As Promised -

365 Days Ago -

What can one family experience in 365 days? This month will be 1 year since we started this adventure in California? How long will it last? Who knows! Are we adjusted? Kind of. Can we believe it has been a year? No. When we started this adventure Ben's dad mentioned something a long the lines of WOW - you are experiencing the 3 biggest stresses in life all at once. A new job, a new addition to the family, and a move to another state. That is a lot to take on at once. We knew he was right and we knew this BIG Change would be an adventure so we didn't disagree with him. What we didn't know is that if you were to ask us how life would be after a year we would say it would be different then it is now. How would it be different? We still can't answer that, maybe we would have felt more at home? But the one thing we have said plenty of times the last 365 days, no matter what has come our way (which was way too much), and no matter what has happened (which was a lot), is that we knew we made the right decision despite it being a really difficult one (which it has been). Texas maybe just as big as California but they are different!



Anyway, we had a really good idea to put together pictures of what the last 365 days have been like but our computer is experiencing some viruses (imagine that) and all of our pictures are on a flash drive on vacation with the rest of the clan in Utah. Thank goodness for work computers right? So I am posting this message regardless with the promise that the pictures will have to come later and hopefully before an update of the summer trip to Utah!



We hope all of you are having an enjoyable summer.

Turning One.....

I can't believe my baby is One. Lanie turned one 2 weeks ago. We had a great time Celebrating with some of our friends at our favorite splash park for Family Home Evening. Since her real Birthday was on Sunday we just had our own family party on that day.( I was sick the week before her birthday so we didn't do anything BIG).But Seriously Where has this year gone? It just flew by. Some of it is a blur to me because honestly moving to a different state and having a baby and starting/changing careers it a BIG adjustment. Phew!! Lanie is crawling everywhere now, and loves to open and close the fridge, Pull herself up to everything too. She smiles and laughs and mimics most sounds we say. Like" Nite Nite "and thank you! She does say mama, dada, and can sign more,dog,milk,thank you and can wave Bye!
SHe loved the frosting on her cupcake.

Her favorite place is in the water with the Big kids. She is riding her motorcycle again. I love those chubby legs. I just love to squeeze her. She is so happy to be splashing in the WATER!

These two still can't get enough of their baby sister.It's so cute!

Megan striking a Pose.Should I put her into Modeling classes?

Her first time eating a CUPCAKE! She picked up the Whole thing .

We are so grateful to be your parents. Lanie you bring us Joy and HAPPINESS Everyday!

Having fun opening her presents. But mostly she loved the wrapping paper and boxes. Unfortunately she hasn't gotten to play with her toys yet. Jaden and Megan think they are pretty cool.

Our sweet baby at Just 5 weeks old. She really has been the best baby and we feel so Blessed and Lucky. She has made this year so special for us we wouldn't change a thing. And we can't wait for more good times to come. We love you Lanie LU! XOXOXO

Girls Night

My Friend Alli and her daughter Bailey came over and we had a girls night. We had a lot of fun and it was Megan's first sleep over. The girls had a good time and ,were so tired when we put them to bed @ 11pm. Alli and I stayed up later and watched chick flicks while we painted wood blocks and frames! It was so much fun!

Sweet Girl

What a cutie!
I think she is eating a fuzz ball off the floor LOL.

I love those Big Cheeks !

Lanie is almost one! Where has the time gone. It feels like she was just born and I blinked my eyes and now she is turning one in a few weeks. She has started to army crawl everywhere. She is so sweet and loves her big brother and sister! If you ask her where her teeth are she opens her mouth SO big, it is so cute!We love You !

Firsts -

This last weekend was a couple of Firsts for this adventure we are on in California.

-Ben's Sister and her family (Melissa, Chad, and Chase) made their 1st visit from Elko, Nevada. It is always nice to have visitors. Jaden, Megan, and Lanie haven't seen cousins that often so they loved playing with Chase. We all ate our fair share of food (as seen by the candy wrappers), and as always didn't play enough card games.

-Ben ran his 1st ever half marathon on Saturday. Where did that come from you ask? Melissa and Ben had this idea in December to start training for a half marathon. After really starting to train the first part of February it just so happened this weekend worked out perfectly with a 1/2 marathon along the American River Parkway in Sacramento. If you want to see pictures of the course and where Melissa and Ben placed check out www.parkwayhalf.com (yes it is the 1/2 marathon not the 1/2 walk and we ran all 13 miles)! Melissa ran the St. George Marathon (26 miles) several years ago so she is experienced and helped get Ben motivated, in decent shape, and across the finish line. Yes, his little sister even finished ahead of him and believe it or not neither of them are extremely sore.

-Natalie had her 1st California scrapbook retreat and we are all shocked it took nearly 10 months to occur. Even though timing wasn't all that good with both events falling on the same weekend she still managed to complete over 20 plus pages, stay up until after 4 am both nights (she's asleep on the couch as we speak), and come home anxious to see the rest of us despite missing out on the events in California's Capital.

-I believe this is a first. Chad, since he wasn't crazy enough to scrapbook or run 13 miles with his wife and Brother-in-law, he was gracious enough to watch 4 kids (reminder 3 of which aren't his) for several hours. He is the one that should get a shirt and medal! In order to pay him back we stopped by Bass Pro Shop on the way home. It may not be as good as Cabella's but for this trip it will have to do. We would have taken more pictures of these events but the camera's were left in Nevada and Modesto. LOL!

Next up - a 10k in Utah in July!!


Isn't Chase cute!!


Chad and Melissa playing cards!


The proof - Nice shirts and medals!


The Happy Marrott Family!


The Scrapbooker in Preparation Mode!

Easter Weekend

The Beautiful View of Orchards

Grants Grove

WE love you G & G!

Jelly Belly Factory

Lanie On Easter ( SHe was not sure of the grass on her feet)

Megan and her Easter Basket

Happy Easter!

Gotta love those cute big cheeks

(The PIctures came out in the wrong order. I guess I better Blog more to figure out the right order LOL!)

My parents came to visit us Easter weekend! We had so much fun. We thought it would be a great Idea to take them to the Jelly Belly Factory.( along with the whole state of Cali). It was well worth the wait in line to see how they are made. Holy Cow! It is really intresting and soooo many Jelly Beans are made in one day. We got to try a few and then of course had to buy all of our favorite ones along with Jordan Almonds, Candy COrn , Swedish Fish etc..WE also took them to Sequia Nat'l Park. It was amazing! We couldn't make it all the way to the top because of snow and fog , But we did go to Grants Grove. They were cool trees. The Highlight of the trip was a man "Pepe" . WE bought fresh ORanges and Avacados from his little fruit stand. We had a fun easter egg hunt after church and ate way too much candy, along with Fresh Picked strawberrys for our short cake. Or as ben calls it LOng Cake!