California!

When I found out that my cousin Lindsay was getting married the weekend after Thanksgiving I decided that it was about time for me to take a trip down to California and visit my family there. Leaving Jonathan at home was out of the question for me so I knew it would be interesting! In order to not have to pay an arm and a leg we got a flight there on Thanksgiving day and back the following Tuesday. Other than a couple minutes of fussing on the way there and about 15 minutes of pure screaming on the way home at "bedtime" Jonathan did great with the traveling! I have never traveled with so many carry-ons and stuff before, but it all worked out in the end:)

Jonathan wanted to be in Autumn's lap part of the way--she wasn't having it though!

His new thing is to point at the camera whenever I take a pic, annoying...

Autumn and my cousin Kaylee had a blast playing together.

Jonathan has started wanting to throw his own diapers in the garbage can. So helpful, except that now everything gets thrown in there too! Toys, towels, pacifiers, silverware...everything. You have to keep a close eye on this guy.

The gorgeous wedding cake I "helped" design...j/k! I only watched the master at work and offered input if asked...awesome job Susan!!! The theme centered around peacock feathers and there were gorgeous center pieces I helped put together (okay, so I gave up after one, but whateva) I just forgot to take a picture:(

Jonathan and my cousin's son, Easton, were following each other around for a while at the reception. It was cracking me up how they would "play" or in all reality take turns swiping at each other;) Jonathan was having a blast dancing around and of course eating. The best was when he spotted the mountain of rolls on the table and made a beeline for them. I caught him just as his grubby little hand had reached up over the edge and clawed into a previously untouched dinner roll. I had to let him have it then, but he just poked at it a bunch and laughed at his own private joke.

Autumn helped keep Jonathan in check throughout the event, she takes her roll as Aunt very seriously...although I think she is a bit confused sometimes. One day while on a walk she informed me that she couldn't wait for me to have a little girl so that then she (Autumn) could finally have an aunt (?) I had to explain the way it works and she said "Oh, I always wondered how that worked. I thought that my uncle's daughters were my aunts and if I couldn't remember their names then that is when I would just call them cousin." I love her logic and trying to figure out what the heck she is thinking. She did display classic Autumn attitude while there and hopefully didn't offend anyone too much!

(Forgive the horrible picture quality...Santa could you please bring me a new camera?!) Here is my beautiful cousin Lindsay dancing with her new husband, Buster. Such a cute couple...have fun on your cruise!

My mom and I, couple of "husband-less" hotties on the wedding scene...hahaha!

On Sunday we went to church with my Grandma. I pretty much spent 2 1/2 hours in the foyer with a fussy baby. He got a little happier whenever my mom was around though...stinker! My mom started to complain that he doesn't say "grandma" and calls here mom. We started to listen really close and figured out the difference. I am "mom" and she is "mama." It is so stinkin' cute! I love when he says "mom" and sticks his face in mine over and over again until I say yes. Even better is when he says "mom" and puckers up for a kiss. I never knew how wonderful it would feel to be called mom until now, I love it!

We spent a lot of time at the park by my grandma's house. Jonathan loved playing in the sand...it freaks me out a little since it seems like a giant cat litter box, but whatev. He has learned how to rub his hands together to get them "clean" and now he thinks it is okay to play in any dirt as long as he does that afterwards. Sorry San Diego Temple flower beds...

Autumn helped him go down the slides, which he loved and eventually would go down on his own.

Overall it was a fun trip and I am glad that I got the opportunity to go. The sealing ceremony was beautiful. It was so neat to be there--my mom and I decided that one of the neatest parts was being able to look around the room and see my cousin Lindsay's 5 older brothers there too with their spouses. I was touched by the beauty and simplicity of Heavenly Father's plan for us and the purpose of families. I hope to someday be in the temple with all my siblings and their spouses...and with my children and their spouses...and their children...well, you get the idea. What I enjoyed the most was getting to spend time with my California cousins, I keep up on their blogs, but hardly get to see them. Jonathan had a blast getting to play with all the kids his age. There are over 20 grandchildren already for my Aunt Kelly and only her oldest 6 have kids so far! I hope my children get to experience playing with cousins the same way growing up. Adrian and Luke have cousins their age to play with, but Jonathan doesn't have too many. Being on the tail end of baby makers on Andrew's side and the first on mine it makes for a lone kiddo sometimes. I think more than anything this trip helped me to reconnect and to experience the abundant unconditional love of family. Thank you for everything!