Aunt Meysa comes to town

I brought my littlest sister Meysa back with me from our trip to Colorado. She stayed with us for two weeks and oh boy it was hard to send her back. We had so much fun and she was such a big help. I could run to do an errand and not have to worry about trucking along a toddler that hates her car seat! Shawn and I even got to go on a few dates.

the first four days Meysa was here, was also a break from school for Shawn. So we went crazy on our adventuring. 

Day one....... we decided to be beach bums. The water was cold and it was a chiller day, but it was still a blast! Shawn trying to teach Meysa to buggy board was by far my favorite. 

Day two...... New York City!!! We took the Staten Island Ferry in and experienced Time Square, ate pizza and toured the Intrepid, which is an old WWII air craft carrier. It was so awesome to see. It really made me have a greater appreciation for those that serve our country. We didn't get home till late and we so tired, but thought let's go all out and go to Gettysburg! 

Day three...... Gettysburg! We took a guided tour of the battle field from one of the park rangers. It was neat and humbling to hear the stories and sacrifice of this Civil War battle. I learned so much and have high respects for those that sacrificed so much. Shawn could be in Gettysburg for days, but we dragged him out of there eventually. We stayed in a hotel close to Gettysburg that night.

Day four...... Hershey Chocolate Factory. We took the free tour of the famous chocolate world. You ride on this little train as you go through a tour of how they make chocolate. Kanyin LOVED it. I don't know if it was the dancing cows or the actual chocolate, but she was in heaven. We even got to package some hershey kisses. The trip to the chocolate factory confirmed my belief that I am in LOVE with chocolate.  We got home late afternoon, and that night I had a photo shoot to do, but while Shawn was feeding Kanyin spaghetti that night she fell fast asleep in her spaghetti. She even started snorring she was so out of it, which is so strange for her because she has to be a dark room with her blanket to fall asleep. 

Sunday was day 5 and we crashed!! The next week Meysa and I went to Amish country and our friends the Wooleys Watched Kanyin so we wouldn't have to worry about her. I love Amish country. Something about seeing these guys plow their fields with six ponies, and seeing how they dry their laundry. So cool! 

We were sad to see Meysa go, but so glad she came!

Loved having an extra pair of hands on the plane to keep that toddler busy

Can you tell that Meysa loved learning to boogie board? :)

Kanyin LOVES the beach....she actually is not a big fan at all. She would sit there on a towel and watch us the whole time if we let her. 

We TRIED crab fishing without a cage. People gave us some pretty strange looks lowering a chicken leg into the water  hooked on a piece of string. 

Meysa met Morgan Freeman! Well the wax version. :)

on the ferry ready to take on NYC

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Kanyin loved Two Boots Pizza

I am always so amazed at how people park in the city

Time Square! One of the craziest places I have ever been.

Bye Bye NYC

Gettysburg!

Part of the battlefield

The dancing cows

uummmm yes please!

Poor baby....four days on non stop adventuring wears you out! She was even snoring.

The two amish girls

We went to one of our new favorite parks and found an awesome trail. 

Kanyin was riding in style. That is our $2 yard sale find. LOVE yard sales.

Meysa needed a hair cut while she was here 

She decided to chop it off! She donated her hair to a company that makes wigs for people with cancer

My sister is married!

Back in April, Kanyin and I made the trip out to Utah to see my little sister Raveen and her fiance Dave married for time and all eternity! They were married in the Logan, Utah temple. It was a chilly rainy day, but still perfect because of occasion. Her amazing dress was made by our aunt Melissa, who is a phenomenal dress maker/designer. She does amazing work. Check it out here. After an early morning of getting ready and pictures, off to the temple they went!  They were actually sealed in the same room that Shawn and I were married in. It was a beautiful sealing and I am so proud and happy for them. Being there reminded me of the covenants Shawn and I made to each other and to our Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for temple marriage, which makes it possible for families to be together forever. Of course I got to take pictures...lots of them. Some are posted on my photography blog here.

Of course they got married the first week of school so their wedding reception wasn't until memorial day weekend, so back to the west coast Kanyin and I went. Lots of flying with a one year old is soooo fun. I wish I could do that everyday :) It wasn't terrible she did well. It was so fun being in Colorado for a few weeks spending time with my family and getting ready for the reception. Of course we missed Shawn and wished he could have been there.
My mom happens to be super woman for those that didn't know. The same week of the reception happened to be the busiest week of the summer for her. Not only did she work everyday, but my brother graduated high school the same weekend as the reception and she was one in charge of the "all night grad party" which is a TON of work and she also helped organize the 8th grade continuation party for my sisters class. So I got to help out with the reception to make her life somewhat easier. The reception was at the Clarks house from our ward. They actually did most of the work with help from others getting the yard ready and picking things up etc. We were very blessed.  The theme of the reception was "Under the Sea" and it turned out beautiful and the weather cooperated which is always a scary risk with outdoor receptions. It was nice seeing so many people that I care about and miss. Once again Raveen looked radiant in her incredible dress.

Meysa, myself and Jessica made of 200 cupcakes! Don't know if I will do that again :)

treasure box card holder

Becky the amazing, "go all out" brides maid

Part of the center pieces

Sign In table.... a.k.a....  "message in a bottle"

Fishing game for the kids

Aren't they cute!?

Looks like Raveen won

Jana Miramontes did the food and it was incredible! stuffed shells to clam cookies

The night before the reception was Desert's high school graduation. I am not sure how my little brother became old enough to graduate high school! He sang with a few other show choir classmates and they did excellent. I am very proud of him. In the fall he will be attending  BYU-Idaho majoring in music and will do an excellent job.

Waiting for graduation to start

Dez looks a little surprised that he is graduating :)

I don't know what's worse, me kissing card board or Meysa kissing the dog

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My Dad with all of his siblings, Casey, Janey and DenDel

There ended up being sooo much cake left over at the all night grad party, so instead of throwing it all away, my mom brought it home and we had a CAKE FIGHT at Deserts personal graduation party. 

I think Lenore dominated in this situation. 

The graduation boy!

Not really in order...but this is Rydge and Kanyin trying to spot Desert at graduation

Dave did not stay clean at all during the cake fight. I think the chocolate cake makes him look like he has an earring.