Manhattan Beach

Sometimes we like going to the beach in the afternoons. We have Brian meet us down there after work and just relax together. I took these pictures a few weeks ago, my kids love the beach especially in the Fall when there is not many people there. But what's not to like about the beach??? I get to soak up a little sun and my kids are completely zapped of energy when we get home. A win win situation.

I will tell you one thing, leaving Manhattan Beach is not going to be easy. We have about 1 more year before we move and we are trying to enjoy it as much as we can. Ella and Cole might have to be dragged kicking and screaming. Ella was shocked the other day when I told her there is only 1 Disneyland on this side of the country. (A fact that brings sheer joy to Brian's heart...how do you not like the happiest place of earth???)

10 years of bliss

Brian likes to joke and tell everyone this when they ask how long we have been married. However, most people know I am Italian.

We both decided that we needed to do a trip for our 10 year. We have wanted to visit Hawaii for a long time and this gave us a good reason to finally do it. We were a little in shock as to what to do with ourselves when we got there with so much time and no kids but it didn't take long to become completely selfish again.


We went to the Polynesian Cultural Center. I kept on trying to get a zoomed picture of this kid that I swear looked exactly like Jacob the werewolf. Brian was super annoyed.

This is the only hike we did...it was on a paved path for about 3/4 mile through a botanical garden...pathetic but we did swim in the waterfall which was so cold I almost died. Brian was waiting a good 20 minutes in the water before I was able to get in all the way.

Shaved ice is a weakness of mine. If Brian would have let me I probably would have gone back to this place 3 to 4 times a day. It was heavenly.

Sharks Cove...snorkeling there was like swimming in an aquarium.

There were a ton of these turtles in the water too. Some people snorkeled with them, I thought it looked fun until Brian reminded me of the special on Discovery where these turtles snap pieces of wood in half... and then said that could be my arm.

Pearl Harbor survivors...it was incredible to meet these men. p.s. I am wearing this hat because my forehead got so incredibly sunburned the previous day it was painful.

Cole Learned a New Trick

Holy Crap

I'm sorry, I just didn't know what else to name this entry. We have been going from one thing to the next lately...I actually really like to look at blogs every once in a while to see what people are up to so here's what we have been up to....

My little sister Brittany got married in the SLC temple. When we were younger I used to pretend she was my daughter. I can't believe she is married now. I am so happy for them, they are both the kind of people you just always want to be around.

I did not see Cole and Ella for the next week of our vacation. They were in complete heaven with so many cousins to play with. Ever since Christmas, EVERY DAY, Cole asks for his cousins and constantly prays for them. It was so nice to finally get to see them. Now all we have to do is endure another 6 months of constant praying and pleading.

This is my family and my cousins, we haven't all been together for about 10 years.

This is backstage at my studio's dance recital. Ella had so much fun with her friends...she is such a show off. She gets that from Brian. My costume was too embarrassing to blog this year but a few choice church members got to enjoy the show:)

These are my Goldilocks girls, our jr. company team.

Memorial Day was so fun this year. We stayed at the beach for a long time and played a little beach volleyball with our friends...it was a pretty sorry sight, but entertaining.

This is at Pixie Hollow...Terrence borrowed Cole's golf club he randomly brought to Disneyland that day. He kept on trying to hit a pine cone with it, he was pretty bad at it but Cole thought it was the greatest day ever when he gave him the pine cone to keep.

p.s. we still have that stupid pine cone floating around our house.

The sheer joy Disneyland brings to my children.

Cole was not so sure about Sulley so I had to pose in the picture with him...he looks pretty uncomfortable.

Cole with his pinecone. Ella couldn't stop laughing at Terrence.

This is at the Getty Museum, it overlooks L.A. Two of my best friends came out to visit me. We took them here to see the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibit. They had a bunch of his sculptures and sketchings. It was incredible.

We also went to the fashion district and the star walk. This was my favorite thing we came across. I still love Harry Potter.

Random people dress up on the star walk. It is pretty entertaining to see. We both thought our boys would love it if we told them we ran into Spiderman. This dude had a lot of trick up his sleeves, he was more flexible than me.

They Love to Laugh

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday

For my Christmas present this year Brian bought me a trip to New York to visit one of my dearest friends Erin. It was something I will never forget. First of all, I have never done so much walking in my entire life... which was great because most of our day revolved around food. We fit about a week's worth of activities in about 2 and a half days...a concert at Julliard (with a lot of inappropriate giggling), Cafe Lalo, Central Park, FAO Schwartz, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Alice's Tea Cup, Patsy's Pizza, shopping in the West Village and SoHo, Magnolia's Bakery, Times Square, and dinner at the Ocean Grill. It was enchanting but the best part was spending time with a friend who is about as amazing as they come. I am so thankful for our friendship and so thankful not to be in cold weather anymore. I don't remember Idaho being that cold. Holy crap!


Jonah and I at the most romantic part in Central Park. I'm pretty sure I kissed him more than he would have liked but look at his face...I couldn't resist.

Some of my favorite pieces at the Met.

Our stroll in Central Park. We wanted to take a carriage ride together but ran out of time. Erin says her husband refuses to do this with her...that reminds me of someone I know.

Time Square was crazy and had such a cool energy. We were lucky enough to be the recipients of a free gift from a music group called the Self Made Husslers who were handing out there cd trying to "live the dream." Classic.

Ella decided for her birthday she wanted to go to the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique at Disneyland. We took her friend Natalie and after much deliberation, both girls decided to be transformed into twin sister Ariels...of course. It was a lot of fun and the girls got to pick out everything from nail polish to their crown. I will never forget the look on Ella's face when they turned her around to look at herself in the mirror. It was like she had never seen anything more beautiful in her life...I can't believe she is 5!





Ella with our landlords who our kids love. Papa and Peggy.