Apple Pickin'

Today we joined Lisa, Loryn, & baby Noah, Karen, Grandma Mary & the ladies (Juanita & Myrtle) at an apple orchard in Ellijay. It was such a beautiful scene up there, everywhere you looked it was gorgeous. And the apples were delicious!!

Coca~Cola World with Papa & Grandma

This morning we all packed up early and headed to the Coca~Cola World before Papa & Grandma had to go to the airport. Everyone had a really fun time seeing Coke through the years, but they all especially loved all the free soda at the end of the tour!

After the tour Papa & Grandma drove off to the airport. We were sad to see them go, but have loved having them at our new house! We've loved showing them all around our new town and cannot wait for them to come back so we can adventure some more!

Visiting Friends

This afternoon we met up with some friends visiting from Arizona for the holidays. It's always fun to get together and catch up on life's adventures, reading it through their blog is one thing, but being together face-to-face is always more fun!

{moi & alice, carrie, heather, mandy}

I met Carrie and Darren when we were all in the Santa Clarita 2nd ward together... back before any of us were married. Darren had just gotten home from his mission and Carrie started investigating the church soon after. Neither John or I were very close with either of them, but once we were all married we were in the Mint Canyon ward together and got to know them better.

Carrie & Darren

The weekend John and I moved into the Mint Canyon ward was also the weekend Heather & Miles moved in. We all spent two years there before moving into the Valencia 1st ward about a month apart from each other.

Heather & Xander

In V1 we met Mandy & Brandon.

Mandy, Brandon & Michael

Eventually Carrie moved to Ohio and Mandy moved to Utah. They became 'friends' through blogging and eventually they both found themselves in Arizona where they are friends for real!

It was fun getting everyone together and knowing we all know each other and have stories to share.

While the women visited the kids all played.

{Naomi & Jack share a birthday and a birth weight... and apparently hair color. They were so cute together!}

After spending a few hours catching up it was time to come home and get ready for John's cousin's daughters wedding reception in Arcadia. The kids weren't all that excited to be heading out, in church clothes, on a Friday night at 7:30 but I'm so glad we went. Craig & Ronda were so fun to visit with and Breanna was a beautiful bride.

It was a late night, but we all had a good time in the end...

Visiting Dani

After a crazy day of rain and would we or wouldn't we be able to make it down to Anaheim to visit with Danielle and her family, John called at 4:15 to say he was almost home and we could go. So Gram helped me get everyone ready and as soon as John walked in the door off we went.

Dani is here to spend the week at Disneyland. Unfortunately our passes expired last month so we don't get to join them but we sure had fun joining them in their hotel room where the kids instantly bonded and went crazy.

Dani and I were able to just sit and chat while she loved on Alice.

After destroying the bed and quite possibly the hotel room the kids crashed to watch a Christmas movie together.

And then it was time to go. We didn't get down there until 7:45, we stayed a few hours and then headed home for work and school tomorrow.

The Call family: Brian, Danielle, Emi, Kenna, & Parker

I'm really sad we don't get to hang out with them at Disneyland over the next three days but am so grateful John was able to make some time tonight so we could see them at all!

Last Day with Mel & Tom

Their trip is always too short. This time they even had 4 full days here, but it still went too fast! Today was our last day to spend with Mel & Tom. After church we all got together to let the kids play at the park while we visited some more. The kids had lots of fun playing pirates together. They were so cute.

The Daddy's watched after the little ones

and Naomi made sure she always holds a special place in Mel's heart.

It was good to be together, but we dearly missed Meme. She'd been up sick all night so she stayed home to rest her body and recover. It was sad not having her there. We never even got that picture of the three of us Mel's together.

{Mel-dawg & Mel-K}

Thanks Melly & Tom for coming to play. Sorry I didn't have my baby while you were here... but if you come back in another month Meme & I will have both had our babies and you can hold them & love on them all you want!!

Come back soon!
xoxox