I'll post more pics later. But for now...

It's been a while, I know.

Time isn't flying by any faster, and days aren't getting any shorter, yet somehow I feel as if there are never enough hours in the day...

Oh well.

Here are some pictures from my trip to California. It was one of the best trips yet! I had an amazing time with each and every single person I was able to spend time with. I love my family more than words will ever express, and miss them every day, but my life is here in Oregon, and here I will stay, eagerly awaiting family visits :o)

I bought everyone some chocolate mustaches. I hope hope hope everyone enjoyed them!

We went to my Aunt Peggy's house to see her, my Uncle Marv, and of course Grandma. I was a little nervous seeing Grandma because she had been in the hospital only a couple weeks earlier with chest pains. We were worried it was her heart, but when I saw her, she was zipping around like her normal self, and even showed us how to make her world famous peanut brittle! She made the first batch, and Greg took a crack at making the second batch. His turned out pretty good, but you could tell which one was his, and which was Grandma's.

Our first full day in California was spent at Disneyland. It's funny how much I miss it now that I can't go every day. I was lucky enough to get to enjoy the parks with my mom, my brother, my sister and my niece and nephews. I have to admit, this was the best time I've had visiting my mom. We usually end up getting in some stupid argument where tears are eventually shed, but not this time, and I'm very grateful for that. I love this picture because not only did Nikki take it (she's got a really good eye!), but because of Erica's nice tooth bling, and especially because of Kody's little face sneaking into the shot! Nice job!

You can't tell, but Nikki is riding next to me. It was her fourth time (I think) ever riding Space Mountain, and even though she didn't show it while waiting in line, I could tell she was a little nervous :o) I think she was putting on a brave face, because she was the only little one hanging out with the "big kids". But when we got seated, and the roller coaster started trudging up that hill, she hid her head in my lap and kept it there for pretty much the entire ride. It was cute. And when the ride was over she lifted up her head, showed a big grin and stated, "I did really good this time - I didn't scream once!"

I know it sounds silly, but I was kind of nervous to see the kids. It had been over a year, and even though Erica does a great job of letting them know who "Tia Kika" is, I was still worried that they'd be a little uncomfortable and unfamiliar with me. I was dead wrong. Silas was the one I was most worried about, since I moved to Portland before he was even born, but right when he saw me, he ran into my arms and we spun and spun and spun! All my worries spun right out of my mind, too! Silas was wearing the dorkiest (therefore, cutest) little boots, hoping it would give him enough added height to ride Star Tours, since he's a HUGE Star Wars fan. Alas, he was a hair short. Really, a hair. Like, a millimeter too short and they wouldn't let him ride. Oh well. It's been about a week, so I bet he's tall enough now.

Most of the times I visit California, I enjoy the company, but by the time my vacation is up, I'm ready to go home. This time around, I wanted to stay. Not for California, but to spend more time with my family. It was such a wonderful trip, and every time I go back, I leave a little piece of my heart with them. I wish I could give them my whole heart. I wish they'd all slowly (or quickly) move up to Oregon. But our lives are our lives, and we must follow where they lead us. I hope, though, that our lives soon lead us back to one another, even if it's only for a visit.