California Time with Cannons!

 We headed to California on Saturday after the boys' games and the ward bake sale.

We landed that evening and made it to Shelley's house. We were so glad we could see the Cannons before our Miner reunion started! And it was extra special to be there on Ella's birthday. We love her so much.

We went to church with the Cannons, talked with Anthon in Japan, had a fun birthday dinner with Ella's people (seriously, she's so loved!) and enjoyed a Sunday with them all. Then on Monday we did the LA Zoo (the baby orangutan!) before driving down to Anaheim. We hit the pool with the Miners and got settled in, plus tacos!

We're ready for some Disney days :)

Off to the airport!

They'll always head for the front of the train

Cute airport guys. They're pretty easy.

We made it to cousins. And Bear!

What a treat to be there on Ella's birthday! She's so loved!

A spin in the convertible! The little guys thought this was the coolest.

LA Zoo Day

That baby orangutan had my heart. The hair!

Met up with the Miners!

GRADUATION!

Michael graduated!

He finished his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency and we LOVE him.

(Though he does have to keep going to work for about two more weeks haha.)

This was not the graduation we pictured. But it's just fine. We're just grateful we're healthy,

and that we have a job lined up, and a new home and city that we feel really good about.

The Cannons came up for one last weekend visit. Moving further away from them is the saddest part of leaving Fresno. We have so much fun getting together with them and I'm said that quarantine life slowed down our get togethers during our last months living in the same state. But I know we will still visit each other even when it's Colorado to Cali :)

I'm so glad they came up so that we could have fun at Shaver Lake together and feel like Michael's graduation was celebrated a little more. He chose a Mediterranean meal (falafel & the works) and sticky toffee pudding for our graduation dinner with them. We spent the next day on the kayak at Shaver and we sent it home with the Cannons so that we can have fun at the beach with them when we visit them! We need to get some kayaks in Colorado that don't let quite so much cold water in.

Oh this week. It's all still surreal.

Camden has been waking up with good hair.
It's so cute to walk into his room (ahem, our closet) and see him so happy,
in his flying squirrel outfit rocking his bedhead.

Just staring at daddy. Wondering why he's home. Saturdays are confusing like that.

Studying. Michael: for his test. Camden: his toy car.

Packing always comes with some pauses to go down memory lane.
Kindal made me this journal after we graduated high school,
and I used it from then to right after marrying Michael.
It's full of bits of BYU, Alaska, London, Jerusalem, DC, Indianapolis.
This journal is such a treasure to me. Sometimes all of those experiences seem surreal.

YouTube art lessons and furniture turned boxes.

Bennett turned Kitty's scratch post into an "Animal Catcher"
and I laugh every time I walk by it.

Michael's sweet parents sent him some graduation cookies,
complete with COVID masks! So cute and thoughtful.
Such a strange time to hit a milestone.

The boys and our babysitter Ashley helped me put up a little memory wall so that
we could look back on the hard work and happy times that have gone into getting here.

We watched Michael's graduation by ourselves, eating scrambled eggs for dinner.
I think that might look and sound really sad. But honestly, this moment. I just loved it.
We ate a lot of dinners alone at this table. We ate scrambled eggs for a lot of them too :)
From when Westin was tiny to adding Bennett, to adding Camden.
This moment was not the graduation I pictured but this moment was really sweet.
Michael watched by himself in a lounge at the hospital having just gotten out of surgery.
We were all in our element :)

"There's daddy!!!"
So grateful my kids have so many examples of hard work in their life.

Shaver Lake day with the Cannons! I loved this day so much.

Bennett fed ducks like it was his job. For quite some time.

Thanksgiving and Cannon Crew!

On Sunday night we celebrated Westin's birthday, since we weren't sure when Michael would make it home from work on Monday. He requested salmon, corn on the cob, and chocolate chip cookies. 

During dinner he said, 

"I didn't ask for salad or rice with this, but I'm going to eat them... this is the best dinner. This is the best dinner we've ever had! Thanks mom. Wow, don't you really like this?"

This kid's relationship with food is one of my favorite things about him. Just so entertaining and sincere and cute. He was so stoked to get a Spiderman and Captain America shirt for his birthday.

Michael had Thanksgiving off, and the whole weekend after. It was so fun to have him home for four days! We got so much done and still felt like we played so much too. Four days is soooo much time.

On Thursday I went to a High class for the first time in so long, while he put up Christmas lights with the boys. Then we had our own little Thanksgiving dinner. Then on Friday the Cannons came up! We were so excited they made the drive to visit us.

Our Saturday with them was so much fun. Shelley and I went to a High class together, then we all picked up favorite donuts near our house and took them to the park. They brought their cute little dog and it was entertaining to watch him at the dog park there, and the little guys loved the playground. From their we found a gem of a taco truck in Fresno, and then we all went to Frozen 2. Camden was sweet through the whole movie and went to sleep on the way home. I really liked the music in the movie and the messages. Westin turned to us during one of the most emotional scenes and said, "This is a looong movie." Boys. Then we came home and watched some football, ate dinner, and played Wits and Wagers. We love the Cannons! Kids have so much fun when they are with cousins. I love when they get time together.

They left Sunday morning and we had a busy Sunday of church, tithing settlement, a temple/priesthood preview meeting, and helping little Bennett with his new cough/cold.

I loved having Michael home during this holiday so much. I am getting so excited for his schedule to be better. We are ready for that change!!!

Another favorite quote this week was when Westin wanted all of us to write down our favorite story about Jesus, and then turn our paper over and write down the name of our favorite song about Jesus. Michael looked at Westin's paper and said, "Oh, that's a D, not a B. You need to put the circle on this side of the line."

And Westin said, "Ok, well it's fine -- I'm just a little kid, man!"

Haha he was so funny yesterday. He also helped me make all our 25 Days of Christ ornaments and he loves doing projects with us. I love my boys so much.

Candle in a cookie, by request!

This kid is just getting to be SO smiley and adorable and fun.

Birthday breakfast! At this point we were pretty birthdayed out but Westin was still thrilled it was the ACTUAL day.

Tummy time on a yoga mat is pretty legit.

Our neighbor is just so sweet to these boys.
If you know them, you know she absolutely nailed these gifts.

I caught Westin playing War with Buzz.
Honestly, I'm impressed he already knows that Buzz can play War as well as anyone.
Worst game.

We had a play date with Westin's best friend from school, Weston.
He and his sister (who is Bennett's age) are so much fun and we love them and their mom.
They brought Westin the sweetest birthday present of a book with his actual name in the story.

First High class in so long!
Don't judge that heart rate. I have been doing low impact exercise for months and months
and my heart needs to get back with the program :)

Kitty and clean laundry.
A site that makes me crazy and that Michael thinks is adorable.

Camden outside during the Christmas light action!

Snacks for lunch on turkey day

Baby's first Thanksgiving!

I kind of hate that this doesn't look like very much work because it felt like I cooked so much.
Roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, and Ruth's Chris sweet potato casserole recipe.
We also made an apple crisp pie and I tried a greek yogurt pie crust and it failed miserably.

Tony and Dragons Love Tacos! Bennett just loves his Uncle Tony so much.

I almost deleted this picture but then I saw Bennett.

Yummy tacos! Tacos and family. Happiness.

Game night with the Cannons Plus pie. You know there was lots of pie.

These two had such a blast all weekend.