little sisterWe are over the moon happy about having a daughter. We would have been equally happy to bring down a little brother for Dallen, but every time I think about having a little girl it just feels so right. I grin from ear to ear whenever I think it, hear it or say it, WE'RE HAVING A GIRL!!!

The week of the 4th of July has been my favorite running holiday for nearly a decade now and for one good reason...BEACH HOUSE!!! For an entire week we enjoy sunshine, sand and ocean air, lots and lots of food and so much family fun. This is the most pictures I have taken in a while so bare with me, they are probably a little sporatic and random, but each one carries with it a great memory of my favorite week of the year!!{The cutest face on the beach}
{Down in the sand with my little man}
{My beautiful sisters}
{Ice cream sandwiches}

{Bubbles galore}
{Anyone for a game?}
{Dallen and his new best friend for the week, my 13 year old cousin Mikey. These two dug holes every single day together}

On the night of the fourth, we watched a beautiful fireworks show and roasted delicious marshmallows for s'mores. When I asked Dallen what his favorite part of the whole trip was he replied with "marshmallows on fire"!!


When we needed a break from all the junk food at the beach house, we went out for fabulous dinners. We even got to go to my favorite restaraunt Ichibiri's in San Clemente. The SC location is right across the street from the beach and we got to watch and capture the beautiful sunset.





Another night my parents took us to try their new favorite Hawaiin place, Hapa J's which is right across the street from Scotty's favorite surf shop, Stewart's where we had to stop and take pictures in honor of our little Korean missionary.

{We handed the camera over to Dallen who snapped the next adorable picture of my parents, I love them}
A trip to California would never be complete without a visit to Irvine Spectrum for dinner at Ruby's with our best friends from law school
We got to try a new Mexican restaraunt, El Ranchito as we try to familiarize ourselves with San Clemente, our new city. Dallen was such a ladies man with Mark's mission companion's beautiful daughters. These 3 had as much fun as the adults did :)

The last day with the beach house was spent with lots of friends and visitors...
{Our first time seeing beautiful Kenzie since Scotty left}
{Dallen and his betrothed Siena playing in the sand}
{And in the "pool"}
{We got a spontaneous photoshoot, to please the Mommy's and turned out some of the most adorable photos}
{Dallen played photog for Siena}
{And of course, I had to snap some of Dallen}

Such an amazing trip, just like every year!! Can't thank my grandparents enough for doing this for us each Independence Day. Time to start looking forward to next year's trip, when we'll get to bring a new baby with our little family :)

The other day we went to lunch with some friends. They had to leave early so their Mommy could go to work. Dallen argued with me the whole way home that “Mommy’s don’t work, Daddy’s do” I tried to explain that sometimes Mommy’s work to help their families, but that was just unacceptable to him. I am so blessed that I get to stay at home and be a full-time Mommy. I get to spoil my little man with lots of fun things and we always get to do them together. Being a Mommy really is the best job in the whole world. Instead of corporate dinners, we get to host peanut butter and jelly sandwich lunch playdates. Instead of going to meetings, we get to meet our friends at the pools and the parks. And instead of attending conferences and field trips we get to go to fun places, like the Children’s Museum in Phoenix...

As a full time Mommy, instead of wearing formal attire to work, we get to make paper and sticker ties and hats.Instead of treking to work in the concrete jungle, we get to play in noodle forrests.
Our commute is never bad either.

And when we travel with friends, we get to carpool
One of my favorite perks are the bonuses, the paychecks may be small but the rewards are endless!!
I have the best job in the whole world!! As much as I love my job, I am looking forward to my vacation when I have the help of Aunts, Uncles, Mimi, Gigi and Grandpas and even Daddy. We will see you when we get back from the beach :)