Summer Vacation: Fourth of July!!!!!

 Oh my goodness!! My most favorite holiday!! Last year, we were in Oregon for the 4th, and I have to admit, I was rather depressed that day. It just wasn't the same!! So to soothe the ache, I decided that we were going to be home for the next year's 4th, no matter what!! (which is why it worked out PERFECTLY that Greg was getting married the end of June, so we could combine the trips!)

The holiday always starts out with the Huntington Beach Stake Independence Day Program! 

Our stake has always been amazing at putting on programs and performances! They do a huge 4th of July show every year, they do a Christmas program every year and every 3 years or so, they do a HUGE musical program! It was always SO fun and a huge part of my youth! Some of my favorite memories!

Anyway, we attended that the Friday evening before the 4th.

Marissa and Bethany aren't very patriotic haha. but I love the purse pile.

smile sensor- my dad was playing with it this time. I love Amber, Marissa AND KR in the background. hahah

love this picture of Bethany!

The morning of the 4th, we woke up early and headed down to Main St. (We haven't done this every year because in most years, we were performing in the stake program and they have 2 performances in the morning). We staked out some spots and watched the Huntington Beach parade!! For those of you who haven't attended this and ever have a chance? GO! DO IT! I have converted KR!! hahaha. Not that it was hard!! 

I think my absolutely most favorite part about everything is the patriotism! HB gets SOOO in to it and you just feel like...ah! It's uniting and inspiring!! One day, it would be a dream to own a house down there so I can decorate it like some of these houses!! 

So without further delay: the 4th of July: HB STYLE!!

  In addition to decorating houses and cars, everyone decorates their bikes!! I LOVE IT!! I am just giddy even just looking at the pictures!! haha.

giant girl scout cookie!!!

 

OC Ramps! My cousin's skate ramp company!

 After a BBQ with my family and extended family, who all live really close (some in the same housing tract), we piled our bikes in to a truck, drove to the Stake Center and rode the rest of the way to the beach!! (SUCH a smart idea; I'm so glad my dad figured that out a while back because the traffic is terrible afterward). 

Once we snagged a spot down between Magnolia and Newland, I took KR down to the pier to check out the madness that I love so much! They have a stage with a band and LOTS of people and just so much fun! As you can tell, lots of bikes again!! AH I love it!!

just hanging out, waiting for the fireworks!

of course you have to bring a football! We're Americans!

fireworks from the pier!

Summer Vacation: 6/28/11 Disneyland

 Of course, we went to Disneyland while we were home! As usual, it was SO fun!! We love going!

We found more hidden mikey's again this trip!

Such a good driver; he keeps his eyes on the road!

smolder!!

Color!!

check out the guy's expression in front of me!

dole whip!!

Still considered newlyweds right?

Matterhorn!

Ahh the yellow shirts!! hahahaha.

Summer Vacation 2011: 6/24/11 KR's Best Friend's Wedding

 I am EXTREMELY behind in blogging, so to be brief, I am going to get mostly pictures up with minimal captioning! haha. We had a lot of fun this summer, contrary to what you may be led to believe by my lack of blogging.

We went on an amazing and wonderful vacation back to California back at the end of June! We already had the plan but the dates were decided when KR's best friend Greg got engaged and planned their wedding date. They were getting married in AZ, but that's not very far from my family in CA, so it worked out perfectly! 

We drove from CA to AZ, attended the wedding, the reception and drove back to CA that night!! Long day, to say the least. It was a beautiful wedding though and although it was hot, we had such a good time and were SO happy we could make it. It was also the first sealing we attended since our own and it was neat to hear those covenants we made just over a year ago. I am so grateful to be sealed for time and eternity and I am so happy for Greg and Brittney, that they can enjoy that same blessing and happiness.

KR's close friends since they were little.

It's Official!!

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So as I posted recently, I altered a pair of shorts that were too baggy on me and I was SO excited about the results, I raided my closet. 

I went through my closet to find clothes I have been hanging on to for YEARS because there isn't anything wrong with them but I just never wear. Some things are too big, some are just not flattering and some are plain fine and I just never get around to wearing them.

I finished those shorts I posted, and I did two pairs of capris (pictures to come) and then I got REALLY ambitious and decided to tackle this skirt. 

It really is a nice skirt. Great quality, fit me pretty well, looks fine on. But I have had it for a LONG time and I just never wear it! I am not sure why I never wound up wearing it. I would even put it on once in a while to give it another shot, and I would just wind up changing. 

I saw this skirt on a blog I follow and decided I wanted it!!

First, I made the skirt in to a pencil skirt. That in itself was a huge feat! I think the main reason was because the zipper is on the side, rather than the back. So I wasn't able to take it in on the sides. 

Anyway, after a lot of work, I was ready to add on the embellishment!

I have to say, I LOVE how it turned out!! I wore it to church today and I just can't remember the last time I felt this cute! I know that sounds conceited, but those of you who know me, YOU know this is a big deal for me haha.

Altera-shon!

I'm on a mission to alter a bunch of clothes I never wear because I don't like how they look on me! Up first, this pair of shorts (I have a BUNCH of shorts, so most will just be shorts haha)

Before: Baggy / After: MUCH better!

Woo hoo! I am SO excited that all these clothes won't be wasting in my closet AND I don't have to spend ANY money to have some *new*clothes!! I have been following this blog and a friend of mine's blog and I've been inspired!! (also I have been inspired by my amazing friend Stephanie who has been sewing up a storm!!)