Kohen's First Christmas! San Diego 2012

Wow.  I can't believe I'm actually posting right now.  I can't believe I'm actually sitting down right now! The past couple weeks have been so crazy! What with moving, Christmas, having company, New Years, unpacking, cleaning, changing diapers, chasing Kohen, and planning for more company it feels like I haven't caught my breath! Oh wait, that might be because I just did a Jillian Michael's video... 

Anyway! I'm so excited to post about Christmas.  It was so perfect!  It was a little nerve wracking getting everything ready and baked and packed and of course we forgot something so we had to turn around (good thing we hadn't left on time.. oh wait we never do).  Not to mention the 11 hour drive we had to San Diego.  But thankfully Kohen was so good!  We stopped in St. George and saw Trey's family for a little bit and let Kohen crawl around for a while and he slept for most of the rest of the way.  The only scary part was how delirious Trey got around 2 am and wouldn't stop to let me drive.  Come to find out he was only acting that way because he knew I would fall asleep if he didn't stress me out to no end and he wanted me to stay awake and talk to him.  Wonderful.  Also, true about me.  Fun stuff. So we got to San Diego safely and had a pretty good drive out.

Now, I don't think I have every posted about San Diego before.  My dad's boss has a company condo down there and lets people rent it out for vacations.  My family has gone a few times before this trip and it is probably one of our favorite places to go.  The condo is on the 33rd floor and overlooks the harbor where cruise ships and air craft carriers come in.  It is so beautiful.  We have made a lot of fun memories down in that beautiful place.  This was Trey's first visit to San Diego and he loved it!  We all loved it. 

We were about four three levels from the top

veiw from family room

view from balcony

view from family room

The first day we were there Kohen of course woke up at 6 am.  That was nice of him.  So Trey and I got up and got ready by 7:30.  We waited for a tiny bit before we woke everyone else up too :)  The Stecks, my cousins/Aunt/Uncle, drove down also for a few days so we planned to meet up with them around noon and have lunch and then go rent bikes.  Well, by 10 we were all getting stir crazy from looking outside and seeing the sun shining and the palm trees blowing in the breeze so we decided to go on a walk.  Me, Trey, Jordyn, Ben, and Kohen decided to venture out into the big city and we ended up walking a few blocks to the mall. 

 Of course we split up so the boys could do their own thing while me and Joe shopped.  We had to be back by noon so when we were still shopping at 11:55 the boys yelled at us to get going :( So I didn't get to buy my pants.  Jerks... :) When we got back we ate lunch with the Stecks and then went to go rent bikes.  Get ready for this... its awesome....

Pictures say a thousand words and that was a lot of pictures so I won't say anymore about that.

We ended the dad at Hodad's, a local burger place with THE BEST burgers.  Ever. 

The next day was Sunday.  Trey and I met with the Stecks at the Sand Diego Temple after church.  It is so beautiful!! It looks like a castle from the freeway.  Trey practiced some skills with the camera too.

             

That night we took a drive over to La Jolla and went to a look out over the bay.  It was so beautiful and we got to watch the sunset over the Naval Base's cemetery.

We had so much fun with the Stecks and we are so happy they drove down to spend a couple days with us!!  They are more than cousins/Aunt/Uncle to us.  Which is why I call them Aunt mom, Uncle Dad and Kohen calls them uncle cousins, and Aunt Bum.  <3

On Christmas Eve all the kids went shopping while Grandpa Rob watched Kohen at the condo.  Kohen decided to have some fun with Grandpa and blow out of his diaper (which he rarely does).  Grandpa liked that.  Then we went out to lunch at a local Mexican place called El Indio.  Best taquitos ever.  That night we went to dinner at Outback Steakhouse!

                               

Then we opened our traditional Christmas PJ's 

Christmas morning was so much fun with Kohen!  Grandpa Rob got him a standing up Piano and music player and Auntie Joe got him a hat from Bass Pro Shop.  He loved ripping the paper and he loved his presents too!  

                       

       

Kohen turned 8 months old on Christmas Day :) Such a big and happy boy

After all of the morning festivities we went to see Les Miserables.  While we were waiting to head over to the theater we played life size chess and checkers at the mall.  

 

The movie was awesome! Except Kohen slept the whole time BEFORE the movie and then fussed the entire 3 hours.  So Trey and I had to take turns going out or to the back of the theater with him.  I felt really bad for the old lady next to us. She saw our backsides more than she saw the movie I think.  

The whole trip was so perfect.  There is truly nothing better than being with family and making memories together.  It was so hard to say goodbye to them, as it always is.  I'm so proud of my Dad, who holds down the fort so well and with so much on his plate.  My siblings are also amazing and we had so much fun together. I'm so proud of them and the people they are.  We've been through a lot this year and we've all suffered and we've all grown in different ways.  This Christmas was perfect because it didn't feel like our usual Christmas, which is exactly what we needed.  My mom made Christmas SO wonderful.  And we really really missed her.  But we stayed busy and happy and, yes, we shed a few tears on the last day there.  My dad made some calendars for us with old and new family photos, and my Nanny made us binders with all of our family pictures from when my parents got married to now and also put individual pictures of each grandchild in them too, such precious gifts for us to look back on the years and remember the happy times together.  

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday.  And its funny to look back at how my reasons for it being my favorite have changed.  From believing in Santa, to wanting new things, to just being with family and remembering Jesus Christ.  I am so grateful for the meaning of Christmas and how it reminds me to be more giving, more loving, more charitable, and more appreciative of how TRULY blessed I am.  This Christmas could've only been better if my mom was there with us,  but you know what?  I think she WAS.  

We had a very nice New Year's Eve with some close friends and Trey's family visited the weekend we got home.  Kohen got super spoiled of course by his Nana and PeePaw (yes we know that name is creepy :) ) 

We are so truly blessed with such wonderful family and friends who have been so supportive and loving.  And this year WAS filled with good things too!  We welcomed Kohen into our lives and so many new memories were born with him.  But I am ready for a new year.  Sending 2012 off was very bitter sweet, but I feel like 2013 is going to be filled with good, with happiness, and with love. 

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and wish you an even greater New Year!

Too many tragedies for this little heart. HELP BRANDON FIGHT

I had a friend in high school who was one of the funniest, sweetest, most lovable guys you could ever meet.  I'm pretty sure he was friends with everybody.  And I'm not exaggerating.  Brand Fisher moved to our little school my junior year.  He came from "da bay" and I think I can speak for everyone when I say, all the girls were just a little excited.  I didn't really get to know Brandon until the summer before our senior year, and that kid was crazy!! The first time I hung out with Brandon we went to Taco Bell with some friends and he threw a crunchy taco on my car and poured Sprite all over it, just "for fun." But I couldn't be mad at the kid.  I don't think anybody could ever be mad at him.
Brandon helped me a lot my senior year.  He was always there to make me laugh, to cheer me up, or just to talk to about all the drama of high school.  One time he came over to my house so I could help him with a paper he was writing for Mrs. Jones' class and we spent most of the time just talking and laughing.  My parents loved the kid, too and told him to come over anytime. I remember saying goodbye to him after my graduation party before I moved to Utah and I walked him to his car and we just talked for a minute.  It was SO hard to say goodbye to him. He was a true friend to me and I will never, ever forget him and how great of a guy he is!!!!
I haven't seen Brandon for about two years.  The last time was after I got married and we were out in good old Calaveras for the Frog Jump.  We met up and he met Trey and we got caught up on life.  Trey said he was so flirty, and I told him that that's just how Brandon is!  haha!
As a lot of us do, I keep in touch with my friends and classmates through Facebook and Instagram.  I've been following Brandon on Instagram and his pictures are always priceless.  He is such a goofball, so full of life, love, adventure, and happiness.
I'm SURE all of his friends, family, and loved one's all have similar things to say about Brandon, and all have similar experiences with him.  He is so loved by all who know him.

The following post is taken from my friend, Staci Franklin's Facebook wall, a close friend of Brandon, who also graduated with our class.

"Early Saturday morning on December 8th, Brandon Fisher's life was immediately changed when he was suddenly hit by a truck being driven by a drunk driver. Barely hanging on he was quickly transported to Enloe hospital where doctors cringed in fear that this 21 year old would not make it much longer. As family and friends rushed to his bedside, Brandon laid fighting for his life. As we started to ar

rive, doctors, policemen and nurses a like prepared us for the worse. Brandon is currently in a coma and suffers multiple brain injuries, fractures, and many other serious problems throughout his body. Brandon is a son, a brother and a friend to so many people and has an amazing future ahead of him. As this tragedy is unraveling, his family has put their whole lives on hold to be together and help Brandon push through (because we all know he's going to). At a time like this there really isn't much we can do to help comfort a family who is hurting, but making sure their needs are met is our job. Whether you have had the privilege to meet Brandon yourself or if you are an outsider looking in and would like to help please write a check and mail it to Travis credit union at PO BOX 2069 Vacaville CA 95696. The account is under "Brandon Fisher Relief" Account number 514228. If you have any questions please call 800-877-8328. ANYTHING HELPS!
Keep fighting Brandon!"

Like Staci said, anything helps.  If any of you reading this haven't done anything to give to others this holiday season, or if you would just like to help out a hurting family, PLEASE donate to his account.  There has been too much tragedy in our little town of Valley Springs and in Calaveras County this year.  Lets help a miracle happen! Thank you to all who contribute donations, thoughts, and prayers.  Brandon TRULY deserves it.  ANYTHING HELPS.