Napa Valley

This last weekend Gene and I spent some time in the Napa Valley. We had so much fun. The weather was sooo nice, and the rolling hillsides were beautiful. We left early friday morning, and picked up our cake at the bakery. Every year we get our wedding cake top made ,mmm so good, but this year we decided to make it a little different and we got a chocolate lady finger cake with chocolate buttercream filling,covered in berries. It tasted exactly the way I was thinking it would, absolutely delicious. he hee. Anyways after the bakery we were off to a beautiful picnic spot for lunch, and after that we were going to spend the rest of the day at the spa. It was soooooo wonderful, and beautiful, the employees were so kind and even gave us free smoothies for our anniversary as we layed out by the pool. It felt so nice to just relax and not have to think about anything or do anything but just enjoy one anothers company. After the spa at like 8:30 pm, we drove to the little town of Windsor where we stayed the night. The place was great our room was like a little appartment, it had a full kitchen, and living room with a fire place, and there was a hot tub right outside our sliding glass door. it was sooo nice. The next day we drove all over, first to my favorite spot of the day the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, in Calistoga. It was super fun, they had cooking demonstration, tours, a great store, and of course an amazing restaurant were Gene and I just had to have lunch. Gene got a steak, and it was the best steak I have ever had, my halibut was awsome too, and the dessert couldn't have been better, we had to get two, they even wrote Happy Anniversary on the plates. After our bellies were so full we couldn't move we decided to head to the redwood forest, and then to the beach to walk around and watch the sunset. It was sooo much fun and a weekend I will always remember. Thanks Babe for being so wonderful to me!

Five Years

I can't belive we have been married for FIVE years. I feel like just yesterday I was waiting for him to come home off his mission and now we have this wonderful life together. He is so great!!
I just have to take a moment to say that I have the most wonderful man in the whole world, and I am so blessed to be able to spend eternity with him. Everything that he does and all that he gives to me, and for me, everyday truly amazes me. He is such a selfless and loving person. He is forever making me laugh, always keeping me close, and he never forgets to kiss me goodnight(or goodmorning). He is my perfect soulmate. We have had so many wonderful life experiences and memories together so far, and I can't wait for all of the great ones to come. I Love You "MY" Gene!!!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

The Magic of Disney

A couple of weeks ago we went to Disneyland and had the time of our life. We hadn't been to Disneyland in forever. It was soooo much fun. We went to Disneyland the first day and felt all of the magic and rode all of the rides. The next day we went to California Adventure and had alot of fun too, but I think that all the Magic is definately at Disneyland. We felt like we were kids again, and acted like it too, it was great. We had churos and watched the fireworks. Gene and I had perfect seats right in front of the Castle. I was determined to find just the right place to watch the fireworks and there were hundreds of people everywhere sitting and waiting and then, there it was, an emptly spot just for us. I love Disneyland!!!

Gene, Parker Marc and I on Splash Mountain. We got SOAKED (we meaning me and Gene)

We got free Mickey ears when we got off the rocket ride. Super fun

Gene Parker and Marc on the faris Wheel.

The Boys excited to be wearing their hats

Me, Gene and Brent at the Tea cups, we could barely fit all of our legs inside, and the boys spun so fast we were all so dizzy afterwards.

Waiting in line for the Tea Cups

Gene in Tommorrow Land where we had ridden Space Mt. (my favorite ride) six times.

Walking into Disneyland before the fireworks

Gene and I in the hang glider just before riding Soaring Over California. Loved this ride

The whole gang, except me, I took the picture

Gene took this one, I thought he did a great job, I love Fireworks, and Tinkerbell

Us in our perfect spot, getting ready for the Fireworks and eating our delicous brownie

Sarah's Wedding

Yeah Sarah is married!!! We had so much fun a couple of weeks ago at Sarah and Koi's wedding in San Fransisco. It was absolutely amazing. Sarah looked sooo beautiful, and everything was so perfect, from the flowers to the food. Oh, and the cake, Sarah it tasted as good as it looked. I wouldn't have expected anything less from you. It was so great to spend such a special time with friends. We talked and ate and danced the night away. It is so wonderful to have such great friends. I love you all and can't wait for our trip to Florida Brooke we are so on! Miss you all and Tina I am supe excited to come and see little Matthew!!

Gene and I just before the wedding over looking the PresidioSara and Koi Sarah, your dads toast was so special I will never forget it!Two beautiful blondes and a brunette!!! He hee Love you guys

All the Girls but the Bride

To the Snow We Go!!

Me and GeneThe Girls and I at the Lake The YW Pres. getting ready for the big race
Us having moving only 3 feet and comming to a complete stop

Me and Gene right after the snowball fight
Katie, Joanne and I have become a bobsled team
We went so fast down the hillGene resting after his long hike back up the hill

Gene and I right before we left when it started to snow, Beautiful!!!!

Last weekend Gene and I took the youth of our ward up to Mt. Lassen. It was absolutely beautiful. The air was so crisp and clean and the pine trees every where with fresh powder snow dusted all over them it was gorgeous. We had such a wonderful time. On Friday we left right after school and drove up to the Hood's cabin. (It is amazing with enough beds for all of the girls and the leaders to sleep on. Thanks Jolene.) There we cooked speghetti for everyone and I was quite proud of us at how quickly we got it all together. Then we played games and had a little devotional and sent the boys packing to the Martin's home 20 miles away. After the boys left the real fun began. We played apples to apples with the girls and talked until we couldn't keep our eyes open anymore. Sat. we got up super early to get all the girls ready, because we thought the boys would be there early, but they didn't come around until 10:30am they were having a home cooked breakfast by brother Martin, and then had a snowball fight. After they arrived we then went to the snow finally. It was so much fun, I hadn't been sledding in such a long time. There was no one else where we were so that was great. we all took turns sledding down the hill and having a snowball fight. The Young Men's and Young Women's Pres. tried to have a race. All of us girls piled onto one sled while the boys went down on thier own sleds. The sled that goes the farthest wins. Well, I was in the front and I didn't quite have a hold on the rope, before Gene let us go and went down the hill with the others. and the toggle on the rope got stuck underneath us and we stopped about three feet from were we started it was hilarious. The guys went all the way down the hill and we got stuck. Finally we got it all together and tried it again, and we won, we went way further than the YM pres. but then we had the long walk back up. After the snow we went back to the Hood's for grilled cheese and soup. While we were eating it started to snow it was sooo pretty light fluffy flakes, we all went outside to watch and then decided we had better start heading down the mountain before we get stuck up there. It was such a great weekend. Thank you so much Sister Hood and Sister Martin for letting us use your cabins. You're the best!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

So my Gene comes home for lunch with a sweet card, these beautiful flowers and the most delicous strawberry pink and decadent chocolate covered four layer cake with chocolate dipped strawberries on top. Can you say Heaven!!!! It was sooo unbelievably good. He is the best ever, he know just how to get to the center of my heart. Later that night about 30 of us went out for dinner and Dancing. We rented out the back of Salute's restaurant and had so much fun. If only Valentine's Day was on a Friday we could have stayed there all night.

Kim and Parker, Poor Kip his back was killing him so he had to be medicatedCarrie and Bryson with thier place cards which had what we ordered on the back. Thanks CarrieMe and Gene with our Place cards so that the waitress could figure out who we were and get our food to us. Parker knocked out on the bench while we all danced around him. Poor guy!!!!
Me and Gene Thanks Mary and Justin we had so much fun, can't wait to do it again next year!

A Night with the Kings

Kim in the back with Marc and Bryson. She looks soooo little
Trying to get all eight of us in a picture was kind of difficult Me, Gene, and the largest man you have ever seen sitting directly behind us!
Gene and Bryson and Carrie playing it up for the camera

Marc and Kristen at Coldstone
Carrie and her waters we all took home so many waters.

Me and Gene at the little pre-game event

A couple of weeks ago a bunch of us went to the Night out with the Kings, that was put on by the BYU alumni Association in Sacramento. We had such a fun night. We got there early and they had food for us and cookies and drinks (the Arco Arena employees didn't quite understand that we only wanted to drink uncaffinated beverages. It was really funny to watch their faces as one after another everyone asked for water or sprite.) We then had one of the coaches speak to us, which was quite the ordeal, but kept us laughing. We were then off tot he big game. I was hoping that it would be a good game, but I was not prepared for how great a game it was going to be. It was sooo intense especially in the fourth quarter. Every time we scored they would score, and tie it back up. It was crazy all the way up until the last 5 sec. of the game when we made a basket and won. It was sooo exciting. We also had ice cream at Coldstone so good ever since Gene and I moved to Cali we rarely get Coldstone. So it was such a great event and I was so glad that everyone had a fun time. Thanks guys!!!!