Newport Beach, California, Part 2

While we were here we went to church. It was fast & Testimony meeting because the week before was General Conference. I've never been to another church that I was visiting family at so I was a little nervous. I know the Gospel is always the same so that helped. I was more nervous about how Hunter would do going to Primary with people he didn't know, but he did great!

Testimony meeting was quite entertaining. There was a kid passing the sacrament and right in the middle of passing he got a text so he pulled his phone out and checked his text...all while passing the sacrament.

The executive secretary (I think), jumped over the pew instead of walking around to get in and out of his seat. It was very odd.

The funniest thing though was this lady bearing her testimony. Her testimony wasn't funny but while she is in the middle of a sentence she spots someone in the audience and says, Dan is that you? and is pointing to someone in the audience. Then she proceeds to have a conversation with this man. They apparently had both recently lost their dads and she talked about how heaven gained to spiritual giants. Maybe this is a California kind of thing to do but in Idaho, we don't have conversations over the pulpit. The funnier thing was...she was visiting from I think Texas.

Newport Beach, California

We were able to go on a vacation and it was FANTASTIC!!! I want to go back already. I loved being with my family 24/7 and not having to worry about life too much. These pics are not in order. We went to Newport Beach for the first few days of our vacation. We left Meridian the night of Oct. 7th and headed to Burley to pick up Mom & Dad Alvey. Dad got a suburban from his work and we all rode together. (Mom, Dad, Josh, Me, Hunter, McKenna, Krystal, and Reed) It was a tight fit but we did it. We drove all night thinking that the kids would sleep for most of it. My kids are good in the car and usually sleep, but not this time. They were still very very good but didn't sleep much. They didn't want to miss out on being in so many states! Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California. (I think that's all) Thanks to Brad & Andrea (Josh's uncle & aunt) who we met in Newport, for hooking us up with a sweet room for all of us to stay in. We were here til Tuesday.

McKenna was exhausted from going to the beach. She loved the water and thought it was so much fun.

Hunter likes being close enough to see the water but not close enough that it touches him. The first day we got there we went to the beach and the wave came and he fell down and is a little nervous about those big waves now.

We had some extra time before we could check in to our hotel and we all really wanted to see the San Diego temple, so we made a pit stop. It's even more beautiful in person. We want to go back and do a session!

My cute, tired, dirty children at the temple. We had been in the car for about 15 hours or more at this point. They just wanted to run around and stretch their legs.

The hotel had a basketball court, golf course, playground, hot tubs, pools, and tons of other stuff. This place is actually a time share so it has lots to do. Hunter and Josh went and played basketball one morning. He loved it!

Hunter said a ton of funny things on our trip and of course I didn't write them down and I sure don't remember them all. But here are a few.

*On the drive to CA, Krystal let Hunter listen to her I pod and then he started singing his own songs. It went something like this: I know you and you and you and you're a dump truck...

*When we were packing the car to head to Disneyland, Hunter was in the car up front while we loaded. And a lady came out and Hunter asked her where she was going. She replied, home. Where are you going? We all thought for sure he would have said Disneyland, cuz he was so excited to go, but he said NUTS!

Hunter's 4th Birthday

Josh and I decided that Hunter could have a friend party this year. In the past we have done family with a few friends. I was feeling guilty too because I was doing the St. Luke's Women's Race, on his birthday and didn't want him to feel left out on his birthday. We invited a few friends to go bowling with us. I made a cute bowling pin invitation (that I didn't take a pic of).

This is the whole group that came to spoil Hunter at his party. L-R-Landen, Hailey, Hunter, Cole, Ali, and Dylan. (I hope I got the twins right)

Hunter bowling

These are supposed to be bowling pin cupcakes. The book looks much better than the real thing. It was kind of hard because the cupcakes and donut holes I used are not all equally proportionate. And the fruit roll ups that we bought were not regular ones, they were design ones so they don't have straight lines like they are supposed to. They started melting on the way to the bowling alley, so they were kinda messy, but the kids loved them!

Hunter opening up his presents. He loved everything he got and he definitely got spoiled!

In the group picture, Hunter is holding a bowling pin. Yes, it's a real pin. The guy at the bowling alley, Ron, knew it was his birthday (and it was the same day as Ron's brothers). He said he wanted to give Hunter something for his birthday and wanted to know if I wanted the party date on it or his actual birthday. I had no idea what he was giving him so I didn't know what would be best, so I told him to decide. A few minutes later, Ron comes back and has his hands behind his back. He told Hunter he wanted to give him a present and to hold his hands out. Then he put the bowling pin in Hunter's hands. Hunter was right up against me so I didn't see his face but Heather and Lisa said it was priceless. Hunter loves his bowling pin and thinks he is the coolest kid on the block because he has it.

P.S. those pins are heavier than you think!

Hunter had family over on his birthday to help celebrate his special day. He had Grandpa & Grandma Alvey, Grandma King (we missed Grandpa King), Krystal, Reed, Great Grandpa & Grandma Mathews, and Becky. The girls all did the race that morning and then we came home and had sandwiches and chips for lunch and he got to open his presents from everyone.

He had a fantastic day and we are grateful for our friends and family who got to share in his special day.

McKenna's 1st Hair cut

I know I am way behind on blogging but we've been busy.
McKenna had her 1st hair cut and did GREAT! She sat there and let Candice cut her hair without fussing once. We did bribe her a little with goldfish but I say whatever works.



I didn't really get any after shots for some reason...