The Brashears

Halloween

We were able to attend the Porter's first family Halloween party, complete with pumpkin carving, a movie in the backyard, and yummy treats.

Grant was supposed to be a ninja like Noah (which he was last year) and 10 minutes before leaving for the party Grant informed me he didn't want to be a ninja. Thankfully we had some cop stuff so he fit right in with Dan and I.

The best picture we could get with these crazies.

Twins, still can't believe how much these 2 look alike.

Gotta sort out and exchange candy.

Kauai

I am still pinching myself. I can't believe that Dan and I were able to go on a dream vacation to Kauai all thanks to my parents and my awesome siblings that watched the boys! So thankful that I have amazing parents that I would actually want to go and stay in a hotel with them for 7 days. My parents go every October for their anniversary and since we were celebrating our 13th anniversary we thought we would join them! I was 7 month pregnant but didn't feel like we missed out on anything. I usually just want to sit on the beach or at the pool but Kauai had so many beautiful things to see that we spent most of our time exploring.

The first day we explored the entire island. I was not a fan of driving around for 5 hours but it was pretty awesome to just see the entire island with our very own tour guide, aka Big "T" or if he didn't know he would ask his phone, "make it happen droid turbo."!!!! Above is a picture of spouting horn. The lava formed with some holes allowing the water to shoot up when the tide came in.

Waimea Canyon was absolutely breath taking. Wish I was in better shape to do some longer hikes and see more of the canyon.

Loved that I was able to capture this sweet picture of my parents.

We stayed at The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas, complete with a kitchen. My mom made dinner every night and we packed lunches, I hadn't eaten that good in a very long time since I never cook. We were able to go to the private beach at the St. Regis. There wasn't very good snorkeling but right when we were heading in someone showed us 2 huge sea turtles just swimming around, so awesome to see.

The next day we went on an amazing tour down the Wailua River. We took kayaks down the river then hiked to a water fall. Dan and I tried to get right behind the waterfall. The cold water was spraying in our faces, I couldn't catch my breath. We carefully went along the mossy rocks and made it to the waterfall. So cute with how concerned Dan was for me, making sure I wasn't going to get hurt being pregnant and all!!!

While hiking the Kuilau ridge trail I felt like a dinosaur from Jurassic Park was gonna eat us at any moment! This was literally the jungle from jurassic park, so green and beautiful. On a side note I had to pee so bad while hiking. Instead of just going on a flat surface I decided to go on a little hill, not sure why since I wasn't hidden at all. I peed so much that I basically created a land slide and started slipping and nearly fell on my butt right into my pee. I swear I will never know the proper way to pee in the wilderness!!!

Tunnels Beach had the most amazing snorkeling ever. There were fish everywhere, I felt like I was in an aquarium. When we were about to head back in, again someone pointed out a sea turtle to us. So awesome to just swim and watch these graceful creatures.

Papa's 60th Birthday Trip

For my dad's 60th Birthday the FORD family rented a house in Los Oso's and enjoyed all the sites up north. Such a memorable trip and would love to return again.

Our first stop with just our family was in Solvang, a cute little Danish village. Loved our cute little hotel complete with a delicious continental breakfast. Dan has always made fun of me for always wanting a hotel with a continental breakfast but he was quit impressed with the food!!!

My sweet friend Kaycee Riggins is from Los Oso's so she was able to give us a bunch of ideas of things to see and do while up north. The Avila Barn was super cute but Noah was in quit the mood so we didn't get to really enjoy seeing all the animals and having a nice lunch.

We then went and ate on the pier in Avila Beach. It was pretty darn expensive but it was cool that our table looked down into the water.

Second night with just the Brashear's was in Pismo. Loved our hotel that sat on the edge of a cliff over looking the water, such a beautiful place.

We finally made it to Los Oso's to join with the the FORD clan. Not too sure why I didn't get a picture of the house we stayed at. It was quit the house, complete with a panoramic view of Morro Bay. Our first stop was Montana de Oro. Loved the sand or should I say tiny little pebbles, I wanted to collect all the soft pebbles and take them home with me.

We then took a trip to Hearst Castle. This was our first time ever going and of course the boys were bored with the tour. This place was pretty amazing though, wish we had spent more time exploring the grounds.

Brown Butter Cookie Co. in Cayucos was so cute and very tasty.

Moro bay and a ton of sea otters just playing in the water, they were so cute.

Too bad Pismo was so dang windy. I didn't get out of the truck, I was too afraid I would get blown away. The boys had to dig the wheels out of the sand since I got us stuck, oopsy.

Too bad we didn't get to eat at the Madonna Inn, it was quit the colorful place!

2016 Randomness...

So fun being able to take the boys to see the San Diego Gulls. I loved doing this when I was little, hockey has to be one of my favorite sports to watch. We watched a game and then were able to sit right by the ice and watch the Fire Dept. against the law enforcement.

It took Noah about 2 weeks to finally be willing to hold his cousin Wren. He made a statement saying her name was like Kylo Ren from starwars and was afraid to hold her!!! Now he is obsessed with her and was sad he isn't having a "cute" baby sister.

Silliness at the ward Valentines party.

Valentines with this guy at Ruth's Chris followed by a walk down by the water.

This guy can't take a serious picture, EVER.

After losing our dear friend Mary we were able to participate in the butterfly effect movement. Noah was the lucky one to find the butterfly and chose to donate the $250 to Mary's 6 beautiful children.

Happy Valentine's Day. I guess Noah wasn't in the mood for a picture.

So proud of Charlie, deciding to get baptized. Just a side note, us girls did not plan on wearing the same floral dresses.

Noah's first season with the Mighty Mights Basketball league. Coach Mike was so patient and taught all the boys so much.

I thought it would be a great idea to get outside for some exercise and at the same time get lunch. Of course my boys fought this idea because they would rather play video games. Not too long after leaving Noah totally ate crap and immediately started crying that he wanted to go home. I tried drying his blood up with some near by flowers, haha- there was nothing else! After 5 minutes of tears he finally agreed to continue on, of course I had to bribe him with a vanilla bean frap. This walk was further than I thought and at places there was no sidewalk on a busy street; going through dirt with scooters is not the easiest thing. Thank goodness aunt Whitney was around the corner and drove us home so we didn't have to make the trek back.

This says it all, Grant is the sugar king. Any time Nana picks up this boy he asks to go to 711. I very rarely take them and of course he can't just get 1 thing.

Was happy to throw a fun bachelorette party for this sweet sister of mine, she deserves the best. Us girls went to dinner and ended the night with some dancing. Side note, 4 of us showed up in a black dress with a jean jacket!!!

I have lived in San Diego all my life and have never ventured over to the balboa train. The boys loved the train ride after a fun day at the zoo with Grandma and Grandpa Brashear.

Papa is so awesome, built the kids a 2 story tree house. Now if we could just get the kids to play up there!

The last couple of years Dan and I have gone to the fair solo, making it a date night. We finally took the boys and let them go on some rides. We had a lot of fun with them there with us.

Dan is so sweet and goes all out with a fancy cake from Nothing Bundt cake, so very yummy. Can't believe I am 34, getting so old!

Went to the zoo with all the Brashear's and of course the boys wanted to ride the sky-fari with their cousins. Dan and I went solo and took full advantage of being alone, haha j/k Dan couldn't even kiss me without laughing!

Sweetest man goes to Daniel Brashear. For my birthday he not only bought me an apple watch but took me to see the Dixie Chicks in July. I have always dreamed of seeing them and they did not disappoint; Such an amazing concert.

So thankful for these 2 ladies and their awesome kids. I can always rely on these girls to stay all day at the beach, we love Coronado. So glad these kids have always gotten along with each other, they've been around each other since they were tiny.

Not the best picture but had to document that one time Dan won VIP tickets to see Weezer in August. We were in the very front row and had catered food, we felt pretty special! Then in September I won tickets to 1 day at Kaboo (a 3 day music festival at the fair grounds). I called into the radio only to be caller 10. Thankfully caller 9 didn't want the tickets after all. This was my first time ever winning something on the radio- maybe it was pregnancy luck!!!