We started the month off with a week in California! We stayed in San Diego for several days and went and walked around and explored the downtown area. We went on the ferry to Coronado Island and had a really fun time getting to know the girl who worked on the ship. We could see the cruise ship and the Star of India ship from our hotel! It was a fancy high rise! I've always wanted to stay in a high rise and it was so cool.
We were able to go visit Hannah and meet Jade! That was a true highlight of our trip. Baby Jade is the cutest and smiliest girl. We loved holding her! Hannah is the best mom and seeing her grow into a mother is one of my favorite parts of friendship. When we met, we were just living the college life and look at us now! So proud of my sweet friend and her beautiful family.
We went back to DeJong's Dairy. The girls went and saw the new baby calf, and Wade and I looked at tractors. I can't remember his name, but his wife is the owner of the dairy, and he let Wade get in the tractors while we asked a million tractor questions.
We went to Disneyland! We went for one day and it was fun. Wade was very overwhelmed and I didn't anticipate that. The girls and Jake ditched us for some big rides and we enjoyed doing the carousel a few times. He loved the snacks. Atta boy!
Emily had her first soccer game, and she scored a goal! They won because of her. We are proud of her grit. She is getting more skilled and it's fun to watch her improve each season.
Gwen turned 12!!!! Holy moly! We did a "viral" birthday quest. I prepped several sets of index cards. Each activity had two options, and Gwen would pick a card and we would do that. I'll list her options here, with the one she picked in bold. 1. Ditch full day or ditch half day, 2. Starbucks or Dutch Bros, 3. Baptisms at Mesa or Baptisms at Gilbert, 4. Milano's or Deseret Book, 5. Mod Pizza or Mod Pizza (hahaha I knew she'd only want Mod), 6. Pandora or Rowen (we did both! She got her double ear piercing), 7. Sephora or Ulta and she didn't care about this one hahaha! 8. Cold Stone or the candy store, 9. JC Penney or Nordstrom Rack. She had such a fun time and loved getting her ears pierced. She was so nervous and she did so well. I cried! Then when we picked up Emily, Gwen was explaining what we did and she pulled her hair back so Emily could see her earrings and Emily cried, too!! We were all sobbing to see our girl growing up little by little!
Grandpa Chris and Grammie Jan came down to visit! They came in the afternoon and spent the evening with us at Gwen's birthday party. She invited a few good friends and we went to Slick City. It was so fun. I was able to go on a few slides and I was legit scared! It was awesome. I loved it and want to go back with Jake. Uncle Morgan came and surprised us. He's so fun. When he visits, I get to stop parenting because the kids all go to him and I enjoy my moments of solitude.
Our time with Chris and Jan ended after they attended our church service together. The music on Palm Sunday was so good, and I was thankful. I get cranky if we don't have a lot of music! The primary kids sang a beautiful song, and Wade got up on the stage for approximately one minute and then sat back down with me. I walked up to the stage with Wade and sat close by, so I could hear Emily's voice ringing out! It was glorious.
We ended the month with family dinner at Caroline's house. We had Mexican food and cake, and swam in her cool pool. I missed the exit because Jake and I were having a hearty discussion on baby names and cars, and when Wade realized it, he kept repeating, "Mom, you went a weird way to Care-nine's house." He'd also say, where are we? over and over. He knows his locations!
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| On the way to Cali, squished in the Prius. |
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| Sleeping in Yuma |
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| The view from our high rise. I spied on others all day. |
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| A park nearby with a cool bridge and playground |
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| Emily made a sand heart. |
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| Another one of her sand creations. |
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| Soaking up the sun!!!! |
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| We didn't bring swim suits because we didn't know what to expect. They all got soaking wet and it was worth it. |
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| My besties. |
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| "I has to take off these clothes, they're wet!" |
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| Wade has said so many times since coming home "I love the beach!" |
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| His best day ever. |
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| On the ferry! |
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| WE SAW DOLPHINS! |
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| Cuties. |
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| Okay, this is so cool. These guys saw us looking at them and invited us onto their boat!!! |
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| They let us sit on their chairs and hit the sirens. It was so wild and incredible. I asked them all about their lives and work schedules. They are coast guard and have schedules like firemen. SO cool and so nice. |
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| At another park. We came here almost every day. |
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Wade's a better person when he's able to nap, and he napped like a pro the entire trip.
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| Tractors at DeJongs. |
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| The girls and Hannah!!! |
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| Feeding the goats. We did this ages ago! |
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| 💙 |
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| 💛 |
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| These people are the best. |
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| The goats are so funny and personable. |
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| Holding Jade!!!!! She loved Wade and he kept calling her "so cute!" |
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| Our babies! Gwen and Jade. |
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| Sweetest Emily and Jade. |
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| Our last night in San Diego. We ventured back out to see the ships. |
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| Gorgeous girl |
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| Mom and Dad |
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| I slept by this guy the entire trip. Jake and I worried about him sleeping in the living room because it had patio access with patio chairs----not good for this daredevil. He slept well every night. I got hit by a moving bus all night. |
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| "The pirate ship!!!" |
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| Another day on the island. |
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| Ice cream at DeJongs. |
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| His favorite orange tractor. |
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| "Can I have this?" Uh, no. |
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| 💛 |
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| I loved this guy. He was so sweet to us and gave us the best tour. They don't do this or allow this, but they know Hannah and her family so well so we got very special privileges. |
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| Seeing this baby was one of the special privileges. |
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| So cute! |
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| Emily and the calf. |
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Mickey Mouse and Wade!
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He thought we were spinning and actually figured it out so I put my phone away to combat his spinning.
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| Denham Duo at Disney |
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| Big kids ditched us and had fun on the mountains! |
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| Gwen modeling her new sweater, and Emily throwing in her new toys! |
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| I love this. I love our family's love for each other....and Disneyland. |
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| Gwen modeling again. |
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| More teacups. We got the orange one! |
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| Emily got these surprise toys. She loves the surprise and I was panicking about her getting two of the same character. She is so good at picking! |
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| Gwen! |
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| Emily! |
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| Wade and Mom! |
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| Wade and Mom! |
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| Wade and Dad :) |
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| Churros all day! |
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| Jake got Wade a sword. He's whacked us all 100 times a day since. Come over and get smacked by him any time. |
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| Shenanigans. |
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| Popcorn break while the girls rode Roger Rabbit. |
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| The crowds were so low. It was marvelous. |
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| Bubbles are a must. I attempted bubble wands from Sam's but they were a huge fail. We bought the Buzz one at the park and it died. We took it to a woman working and she fixed it within one minute! Awesome! |
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| Mando walked right up to us!!!! Jake loves him and Wade was so scared but kept saying, "Are you my friend? I'm brave!" |
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| I love seeing them love each other. They are best friends. |
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| We were on this for a solid 10 minutes. |
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| Big boy!! |
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| Waiting for Gwen at basketball and enjoying the art of the parking lot. |
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| Naps |
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| Some new plants we got to shade our chickens! It's been horribly hot already this year. |
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| Our cocktail tree! It's a grafted tree with lemons, limes, grapefruit and oranges! Thanks for letting me take this one, Mom and Dad! |
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| It's a firetruck, also known as a wee woo. |
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| The train at Pioneer Park |
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| Pippa!!!! Her daddy lifts her up and puts her here, then Wade yells for her to come over and play. It's my favorite! |
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| Cute. |
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| IDK, but I like it. Peep their new comforters and the green throw? They wanted something mature. |
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| I love them. |
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| Emily at soccer! |
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| She's number 7. |
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| Wade playing with some guys. "These guys are my friends." |
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| This marquis said Gwen's birthday! It was so cute! It doesn't look good in pictures, but it was perfect in person. |
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| First time at Dutch and they wrote happy bday on her cup! |
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| New purse from Lululemon and lunch at Mod. |
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| Let's goooooo!!!!! |
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| All done!! |
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| Gwen forever! |
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| Opening gifts. |
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| Can you believe this sign!!?!?!!?!?! |
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| My friend, Nicole, has this sign business and she is so awesome! |
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| Table decor at Slick City. |
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Homemade*
*from Walmart |
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| Missing LaRee in this photo, but they were playing Sardines and she was hiding! |
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| Gwen got stuck here and took the opportunity to meditate for a picture but I clicked it a little too late. |
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| Wade forever. |
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| Jan and Chris and the crew! |
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| Look at that posture! |
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| 💗 |
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| This sign entertained us all day! |
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| Palm Sunday with our family. Jake and Jan both had their eyes closed in one. Like mother like son! |
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| Denham crew! |
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| Look at Wade zoning out. |
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| Wade demanded to take pictures. He wasn't pointing the camera at us at all and we tried to get in frame multiple times. Here are the attempts. |
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| Another attempt. |
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| Beautiful, charismatic, bold, and sassy Emily |
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| Our style icon. |
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| Silly, inclusive, curious and kind Gwen. |
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| He looks so big here hahah! |
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| My three! Saying poop nuggets got me this smile. |
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| Tucked in shirt. I'm dead! |
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| Hands in pockets. Love him. |
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