happy birthday, dad!

my dad hit the milestone 60th this year, and so our family gathered at the beach house in aptos for a weekend of fun and celebration.  sadly, i didn't take a ton of pictures.  what's wrong with me?  my brothers and sister-in-law were able to come from la, and my aunt and uncle from arizona made it up, as well.  it was nice to have the family together and take the time to celebrate my dad and the amazing man he is in our lives as a husband, father, brother, and grandpa.

story time with grandma.  or more like spoil time.  

a sea otter, just floating and chilling in the waves.
i was fascinated by this guy.

one day we drove down hwy 1 (the only day it was raining).
it is so gorgeous.  i often forget how lucky i am to live in this state
and enjoy all this boundless beauty.

santa cruz beach boardwalk

a donut the size of lily's head.  it was ginormous
(it easily fed our group of 10).  and tasty.

happy birthday, dad.  i love you!

easter fun

our ward had an easter egg hunt on saturday (the day before easter).  it started at 8 am and was over by 8:05 am.  the "three and under" set had their own section in the playground while the older kids ran rampant over the rest of the park.  it was glorious.  lily picked up on the concept pretty quickly, and did pretty well finding the eggs and placing them in her basket.  And afterwards, when she found out there was candy in the eggs?  oh, man, she was even more excited.

the next day, after church, my parents arrived from eureka and my bil & sil (dan & jackie) arrived with their son, Levi, and we had an egg hunt in the backyard for the two cousins.  again, the knowledge of candy in the eggs was a great motivator.  plus, they were so stinkin' cute trying to find eggs around the backyard.  i'm really looking forward to next year.

ward easter egg hunt; aka the practice run for sunday

she did good!

the backyard hunt

cousins!  lily and levi
(they were excited about it, i promise.  they just haven't quite
mastered smiling for the camera)

sassy poses. 

busted!  caught sneaking the candy behind the flowers.

watching frozen is serious business

introducing grandma and grandpa to frozen

our little family in chocolate bunnies!  

sausalito fun

we headed to sausalito last saturday to try out the kids discovery museum.  this place is amazing.  it is situated in historic fort baker and is one of the most incredible examples of adaptive reuse i've ever seen.  plus, the view of the golden gate bridge from the museum was incredible.  i might have geeked out a little bit about what was there (original windows, original flooring, original siding...omg, i was in heaven).  and lily had a great time, too.  all in all, a successful family outing and adventure. (side note: if you are looking for a place to eat in sausalito, i highly recommend hamburgers.  it is a tiny place, but makes the most amazing hamburger of my life.  and kevin's life, too.  lily loved the french fries.  seriously worth the trip, just for the burger alone.)

get your burgers, go across to the marina, eat and
let the kid run around and watch the boats.  

the view of the golden gate from the discovery museum parking lot.  the parking lot!

the officers quarters and offices at historic fort baker
(it's now a hotel, and judging from the number of bmw's, lexuses, and mercedes'
we saw there, it will be a very loooong time before we can afford a stay-cation there).

the enlisted men's barracks.  and stables and armory.
each building now houses a different section of the kid's museum.

for some reason, lily thinks she's a dog and (tries to) drinks like this
from every body of water we come across.  it's disconcerting, to say the least.

lily pads for the lily (haha)

geek out warning: original window, siding, flooring.  amazing.

thumbs up for adaptive reuse and historic restoration!

it was a perfect day, sausalito.  we'll do it again, soon!

long beach girls weekend

i spent a very enjoyable and relaxing weekend with my long beach girls at the beach house in aptos.  we were sadly missing two of the bunch, but were able to welcome the second generation with sarah's daughter, winnie.  so many good times, and i can't wait for our next gathering.  

don jose's chips & salsa made an appearance, much to patty's delight.

a perfect day at the boardwalk in santa cruz

go to lunch, see a mariachi band randomly perform.
also, o.d.'s kitchen is *amazing.*  if you are looking
for a good place to eat in gilroy, check them out.  seriously.

winnie was our photographer for the group shots.
she did an amazing job (seriously, every single photo she took
turned out great.  kid has skills.)

yet another winnie masterpiece.  

winnie finally gets to be in a photo!

cuddle sessions abound

also, a guest appearance by "the hoff."

i believe

not too long ago someone said some not-so-nice things to me about my beliefs.  they assumed they knew about my faith because they had seen the broadway play "the book of mormon" and thought i was brainwashed because, to quote a song, "i'm a mormon, and i just believe."  i've been mulling over what this person said to me, and the response i wish i had been eloquent enough to say came pouring out of me this morning.

i'm a mormon, and i don't "just believe."  I have faith that has been earned and built up through study, prayer, acting upon principles of the gospel, and going through trials and coming out the other side with a greater understanding and knowledge of Christ's atoning sacrifice.  i don't "just believe."  i believe because i have been through the refiners fire; i have been comforted when at my lowest and have seen the miracles of God's blessings unfold before me.

i am a mormon, and i don't "just believe."  i believe because i have listened to the the counsel of living and past prophets and apostles, and have put that guidance to work in my own life and have seen the benefits and blessings that come from following that counsel.

i believe because i have chosen to make covenants with my Heavenly Father and have felt myself draw closer to Him and have seen the blessings that come from honoring my covenants and knowing that Heavenly Father is only wanting to continue to pour more blessings into my life as i continue to honor and live up to my promises and covenants.

i am a mormon and i don't "just believe."  i have faith that has grown because of the work that i put into my belief.  i have studied, i have prayed, and i have taken the Lord, the prophets, and apostles at their word and followed their counsel.  the result?  i am blessed beyond measure in so many ways.

i believe because i put in the work and make the effort. i don't "just believe" because someone told me to.  i have earned my faith and belief in the gospel and have learned for myself that i am a beloved daughter of God and that i have a purpose on this earth.  i have learned for myself that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, that Thomas S. Monson is the Lord's living prophet on the earth today.  i have learned for myself that the Lord leads and guides His church and i know that my family is eternal.  i have learned for myself that Christ atoned for my sins, and knows me, personally.

i have learned the gospel for myself and know it to be true.  it is not mere belief.  it is faith and knowledge in the Lord's resurrection and atonement that makes everything possible.

for how much i count on the Lord to support me and sustain me during the hard times and the good times, i cannot afford to "just believe."  i have to know it for myself.  and i do.