California Cousins

I flew on Thursday to the Long Beach airport in California. Jason picked me up and took me back to Leslie and Freddy Lilomaiava's house (cousins). Friday we spent the entire day at Disneyland...or we were going to anyway, but it turns out that if you don't have any kids with you, you can get through all the big rides by 11 a.m.! We headed for a late breakfast at a pancake place instead. Jason was dancing that night at Disney in the Mad Tea Party so we went back again. I watched all four of his shows. Made me feel like a serious groupie. Well, not as serious as the two kids who danced the entire shows choreographies along with them. I found out from Jason those kids go to the show every night it's on. Crazy!

 

Saturday we drove up to Ventura to go to Six Flags Magic Mountain. Jason didn't really want to go because it was a Saturday holiday weekend and he thought there would be long lines. He was right, but I got on all the rides I wanted! My favorites are the ones that get a real scream out of me. My second favorite, Tatsu, definitely did that! As did my favorite one, Goliath. I almost lost my shirt on Goliath. Totally worth it! While we were standing in line for the Riddler (didn't like that one or Viper because they made your head jerk around too much - things actually went black on both of those rides), mom and dad opened their mission call! Jason and I watched it by Skype. They're going to the California Fresno Mission on March 18. No language specified! Their mission president is the coach that inspired the movie Forever Strong.

 

 

 

Sunday we drove to Laguna Beach and walked around before driving down to San Diego to see Jason's friend direct the play Chicago. It was really good! If you're okay with the story, which I don't like. After was nice though because we stopped in Old Town at the Mexican restaurant where you eat out on the patio.

 

Monday Jason and I headed back to Disneyland again because he was dancing in the Aladdin show this time. My friend Ashley came and while Jason went to his show, we hit all the rides we wanted. She had to go to a class that night so after she left I went and saw Jason's show. He was funny afterward asking if I saw him drop the apple during the show. That would be a YES, but I felt bad having to answer the question. :-)

 

 

In line for the Viper at Six Flags Magic Mountain

 

Jason has a relationship with this dog, Summer

 

Ashley and I on the Tower of Terror

In line for Radiator Springs at Carsland. We did the single
rider line and cut 2 1/2 hours off our wait time!

Jason as the guard with the speaking part.

 

 



Sweet Valentines

For Sarah's birthday celebration, there was a girl's dinner at a Thai restaurant in Lehi. Lori and I went, Sarah's high school friends, and Tracy Peart from the MM4th ward. Lots of bad dating stories. Too many.

 

Since I'm going out of town next week on Valentine's Day, we had our family Valentine's party the Sunday before the 14th. Chris and TJ made me special Valentines. We got a good laugh, or I did anyway, when it was discovered they didn't make ones for anyone else. And when I say anyone else...I mean Lori. ;-)  TJ has promised to try and remember to make her one next year. So funny! For the treat that I passed out, I made peanut butter fudge. It was delish!

 

 

 

Friends, Friends, and more Friends

There is a very sweet senior sister missionary who volunteers in the Temple Support Divison of the Temple Department (her brother is Wilford Brimley the actor). Her husband passed away this last Sunday so several of us went to the funeral for him in Bountiful. She is the one who wanted me to give her a tour of England but had to cancel the plans because she wasn't able to find someone to care for her husband, who had Alzheimer's, while she was away. Maybe we'll revisit that idea now?

 

We had a friends reunion that night, Thursday. I picked up Amanda at the train station and Amy drove up from Pleasant Grove with Danielle Taylor Westra. It was a nice dinner! Then we went to Hatch's Chocolates for dessert of course (that's a Felix requirement!). Made me think of the old days when we were all in the singles ward together in Pleasant Grove w/Bishop Hill and I was the Relief Society President with Danielle as one of my counselors.

 

Lori made another run up to Salt Lake on Friday to meet me for a USB drive download. She needed to pick up some more shows from the batches that Max is getting for me. Cody came along w/her for the ride and they hit the Cheesecake Factory too.

 

Saturday night, all very spur of the moment, Melissa Larson drove up and we saw Warm Bodies (a romantic Zombie flick, go figure!), then went to dinner at Zupas. She had picked up some professional hair color for me and then colored my hair to show me how it was done. When it was wet, it looked black and scared me to death that it was that dark. When it's dry though, it is a nice brown color, darker than I usually go, but not excessive. I quite like it and it has GREAT root coverage. Maybe this one will last longer than the usual 28 washes colors I do myself.

 

My friends must really like to spend time with me because they certainly drive long distances to come and visit! Of which I am very appreciative! Amy came up again tonight for dinner. I had lent her these two cute books that are fast reads so she was returning them and wanted to hang out as well. She's moving from Pleasant Grove this next weekend to Provo. Right as I'm about to move down there. Our timing could have been better that's for sure!

 

Fortune from the Chinese lunch we had after
Sis Stevens' husband's funeral. Sounds good to me!

 

Meals on Wheels

Lori and Ari came up to have lunch with me on Wednesday. I needed my eyelash growth stimulator (Christmas present from Lori) that I accidentally left at mom's this last weekend, and Lori wanted to get some episodes on a flashdrive of the seasons Max has been downloading for me. It worked out perfectly with each of us getting what we wanted.

 

Friday night, Amy and Amanda picked us up some Winger's which they delivered to my place and we watched a movie. I promised them it wouldn't be too sad of a movie. Unfortunately, I forgot about the twin brother dying in the movie...Amy has a twin brother...it did not go over well.  Whoops!

 

It has been CRAZY weather lately! Lots of snow, freezing rain leaving ice sheets everywhere, heavy fog and smog, and did I mention the snow? I shoveled the driveway today and had to keep stopping to take breaks because the snow was so heavy. I shoveled four times, one right after another because the snow would pile up while I was shoveling a different spot. Then, my roommate's boyfriend came over with his truck snowplow and did it again for us. The piles lining either side of our driveway are bigger than my car. I couldn't see the road when pulling out of my driveway! That's a MINI for you. But, in my car's defense, it has amazing traction and doesn't slip like other cars that I see on the road. Way to go little Mimi!

 

Alyssa Allred got her mission call. She is going to Calgary Canada Spanish speaking. Can't wait to see mom and dad's call!

And Now the Weekend of Shauna

Shauna's son, Bryan, is getting married in the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple in February. The wedding shower for his fiancée was on Saturday at Barbara's house. Lori came with me, and mom stopped by after she finished up at the temple.

 

Sunday, I drove down to Genola to go to Church in Shauna's ward. Her daughter, Rachel, is leaving on January 30 for her mission in St. Petersburg Russia. I ran into a guy from my work there. His nephew had just returned from his mission and was giving his report in the same Sacrament meeting. So random! Rachel did a great job. She sounded like she was coming home from her mission instead of just going out. After, we went to Shauna's house for dinner and treats. Who would have thought I'd find all of this extra family? Good thing I went on the trip to England with them in 2010 so we could discover each other!

 

I spent today at mom's too for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Unfortunately, it had to involve a dentist appointment as well! Max, Kim's husband, has been putting shows into a Dropbox account for me to get so I can watch them. It. Is. AmaZING! I'm being able to see all of these shows like the third season of Downton Abbey, Modern Family, Walking Dead, etc. LOVE IT!

 

We took this picture to text to Kim since she wasn't able to be there.

 

The Week of Karen

Karen had a week long seminar in Salt Lake for Family History so she came to stay with me. It was fun! I picked her up early Monday morning at the FrontRunner train station and then dropped her off at the Radisson for her seminar. I went to work and then picked her up at the end of the day. We did that through Friday when I drove down to Pleasant Grove and her husband came up to have dinner with her and take her back to Pleasant Grove. We talked, went to dinners, talked, played games, talked, watched movies and TV shows, talked, etc. I could stand being married if I got along with the person as well as I do Karen.

I helped my old boss, Kent Arrington, become a
VIP guest of Jason's show. Looks like fun!

Happy New Years!

I took an extra day off from work to go with the New Year's holiday. Lori and mom planned the Eve party at mom's house with some awesome food. We started early though over at Dana and Deborah's and everyone filled up there so no one was really hungry for mom's place. :-(  We had a fun time though. I even did a little Just Dance when at Dana's. I can't believe Jodie kept winning! I had to keep going until I finally took the lead. Yay!

 

Jodie also did a little Tammy pampering. She gave me a pedicure, massaged my feet, and then straightened my hair. I think she did good work! And it was very nice. I also took down all of mom's Christmas decorations, since I put them up. Last time doing that until after their mission!

 

Mom and dad practicing their missionary pictures.

Trying out the camera on mom's new phone.

Playing guns w/Matthew.

Chris and TJ giving crazy faces.

Mike joined in on the fun.

TJ taking over the camera.