This ones for you buddy, whirlwind weekend!

Last weekend I went home for a visit with the family. My bestest friend Hillary also went home for the weekend too so we made it a  road trip. It was great! On Saturday morning we visited with grandma, went shopping in SLO, and then off out our friends wedding in the afternoon. I really like the banners they had up as decorations. They were made of scrap book paper and lace.

I really liked the center pieces. Each had a unique lace doily, A picture of the couple, a candle, and beautiful flowers. I really really liked the flowers.

Brianna and Cameron (one of the grooms men) ready for dinner.

Me and my sister at the wedding.

This is a dark picture...but it's the groom and his mama dancing to "you'll be in my heart" from Tarzan. So adorable!

The candy bar was really pretty with all the colors and I loved the canisters they found.

The groom, Wes and Cameron, were so adorable bonding with one of their friends Chads' baby.

They made these cute paper cones to fill with candy...it looks like a lot of work.

Our friend Mary,  me, and Brianna at the wedding.

The next day was a beautiful day on the central coast.

It was stake conference for our home stake and my Mom was being sustained and set apart as the stake Young women's president so we went along to support her. After raising 3 girls and multiple YW callings she's sure to be amazing. Afterwards we had a BBQ to celebrate my birthday before driving home. Such a fun whirlwind weekend.

Life it just keeps getting better

On the morning of my birthday I came into work and right away a bunch of my coworkers came in singing happy birthday with this amazing looking cake...

And this lovely hat! I'm loved it what can I say, these folks know how to make a girl feel special.

Here I am with some of my work friends all sporting read lipstick in honor of red lipstick Friday.

For lunch my rehab staff family took me to lunch at my favorite local pizza place. Love these AMAZING peps!

The waitress brought me free cheese cake for my birthday! Delicious...it even had a trick candle in it, it was my first experience with a trick candle.

That night after doing a bit of birthday shop for myself, I went to have dinner with Matthew and Carrie and their boys. Here I am with Adden and my birthday roses he gave me. :) Such a sweet  boy.

My sister in law made me one of my favorite meals Spaghetti AND my brother prepared chocolate coconut milk ice-cream with carmel sauce and waffle cones for dessert.  Between the food, a rousing game of hide and seek, and a viewing of a musical chick flick it was icing on the cake of a great birthday!

Benny and I enjoying my birthday celebration.

On Saturday morning my birthday celebration continued with mani/pedi's with my good friend Kimberlee in Santa Monica....we even got shoulder massages so wonderful and relaxing.

Then we walked down to the beach to meet up with our friends for a bike ride.

While we were waiting we were thoroughly entertained by this guy who kept making up songs about the people walking by.

This guy also told us like 20 jokes for a dollar. Very entertaining.

Here's Kimberlee, Amber and Jessica ready for our bike ride.

It was such a beautiful day!

We even stopped to watch the skateboarders in the skate park. Also very entertaining.

Kimberlee, Amber and I watching the skaters.

A little while later the fog rolled in and we watched the boats from the shore.

Me, Amber, Jessica, and Kimberlee watching the boats.

Me and Amber.

Our bikes.

That night my roommate Tamar threw me a birthday party. Here I am blowing our the candles on my cake.

It was a great night full of friends, laughter and chocolate cake. Loved it.

Tamar even took the opportunity to tell me my future. Thanks to everyone who helped make this birthday special. I have to say 31 was a great year, my best year yet, and look forward to 32 being even better.

When your besest friend finally comes to visit!

On the weekend before my birthday my bestest friend Hillary finally came to visit me for the first time since I've lived here in Pasadena. In her defense I usually come to visit her since she has more space in her place. But it was fun to have her come visit. To celebrate our new more healthy lifestyles on Saturday morning we activated my new phone and then took a walk around the rose bowl before a healthy lunch at Trader Joes. That afternoon we spent cooking for our RS birthdays. Here's my S'moores cupcake perfected.

The secret I mixed mini marshmallows and chocolate chips into the batter. DELICIOUS!

After they were baked Lovely. We finished evening off in typical girl style chick flick and dance party, love girls nights.

On Sunday after church we went over to my brother Matthew's house and had dinner with him and his family. Here I am with my nephew Adden and Hillary.  Adden has always loved Hillary and was super happy to have us both there.

Silly pics Me, Adden, and Hillary.

Now one with Benny, Me, Adden, and Hillary. Such a great weekend. Thanks for coming Hill!

My happy Place, Day 2

On day 2, we were scheduled to meet up with our good friends the Kings. While we were waiting Mom and I took some hat pictures to kick off the day right.

After meeting up with our friends Brett and Betsy and their 5 children: Carolyn, Cameron, Colton, Caleb, and Conner. We headed right over to cars land first. Here I am with Carolyn, the Kings only girl on the tractor ride. Fun, fun. She's such a girl, the perfect one to be big sister to 4 boys. Right after I took this pic she told me to put away my camera so it wouldn't get knocked around on the ride. From one big sister to another, she's got a great start on the bossy front.

Disney land/ California Adventure is a whole new experience with kids. I loved it! Colton, Mom and I hanging out in cars land.

For most of the rides we each took one kid and rode together, as there were 5 of them and 5 of us. Mom and Colton on the tractor ride.

Colton and Betsy on the bumper bugs.

On the caterpillar ride. 1st car: Carolyn, Colton, Betsy; Car 2: Conner and Brett, and Car 3: Caleb and Dad.

The triplets: Colton, Conner, and Caleb with their friend enjoying some cotton candy before heading out to enjoy more rides.

Colton and Conner enjoying the Phineas and Ferb dance party in California Adventure. This made my day the kids got so into it, it was adorable.

Hillary met up with us again that night. Here was are with Dad on the pooh ride!

Mom, Cameron and I on little mermaid ride. It was such a fun day and good to catch up with the wonderful King family.