outside with us all in close quarters.  We just kind of laughed at our luck and the fact that we were in the middle of nowhere all by ourselves. 

We really liked these retro pumps

The next morning we woke up, and we headed to the nearest town to get gas.  On our way, we saw an exit off of the main road, not far from where we camped, that sounded familiar.  So after getting gas, we ventured down that road, and sure enough, there was our ward!  So we were able to still get a yummy breakfast and lots of visiting time with our fellow ward members.  And we found out that almost everyone got lost on their way, so we didn't feel so dumb. 

Aubrey & Thomas

We are so glad that we went!  The weather was fabulous and the company was even better!

Our Bishop met his wife at BYU Hawaii (his wife is Hawaiian)
and he played the ukulele for us

Brett and Thomas playing in the air soft gun war

And on a side-note: Brett and I now both have callings.  Brett is a ward missionary and I am CTR 4 primary teacher (wish me luck--the primary program is this Sunday and I have 6 VERY wiggly kiddos to managae up on the stand!).