BIG NEWS... Brett is no longer an intern!!

We didn't take the kids to the graduation, but we did get them for the reception after. Brayden loved the cake.

We were so happy to see Brett graduate from his internship on Friday. It was such a nice ceremony. The Surgeon General spoke at it. His talk really made me proud to be a wife of a Navy man and a doctor. :) I truly am so proud of Brett for all his hard work and long hour. One of the attending doctors was talking to us after, and he said to expect nothing but great things from him. He said he has got so much heart, and that he will be a great doctor. I agree. Brett parents came down, and they really helped make the whole event so special.

While there were here we did some fun things. Brett and I got to go on a fun date. We went to the gas lamp area of San Diego, and had dinner. Then we meet his parents and the kids at Seaport Village. The next day Brett and his dad got to go golfing, and then they took the girls to the Padre's game. (Everyone who went got free jerseys). Sharon, Brayden, and I went shopping and then to dinner on the bay. As we were eating dinner we saw a fireworks show. It was a great evening. We had a BBQ here today, and then they had to go home. I feel so blessed to have such great in-laws, and ones that I truly get along with. Thanks Banks.

FRIENDS

We made a 10 day trip to Utah and Idaho. We always have such a great time. I got to go to dinner with my good friend Kara. I also got to get together with some of my college girlfriends. My cute friend Sunny planned a water play date at my friend Michelle's house. My other friend Reggie isn't in the picture because she was our photographer. Between the 4 of us we have 9 kids age 5 and under. It was so fun seeing my friends and getting caught up. I am alway so thankful for my good friends. They always so great to be around and I alway leave them feeling like a better person.

FUN TIMES AT THE BANKS

We got to spend a few days at the Banks. I think the kids favorite part of grandma and grandpa Banks is playing in the backyard. Brayden loved the tractor, Alan's Porche, all the golf balls and tennis balls. We also got to see Alan take second in the Strawberry Day tennis tournament. After the tournament we went over to his tennis and business partner house for a pool party. ( Notice how cool the scenery with Brynn on the slide. Every time I go there I am always so jealous of there beautiful location and house). My cute sister Kelsi came down to watch my triathlon, but she got so sick that she had to miss the race. She came with us swimming later that day, but she was pretty hammered. Earlier in the week I got to hang out with her at my parent house. It was so great to be with her. We had fun shopping together and just hanging out at the house. She took the girls on a date to the movie and then to McDonald and the park. They are still talking about how fun it was. I am so amazed at women she is turning into. She is the best sister ever, and although she is young I look up to her so much.

PROVO TRIATHLON

YEA!! My brother Jayson and I got to do a triathlon together in Provo. It was his first one and he did so good. He ended up taking 4th in his age group. I was so happy for him I got a little tear in my eye when he crossed the finish line. It was a great race, and I felt like I race well. I actually was lucky enough to win. It was a great feeling, and it makes all my long hard training worth it. I got a new citizen watch. It was so great also because Jayson and I had a great cheering section. My brothers, Shane and Daniel, and Jayson girlfriend Stephanie ( also our photographer), my cousin Dayne, and Eric were all there cheering super loud. It was a blast. My cute kids were home with my cute mother in law. I always have to give credit to the one who gets my kids for the day. ( Thanks Sharon). It is nice to take a vacation from being a mom, and just feel like I am a triathlete for a half a day. It is a nice escape.

SPENDING TIME IN IDAHO

We got to spend the first part of our trip in Idaho. My kids had such a wonderful experience. The first thing Brayden wanted to do was to get on my brother Jordan's motorcycle. The first thing the girls wanted to do was go in the garden and get strawberries. They also loved playing in the tree house, the playground, and the walk-in doll house. The second to last day we were there my sister-in -law Tina came with the kids. Brynn and Aubrey had so much fun playing with Ella and Bria. They had a slumber party. The picture of them in there room was when my dad came in and gave them all princess rings. They thought it was like Christmas , and all he gave them was a small ring. It was pretty cute. Around 12:45 I checked on them before I went to bed and they were still awake. (Good thing it was only one night. It was just so cute seeing them have such a good time with each other). Tina and I had a great time as well. We got to go to the temple together and on a great bike ride. I am so glad our trip overlapped. ( My sister is law is a trooper. My brother Brandon has been deployed since last November, and she is doing so great. I hope I can do as well as her when Brett deploys). It was a wonderful time in Idaho, and of course we had to go to Blast Off. Thanks to my parent for making our time in Idaho so great. I love my parents, and I am so thankful for everything they have sacrificed to help me have a great life. :)

Fun date in the Mud!

Brett and I did a fun 10K mud run. ( Thanks to Melissa who so kindly watched our kids). We had to run up LOTS of hills, got sprayed by firetrucks, climbed muddy walls, cross creeks and a river, crawled through pipes and low ground crawls. It was crazy, but as Brett put it "It was one of the best races". It was so fun doing a race, playing in the mud, and getting to spend time with my dirty husband. (I figure if I sign both of us up for a race we are bound to get a date :) ).

I had a great race and actually ended up taking 2nd overall and 1st in my age group. I was so happy to have done so well, but I have to admit I was a little sad that the girl that beat me only finished 14 seconds before me. Hopefully, it will just make me want to do better next weekend in my triathlon that I am doing with my brother Jayson in Provo.

It was so fun just hanging out together after the races. ( We almost didn't know what do with ourselves without having the kids around :)).

I got this awesome picture of Brett right as he was finishing. I love the mud on his face. He did so awesome. I was so proud of him that he did the race. He had bronchitis at the being of the week . He felt good before he did the race, but with being sick and never really having time to train he did so great.The girls and I got him a new Garmin 405 for fathers day. We let him have it early, so he could use it during the races. I think that was a real motivator for him! It was awesome to come home and track all of his data from the race. (After seeing everything it can do I am thinking I might need to get myself one). I also wanted to say how blessed and lucky I am to have Brett as my children's daddy. :) He is an awesome dad, and my little girls and boy can't wait to see him when he comes home from work. He is so good to GO and DO so many fun family activities. He had been so busy this year, but he has always put us first. WE LOVE YOU BRETT! HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! I also wanted to say thanks to my dad and Brett's dad for being such wonderful fathers to Brett and me.

There was over 2,000 people in this race. This is the finish line. Once you cross the finish line you have to stay in order so they can pull your number. If you look close you can see how wet and muddy everyone is.

Here is cute Brayden trying to practice running with my medal on. We are starting him early in his training for running. :)

The girls did the cutest thing ever on Thursday. I was on the phone getting tennis and swimming lessons arranged. Brynn came in and got me. She told me her and Aubrey had a surprise for me. They had set up a little picnic breakfast outside with their "first" fruit salad. I couldn't believe how good they did making it. (I did cut the kiwis for them because they were trying to peel them with a butter knife, but everything else they did). It was fun we had a little breakfast salad outside. I love my cute girls. I like that my love for fruit has rubbed off on them.:)

Girl Parties and more summer fun!

Notice all the glitter. Brett says he is banning glitter. He says it is just sticky stuff that you can see. He just needs to get use to girls.:)

Brynn was so excited to have her"Girl Party". (She even told Brett he couldn't come). Anyways her and Aubrey spent a week planning their party. They made invitations, help me shop for decorations and party favors, and helped make the cupcakes and cut up the fruit. They even made tons of princess pictures and hung them on the wall. (Look in the picture and you can see how our kitchen wall got turned into a princess wall). Anyways, a few girls came over. The girls dressed up. Then they decorated cupcakes and had fruit. Then they got to put on make-up, and at the end we went outside and I painted their fingernails and toenails. It was so fun to see how much fun it is to be a little girl.:)

On Saturday we went to the Zoo. I had to post the picture of everyone in their hats. I am trying to be better with the whole "being protected from the sun" thing, especially because Brayden's skin is so fair. The funnest part of the zoo for me is always see the kids and Brett so happy. This day was no different, but now Brayden gets so into seeing the animals. He points to all the animals and tries to say things. It is the cutest. He LOVES animals and WATER, which you'll see below with him playing in the ocean.

Brynn wanted me to take a picture of her since she was taking a picture of me and Ashley. She loves to climb in trees. Ashley boys also like to take pictures of them selves if you notice in the next picture. :)

My friend Ashley and her family came in town last weekend. It is always so fun to see her. It was a little bit of a bummer because we were planning on having a BBQ together on Sunday night, but half of my family got sick. Ashley and I just ended up getting together at the park with a few kids. Her husband just graduated from medical school. What a fun and exciting time she has ahead of her.

We went to Sea World again with our friends the Williams. ( You can never go there enough). Anyways, the kids loved the Sesame park the best again. We went on another new ride, which is kind of like tea cups at Disneyland. It was funny to see Brayden first like it and then get scared. The girls of course loved it. It was also nice spending time with Williams. They came her for a few days, so we actually went to lunch with them and had a BBQ together. It is always great to see them, and get caught up with them. We were in the same ward with them in AZ. It is nice to make new friends, but at the same time old friends are something you treasure forever.

Look out my hot men! Also notice the waves behind Brett they were so big yesterday.

We ended up going to La Jolla yesterday to do a few things. We thought we would just go to the beach and hang out, not necessarily get wet. I don't know why we ever think that. Within minutes Brayden was soaking wet. I brought his swimsuit but he got wet to fast. We found a little "kid-made" wading pool. Brayden just sat there and played in the water and sand. He was the happiest kid ever. Brynn of course couldn't stay out of the water. She loves to go "jump the waves". She has always loved playing in the water. Cute Aubrey is always just happier playing in the sand far away from the "big" waves . ( It looks like she is doing some sort of yoga. Maybe she is trying to get in touch with her inner self :)). I know alot of my blog is of the ocean, parks, Sea world, and the Zoo, but we just can't get enough of them. :)

After church today we met up with our friends the Sambars for a community Fiesta. They had brought in different dance groups. The girls are really into dancing and their daughter Ryn took ballet with the girls this spring. The girl had a great time. They got a little hot so Chris bought all the kids snow cones. Aubrey started getting into the dancing. She said she wanted to start taking dance there.:)

Then later this afternoon we went to a concert in the park in Coronado. It was the Navy Band. We met up with our friend Joanna and her children. It was nice to hear a band in the background while we ate our little picnic. The kids love it because they get to dance and play on the playground. Brynn also found a ladybug, which I think was her and Aubrey highlight of the night.(I tried to capture Brayden and Brynn dancing together, but this is as good as I could get). As we were driving home tonight Brett said" I hope we don't get so spoiled her that we don't like our next places". I said "I know we are spoiled living here". I just figure we might as well do as much as we can while we are here, and get the most out of sunny San Diego.