Happiest Place on Earth

We went to Disneyland!  

Ok, so maybe it was a few weeks ago (give or take a month) but I still want to share our exciting trip.  We rode all the rides about 20 times, ate lots of churros and enjoyed some time with family!

This looks like it's going to hurt... Who let Kira have that elastic?

Fresh off of Space Mountain

    We stopped for breakfast at the Jolly Holiday Bakery.  A Mary Poppins themed bakery with  spectacular varieties of Practically Perfect Pastries.  I love that we give them the name of breakfast pastries and therefore can eat sugary sweets early in the morning without feeling guilty.  We got lots of delicious pastries and tried a little of everything!

This tiny pumpkin was made for children to play under...  

The crew on It's a Small World

We ducked into a doorway to eat ice cream in the rain

Yum!

The traditional sister pic

    Jared and I rode the carousel by ourselves; we were the only adults without a child on the ride.

Jared won us a stuffed animal Dumbo which we tried to give away to a child but it turned out to be my pillow on the flight home. He was VERY comfy.

It's always sad to leave Disneyland but we know we will be back again soon with our passes! 

Who's in to go see the new Cars Land??

Dinosaur Day

   The same day we went to the book signing for Brandon Mull we also made it up to Thanksgiving Point to the Museum of Ancient Life.  It has been on our list of date ideas for a while and we finally went!  We couldn't help but imitate dinosaurs from the minute we stepped into the parking lot... 

Resemblance? I think it might be the arms.

My turn to try... 

Jared has this down

I tried to look like the little guys, fail

   Jared and I got really lucky because just a few rooms into the museum we came across a young volunteer.  We asked him a couple of questions and he proceded to give us a personal guided tour through the rest of the museum!  This kid was a high school student and knew every name and detail of all of the dinosaurs in the place. 

Shark face

If I could be any animal I might choose a turtle, especially if I could be the size of the ginormous one behind me

Jared's favorite pose of the day

Just a tiny nibble

And the traditional selfy

   What a fun day with lots of dinosaur bones!  We spent some of the time looking for hidden gnomes the museum people have hidden in every room.  Our guide showed us one and that was all we found.  Very well hidden.  We learned interesting facts about a lot of dinosaurs and just had fun talking to our young tour guide.  He told us we were good practice for when he brings his scout troop through. We were happy to volunteer to be his trial run because he was awesome! 

Book Signing

   I love these books

   What do bookworms do when their favorite author is signing books at the Costco down the street? Easy,  they wake up early on a Saturday morning to stand in line and meet him!

On our way!

   Let me just say that I have tried this before...  less successful and ending with a very sad reader at Barnes and Noble.   Did you know not all authors stay for all hours they are scheduled to sign books?  Once the line is gone, so are they.  A lesson I learned the hard way.  Jared managed to get my Fablehaven books signed for me last Christmas (best surprise ever!) but I  wanted to meet Brandon Mull and ask him book questions.  You know the hidden secrets of your favorite series, characters and writing style.  NERD.  

   We got in line, watched all the young kids meet Brandon Mull and then it was OUR turn!   I started reading his books after his first one was published and have picked up each new one as they came out! I still enjoy pulling Fablehaven off my bookshelf on rainy days when I need a good adventure. He recently just came out with a new series called the Beyonders which I am now completely hooked on too!  He's a creative author writing to young kids... and ME.  

Brandon Mull and Me 

(Thanks for taking one for the team Jared and taking the picture!)

   Just for those curious enough... His favorite character to write is Seth. He will most likely revisit the Fablehaven world (awesome!). and is currently writing the second Candy Shop Wars and the last Beyonders  that will be out later this fall!   

Our First Blog

    We are finally blogging!  It has taken forever, mostly because I dreaded the first blog.  Do you start with the how we met story? Dating time? What about our fabulous wedding?  This was my problem and the main reason our blog has been semi set up for months.  Once the ball is rolling it should get easier, right?

   Jared and I met working at Macaroni Grill three years ago after I graduated from BYU.  I think it was the last place either of us expected to find our eternal partner but I'm not complaining.  We were friends working together for the first year and then magically Jared asked me out for ice cream.  The next year flew by with fun dates to the Chocolate, aquarium, zoo, movies, dinner, lots of board games and an air show.

   I never knew it could be so much fun to always have someone to be with!  Jared was my own partner in crime just without most of the crime stuff. January 27, 2011 Jared got down on one knee out by a waterfall up the Provo canyon and asked me if I would be his wife.  (I said YES!)   We went back to my apartment where Jared, with a lot of secret help from my sister Morgan, had a beautiful dinner for us.  The cutest part was the restaurant the dinner came from was Macaroni Grill, the place that brought us together.

    May 14, 2011 Jared and I met in the Sacramento Temple and were sealed for time and eternity.  What a perfect day we shared with our friends and family.  

One good looking family.

My amazing parents

My sister Morgan the maker of the most heavenly and gigantic cake!

My bridesmaids and favorite ladies.

   We want to thank all of those who made it our dream come true and appreciate the hard work and love that went into our wedding day.  Now we have much more to come!