California Dreamin'

Life's a beach and then you die! ... Fun in the sun family vacation tied to some work in southern California. We showed our kids our version of hanging out in LA; many fond memories of travels up and down the coast of California while growing up and even after Jon and I married. We LOVE the city of Angels and the string of beaches from San Francisco on down the coast.

A day at Disneyland was great fun, we finally converted Cameron to how crazy-fun the theme park can actually be if he is with his family!! However, we want to take him to Disneyworld and really blow his mind! His busy schedule due to college, work, mission have kept him from being able to come on our trips to Disneyworld. Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Pirates, Haunted Mansion (though closed this time), Peter Pan, the submarine ride ... every last morsel of Disney is delightful and dining at the Blue Bayou was icing on the cake.

We enjoyed a day at Santa Monica Blvd (actually 3rd street) and the pier which was lovely. The shopping is terrific there. A crazy tour of Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Sunset Strip, etc., locating the homes of many movie stars; I'm partial to the stars from back in the day classic movies! Boggles my mind that on one street for instance Lucille Ball lived across the street from Humphrey Bogart and two other famous stars from that era! It's also fun to go to the Chinese theater and see all of the stars hand and foot prints in the concrete as well as the stars on the walk of fame. I was on a mission to once again see the hand prints of Marilyn Monroe, Lana Turner, Shirlee Temple, etc., and I wasn't disappointed.

We spent time beach hopping which is one of our all time favorite things to do! Huntington, Newport, Balboa on down to San Diego on a magnificent, leisurely drive. We enjoyed a lovely beach somewhere between Carlsbad and San Clemente that was incredible! Driving the PCH is simply a joy and provides breathtaking scenery.

We did everything from hopping in our rental car and setting out to track down a favorite rock star that both Cam and Ash like from the band(s) Something Corporate / Jack's Mannequin. Cam conducted some online real estate research (haha) and located his home in Silver Lake; Cam & Ash knocked on his door, spoke to the guy's wife and left a little gift for him - it was crazy and sooooo CHRISTESON in spirit! We also tracked down a park in downtown LA that was in a movie Cam liked called 500 Days of Summer. Bizarre yet fun! And Ash later had us search for a strip mall that sported a very unassuming club where one of her favorite bands, Avenged Sevenfold, started out.

On the official stars tour, though Jon and I used to buy one of those cheesy maps sold on the street and thereby locate the homes ourselves, but this time we enjoyed a mini bus tour. We saw current stars such as Britney Spears, Christina Agulara, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez homes &/or former homes, along with Ringo Starr and George Harrison, Michael Jackson to Lindsey Lohan, Tom Cruise and Jennifer Aniston (and many others) to the old time Hollywood legends. So strange that anyone (us included) even wants to spend time scouting out stars homes but it was actually quite entertaining hearing all of the stories and recent happenings as well as realizing just how small the Hollywood community truly is.

We spent time on Rodeo Drive as Ash wanted to see the famous shops; his was her first trip to California! Sunset Blvd where many bands and stars were discovered such as the Doors (from the 60's), etc. We ate ourselves silly dining out and laughed non stop ... it was truly a memorable experience being with our kids. I can't think of anyone I'd rather spend time with than my family!!

Alas, the week came to an end. We saw Cam off at LAX en route back to Salt Lake and we hit the tarmac a day later for home which included a repeat change of planes in Phoenix. Oh how I longed to STAY in Phoenix!!! By time we arrived home it felt like it had simply been a dream that we had spent so much time amid palm trees, blue skies, sandy beaches and incredible Mexican food. Like I said ... Life's a BEACH and then you die! PS tons of fun pictures on my facebook page!

Happy birthday to a most remarkable daughter!

Happy 20th birthday Ashley babe! You know the story well but here is a repeat of the charming and blessed events ... As a family we had been praying for our baby to be born for a very long time and Cameron, age 5, wanted a little sister! One day after watching the TV cartoon the Flintstones and seeing that Barny and Betty Rubble wished on a star and the next day Bam-Bam was found in a basket on their doorstep Cam rushed into the room and insisted that what we needed to do was wish on a star for you!!

That night we did; we wished on a star, (in all good humor of course) and literally two days later we received a call from Family Services asking if we wanted to come and bring our new baby daughter home with us! Of course we all realize that Heavenly Father required that the timing be right for your glorious entrance into this world and that fasting and prayer is what finally brought you to us; however, I think that Cam was inspired and from that day forward you became our precious 'wish upon a star' daughter :) Each Christmas up through your 18th year we have given you a special gift connected to a star theme to commemorate the wonderful, magical blessing of our daughter's birth and sealing to us in the Provo temple.

Ashley, we love you with all of our hearts sweetheart! You are an exceedingly intelligent, spiritual, talented, beautiful, loving, motivated spit fire of a girl. A young woman with an incredible moral compass and strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ with a thirst for knowledge and desire to pursue incredible experiences. It has been such an honor to be your mother with all that this entails; laughing and crying together, pursuing incredible adventures and experiences together, working through life's challenges and dilemmas together and even being silly together. You are definitely daddy's little girl but a mother and daughter share an equally special bond - our hearts are identical and knitted together with beautiful silver threads of love and respect for one another!

We are so proud of you babe! What fun to see you make the Dean's List three times in a row and I'm sure it will not stop there. How moving to see you love and lead the little Primary children in church in their songs each Sunday; and your desire to major in elementary education and secondary English where you will continue to have a positive impact on children and teens lives for years to come is equally touching. How delightful to see how devoted you are to your big brother, of the fun you have together and the affection you share for one another. How touching to see you evolve as a young woman who is in love with the love of your life as you and Michael pursue your goals and prepare for a temple marriage and family in the future. You simply take my breath away Ash in how you are choosing to live your life!

Your 20th year is starting with a bang indeed! Exciting college classes juggled with holding down 1-2 jobs on the side. Being selected as a model for Whirl magazines bridal addition http://whirlmagazine.com/?p=8648 , being involved on campus as an orientation leader, chairman of the winter formal, vice president of the drama club AND now having auditioned for and been selected as the female lead in the fall Broadway musical Frankenstein http://frankensteinthemusical.com (to hear the beautiful soundtrack); and icing on the cake is acting and singing with Michael who was also awarded a significant role! The two of you possess such incredible singing talent, it is going to be such a treat seeing you both on stage once again and this time in such substantial roles.

May your next 20 yeas and beyond be filled with many delightful surprises honey, continued focus in dealing with life's difficulties, on going enthusiasm as you pursue your many, diverse goals and a song in your heart as you reflect each night on from whence all of your blessings have come. Heavenly Father loves you Ashley Bretlyn and your entire family thinks you rock!

xoxo Mommy, Daddy, Cam, Mica & Missy Belle Buttons