Mom's 50th and Wedding

Way back in August 2011, ya I know forever ago, my siblings and I threw a surprise party for my mom.

She turned the big 50. I know my mom doesn't look a day over 40.

If you know my mom she does NOT like surprises at all. And I do not keep secrets either. So as you can imagine I'm trying not to tell my mom but I want to warn her so she doesn't get mad.

I came in the day before and so I hid out at a family friends house and was trying to avoid my mom and not run into her around town. 

Here is the story of how we got her to the "Surprise House."

Since my mom wanted to "lay low" for her birthday we decided to do a girls trip to the desert and just relax for the weekend.

So since I am the only one in my family that lives out of state I was saying I was coming into town late at night so my mom wouldn't suspect anything. 

My sister, Grandma, and mom were going to the desert on Friday night but my sister said she had to stop by a close family friends house to get a floaty for my Nephew who joined us. (This is where the party was being held. So a perfect excuse to bring my mom to the party house.)

So my mom comes in and sees some friends but it doesn't register that they are there for a party. So she comes around the corner and sees her kids (I like to think she saw me first) and starts to cry with tear of joy. 

It was a really touching moment. Especially since everything my mom has been through in the past few years. To see all these people who love and support her was very special and just what my mother needed.

So the party continued and the girls headed out to the desert for a very relaxing weekend.

My youngest brother Korbin, and the sons and husband of one of my mom's dearest friends, the Mee boys.

My mom's best friend, Carrie (middle), and cousins Terry and Shelley

Beth Sparks, Annette Hairgrove (gracious host/second mom), Paula Ferguson

Sorry I don't have more pictures. I really need to get better at that.

Now on to the next event, another Walton Family Wedding (Seriously we had 3 weddings in one year).

Story:

My oldest brother Kyle and his girlfriend of 4 years tied the knot. It was a gorgeous wedding. 

At one of the most amazing venues every. It was at a private vineyard in Temecula, CA. Kinda hot but not a big deal. I love family weddings. There is so many family members there, music, and always a good time. 

All of my brothers waiting for the bride.

The bride and groom saying their vows.

This is my favorite picture. Right after they were married.

My mom and sister do the most amazing "candy buffets"

Isn't he the cutest? I could literally look at him all day.

My sister with her cute family.

Morgan and me before dinner.

Kim and Ashley

It was a fun wedding. Thanks Meg and Ky. It was great. 

Kaylee

Major Update

Just a warning, there is about to be a major update. 

And by major I mean HUGE. We're talking over a year of updates.

Be prepared for lots of pictures (because I don't like to write/I'm not very good at it) and some words.

Kaylee

Taking Over...HAHAHAHA!!! (Evil Laugh)

So Kaylee and I were watching Julia and Julie earlier this evening, yes I'm admitting that, and it has inspired me to enter the blogosphere once again.  My last attempt lasted a whole 7 posts with my mom being my only follower, go Carol!  So I was trying to think of a general theme for our blog that would result in people actually reading it and the best I could come up with is everyday life with humorous observations, yes very original.  Well I hope you enjoy.

So my humorous observation of the day occurred at school today.  I am currently filling a long-term sub position as a high school marketing teacher.  To answer your first question, yes they now teach marketing in high school.  Answer to your second question, no I do not have any experience in marketing.  I took a personal finance class with my brother in college as well as a basic advertising class, that's it.  Needless to say, I am very much qualified for the job.  Props to Kim (the full time teacher) for hooking me up with an idiot proof lesson plan.  Anyways background information complete, now on to the funny part.

Today I was teaching a lecture on the basics of an economy.  As I began to talk about the GDP, Gross Domestic Product for those who don't watch CNBC, I noticed a student on the back row beginning to crack a smile while looking at his computer screen.  At first I was happy to see he was excited about consumer spending.  As I continued with the lecture, I noticed this same student starting chuckle to himself while looking at the computer screen again.  At this point I knew he was not paying attention, give me a little more credit than that, and was obviously enjoying something very comical on the Internet.  I walked to the back of the room while teaching noticing him scrambling to change his screen back to the notes.  This game continued for another 5 to 10 minutes until I started defining the term depression.  All of a sudden that same student began to laugh out loud hysterically.  I found it ironic he was laughing as I was talking about depressions.  What was funny to me is as I walked back to check his computer, he changed his screen back to the notes, as if I hadn't caught on yet.  I said to him, "I didn't know depressions were so amusing."  His response was priceless.  He responded, "Oh it is, I don't know why but I think people losing jobs is hilarious."

I knew that students would say a lot of things to not get in trouble, but this definitely takes that cake.  My students are awesome, but as all high schoolers in every generation since the beginning of time believe, all teachers were born yesterday.  That is my humorous observation for today, many more to come. 

- Morgan

Papa's Birthday

So today is my Papa's birthday.

 It has been 12 years since he passed but I feel him with me when i need him most. He is the most amazing man I know. So loving and care about everyone. He lived in Lake Havasu City so we didn't get to see him as often as we would have liked. 

I remember my wedding day when I was being sealed and I felt that he was watching me and so proud of the woman I have become and the man I married. Today was especially emotional and i realized it is because today it so special.

His death was not the easiest. He had cancer and it took a toll on him and his health. The last time I saw him he was bed ridden and I remember being a little girl and saying good bye to him and going into the guest room and bawling my eyes out. I miss him everyday. I wish he could see my kids grow up but I know he is in Heaven with them telling them to be nice to me :) 

This is my Papa's grave-site. My mom and sister were able to be there but hopefully when I go home for Christmas I will take Morgan there. It is in a beautiful place.

I miss you Papa. I will see you someday. 

I've been thinking

I've been in one of those moods where you just think about everything. Ever been in one of those moods.

Things I've been thinking about:

Future

Where we are going to live

Babies

Anything baby related like rooms, clothes, etc. (Don't worry no babies soon)

My family

you know those everyday things you think of. 

I have decided I need to start a journal, well many journals. I want to have a journal for everyone of my kids. Starting from the time I found out I am pregnant to the time they leave. My goal is to write something in it every night, whether it is a few pages or not. I wish my mom would have done something like that. When you are little and you say those funny things you ask about when you are older are so cute I wish I had something to remind me how cute I was :) 

I also want to write a journal for myself. I have been going through a lot in the past few years with my parents divorce and getting married. It's a lot to take in. I just need somewhere to put down my thoughts and forget them. And once I am older my grandkids/great-grandkids will read it and love hearing that their grandma went through the same exact things.

I say an amazing quote yesterday and it reminded me of my mom. It says "People cry, not because they are weak. They cry because they have been strong for too long." 

Some food for thought there.

Peace and Blessings

Update

There is so much that has gone on in our life the past 3 or 4 months since my last blog.
So I am not going to bore you with that.
We are now living in las Vegas and loving it. It is so nice being close to family, especially if they are only 20 feet away from us. haha 
We leave in 2 weeks for Hawaii for a Taylor Family vacation can't wait. Everyone will be there so it's gonna be fun. 
I will try to keep this updated with everything we do. 
Until next time, Peace and Blessings

Comic Con!!!

So I spent this last week in San Diego working at the restaurant for comic con and let me tell you how crazy it was. First of all I had to work doubles all week. And there were very interesting people to say the least. Since I was working all the time I didn't take any pictures but on Friday my mom and Grandma came down for the weekend and between shifts we got to hang out. We went to the U.S. Open Competition of Sandcastles and it was amazing!!! Before we went there we ate breakfast at this amazing diner on Coronado Island. It's called Clayton's. It's on Orange and 10th, right across from Panera Bread. So if you are vacationing down there go to this place. After breakfast we went straight to Imperial Beach for the competition. It was a really cool events. Hundreds of vendors and the beach. Me and my mom bought hats with came in handy because it got really sunny and she bought me two dresses for mine and Morgan's vacation in November to Hawaii. Which I am so excited for!!! But the weather was perfect. When we got there it was a little overcast and that is when we were walking around looking at the castles being built and then around 12 is when the sun came out and we just laid out and enjoyed people watching. Well here are some pictures of my week. 'Til next time!!!

 My daily snack between shifts

 Ghiradelli!!!

 Grandma and me on our way to the beach

 Our new hats

 The space shuttle

 Marines

 Life-size Monopoly

 Cars!!!

 Plane

 Angry Birds!!!

The team that was making this was a tattoo shop haha