Cali Trips

This summer, I was able to visit my family in Cali twice.  Once with Ben, and once without.  Both trips were really fun.  It's always so nice to get away, see family and be a little spoiled.  Here are just some pictures from our trips and the fun people we were able to see.

Beach trip with these cuties 

Dinner out at CPK 

Dodger game!  Ben actually enjoyed baseball 

 Just a daily thing at grandpa & grandma's house

The two troublemakers 

Trask kids, after lunch at Panera Bread 

Baby Sammy.  He may be a chunker, but he's pretty dang cute! 

Karlie girl

Mom ordered this waterslide for us all to play in, it was really fun, for both the adults and the kids 

My little Brazilian twinner

Ben Graduates!

So, I have a lot of catch up to do.  I'm a huge slacker when it comes to blogging.  But, I'll try to get this thing updated and keep it updated.  Buuuuuut, we'll see how that works out.  Anyway, first things first. Ben's graduation!  He got his Bachelors of Science in Public Health with an emphasis is Health Science.  He had his BYU graduation ceremony in April, and he was able to walk with both my brother, Chad, and his brother in law, Tyler.  It worked out perfectly.  Here are a few grad shots.

 Ben and the infamous BYU graduation pic

(Apparently everyone needs this picture if your'e a BYU grad)

Ben & Tyler - so cute with their fake diplomas 

The hubby & me, aren't we cute? 

Tyler, Ben & Chad - pretty good looking bunch of graduates! 

What a STUD 

Annelise, Ben's sister, made these for the graduates for our little "after party." So cute!!!

PS - A few weeks before the ceremony, I made Ben get dressed up so we could get some "graduation pictures" for him.  He was somewhat cooperative, but I thought I'd share these pictures to show you what I had to deal with while trying to get a decent picture of this guy...

Easter

We spent Easter this year with Ben's family.  Easter gets more entertaining each year because the kids get older and understand it a little better.  The kids dyed Easter eggs, Ben & I hid the Easter candy, and we all found the "hidden" treats.  Here are some pictures of the holiday.  

Dying Easter eggs:

Layla

 Sophia (apparently excited about it)

 Tyler & Briana (cute face Briana)

The kids after they found all the candy:

(my favorite picture of Layla)

Tyler - always a good sport for my pictures

 Sophia - too busy eating candy to smile for me

PS - Did you notice how much candy the kids had?  We go all out for 3 kids, apparently. 

(Technically there were 4 kids, but Joel doesn't count since he doesn't eat candy)

Others from the day:

The girls with our aprons that Kim made us

Briana & Joel

Some of the cute festive treats that were made (mostly by Kim - we helped a little)

It was a fun holiday.  Some day, it will be our kids finding the eggs and eating candy like crazy.  Until then, we just make sure the kids get their sugar high right as their leaving to go home =]

So, I haven't written on this thing since January.  Yikes.  What is wrong with me?  I need to get better at this thing.  Especially since a lot has happened this year.  Such as - I got a job (and quit Macy's - last week).  Ben graduated from BYU.  Ben got into dental school.  We're moving to Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada).  Babies born.  And probably a lot more, but I can't really think of anything else.  Even with a lot going on, we're still pretty boring people.  Oh well.  So, I have pictures of some fun things that have gone on this year, so I will definitely post again soon.  I just thought if I could write some sort of post, I could get going easier and maybe be better at this thing.  So here I am.  Expect more soon.  And if I don't provide, bug the crap out of me.  I seriously don't have much better to do since I have every night off now.  Talk about AMAZING!  K, well I'll be back on here soon with some more interesting things.  I promise, sort of. =]

Best of 2012

2012 was a crazy, busy, stressful, rewarding, amazing year.  We have both grown so much and learned a lot.  While I'm extremely grateful that it's over, it's fun to look back and see some of the things that have happened this past year.  So here it is, the Best of 2012.

Ben & I served together at Give Kids a Smile

I gave my first injection (of many!)

I showed off my hygiene skills and did fluoride with the kids – they loved it!

Ben & I made it two years…phew!

I was able to make it home for Kaylie’s baptism.

(Tyler got baptized also this year, but I didn’t get any pictures of him :/)

My mama came and visited us in Provo!

We took a family picture, and it actually turned out decent!

I got an iPhone, which lets me do cool things like post this on Instagram.

Sophia had pretty much the best costume ever.

These 4 little stinkers were born: Rachel, Karly, Joel and Matthew

I FREAKING graduated!!!!!

Ben, Tyler & Matt got to be the “wise men” for the Nativity scene at Grandma’s house (what a joke)

Last but not least, I made it through my 2^nd Christmas away from home

(and this time, there was no crying)

Yes, this was a good year! =]