I planned on going to Cali on Thursday of last week, but with Clara being sick, I decided to postpone. Not only did I have lots of work to get done, I needed to make sure my car was ready to go. I went to get my tires rotated, knowing it'd been a few years since I bought them and they had never been rotated. Well, one hour and $191 later, I had four new tires. Turns out I've had my tires for over four years (I promise I didn't know it was that long). The tread was separated on the front two and the wear was horrible on the back two. Fortunately, when I did buy the tires, I bought a warranty, so they replaced the front two free and pro-rated the cost for the back two. Without any of that, it would've been over $400 so I was happy to have four new tires under $200. Clara was not so happy to hang out in a tire store for that long, but I knew a strawberry milkshake would make things all better. I then went to get my oil changed but we walked to Old Navy and did some shopping while that was taking place.
Fast forward to Monday... Clara was much better, my car was ready and I had called Emily and Nikki and arranged to come Monday. I woke up at 7am and was still working at 12:30 and realized leaving Monday would only stress me out. I finished up what I needed to for work and decided I'd just leave Tuesday. We went on a walk (with Jason) for FHE.
Fast forward to Monday... Clara was much better, my car was ready and I had called Emily and Nikki and arranged to come Monday. I woke up at 7am and was still working at 12:30 and realized leaving Monday would only stress me out. I finished up what I needed to for work and decided I'd just leave Tuesday. We went on a walk (with Jason) for FHE.
Now for the review of my lovely trip to Cali. I love my road trips there. For some reason, when I'm there, it's so easy to detach myself from reality and all my problems seem so distant. I feel like it is a true escape from my busy life. Clara was good pretty much the entire time and I thought it'd be a good idea to stop at the outlets so she could get out of the car. It really wasn't a great idea... Clara was still having to sit (in the stroller) and I didn't find any good deals so I felt like it was really a waste of a half hour. Even with that stop, we made it to Emily's in six hours and ten minutes. Not bad! I just visited with Emily and her family, had dinner with them and stayed the night there. I didn't get very many pictures, so that was sad, but we had a good time. They got a new dog and it took a little while for her to calm down, Clara got SO excited when it licked her hand.
At one point Clara was standing on Justin's board with his helmet on and looking at the camera. Obviously, that moment was not when this picture was taken.
Wednesday: As I was on my way to Nikki's, she called telling me she thought Brooklynn may have broken her arm so she was headed to the hospital. She fell out of her crib and was acting funny with her arm. Instead I called SaLeah and invited myself to her parent's. On my way there I drove over a hill and for a second wondered how it was possible for someone to be building a brand new home in such an established neighborhood. And then I remembered the fires. I didn't know who's homes were destroyed but it was so sad and devestating. Devestation really is a fitting word when you look at fire destruction. Most of the homes were either completely gone or being worked on. With the exception of this one that appears to be totally untouched. I just can't imagine. 
At the Stone's, we just visited and watched our crazy kids. Clara had a hard time walking in the grass because it's so thick. But as you can see on her face, she has some determination to get through.
Later I met Nikki at her parent's to put Clara down for a nap. That night we ate at Red Robin with SaLeah, her sisters and her friends and everyone's kids. I'm pretty sure no one wanted to sit by the table with 12 kids (now that I think of it, I think 9 of them were 3 or younger, ha ha). 
Lindon could not get enough of this cantaloupe.
We stopped in one store on our way out and I decided it's not a bad idea to always give our children helium balloons. It's much harder for them to slip away out of our sight that way. 
Clara was so tired and hyper in the store and kept taking a purse off the rack and walking around with it.Nikki and I went back to her house, gave the girls a bath and then put them to bed and just visited. 
Thursday: Clara was about 95% better on Wednesday and woke up Thursday with a fever. I was worried it was because it was so cold in the room we slept in because my throat/chest felt icky. Nikki had to go to the orthopedic doc to get a cast on Brooklynn's arm (she broke both of her bones!) so I went to the Birch Aquarium with SaLeah and her clan. One of the little girls cleverly referred to it as the fish zoo. That makes much more sense to a toddler than an aquarium! In this first picture, Clara didn't just accidentally close her eyes for the picture. She was making this face on purpose and would just barely shut her eyes. As you can tell, it's awesome. I was laughing so hard. Perhaps she was just anticipating the flash. 
I went to Nikki's parent's to put Clara down for a nap and she ended up falling asleep on me because she wasn't feeling good and I didn't want to make her scream. Nikki's parents have this cute little play kitchen and Clara absolutely loved it. Anywhere else, she didn't want to leave my side, but at the Bullick's, she only wanted to play with the kitchen. 
We ate dinner at Nikki's. I put Clara to bed and then Nikki and I went to SaLeah's to visit without the kids so we could actually visit. Braun stayed home with our kids, so that was nice. We were out much too late, but had a great time.
We ate dinner at Nikki's. I put Clara to bed and then Nikki and I went to SaLeah's to visit without the kids so we could actually visit. Braun stayed home with our kids, so that was nice. We were out much too late, but had a great time.Friday: It was very important for me to get pictures of our kids together (shocking) so after taking our sweet time getting ready, we went to SaLeah's parent's. I'm getting anxious for a new camera, but even then, I don't know that we could've captured anything better. After all, the most expensive camera in the world can't make a kid sit still!
I love how Brooklynn is totally leaning over to see what's going on at the end of the line.
It was pretty windy which resulted in Clara having a lovely middle part. It kind of makes her look like a little boy.
I picked a tiny white flower (shhhh, don't tell SaLeah, I'll be in trouble) and Clara thought that was great. So great, she tried to eat it.
I think Molique is such a cute little boy. He pretended he was shy but he really liked to smile for the camera (as long as I was laying my head on him and he got to lay his head on the pillow).
Us and our babies. Brooklynn is 3 months older than Clara and Clara is 3 months older than Lindon. So much fun. The second children... nowhere close. Oh well!
There are a lot of things I like about SaLeah's parent's house, but maybe the winner is the paint job on the walls in their living room. That's right, this is paint, not wallpaper. It is beautiful. I admire it everytime I visit and decided to take a picture this time.
After pictures, we went to Nikki's parent's again to put the kids down for naps and visited with her mom. Not only do I have great friends, but they have amazing families. I'm always impressed when I meet someone that enlightens my day just through simple conversations. Clara didn't take very long naps, so while Brooklynn was still sleeping, we went and enjoyed the weather outside and another beautiful yard. Oh, I love beautiful backyards. 
I put Clara on the steps and she was tickling herself with a leaf, laughing and just having a great time. This is probably my favorite picture from the steps. 
Braun had a campout so the girls went out to dinner. Nikki and I just visited. Obviously, we never have enough time to visit, but we do all we can while we have the opportunity!
It was pretty windy which resulted in Clara having a lovely middle part. It kind of makes her look like a little boy.
I picked a tiny white flower (shhhh, don't tell SaLeah, I'll be in trouble) and Clara thought that was great. So great, she tried to eat it.
I think Molique is such a cute little boy. He pretended he was shy but he really liked to smile for the camera (as long as I was laying my head on him and he got to lay his head on the pillow).
Us and our babies. Brooklynn is 3 months older than Clara and Clara is 3 months older than Lindon. So much fun. The second children... nowhere close. Oh well!
There are a lot of things I like about SaLeah's parent's house, but maybe the winner is the paint job on the walls in their living room. That's right, this is paint, not wallpaper. It is beautiful. I admire it everytime I visit and decided to take a picture this time.
After pictures, we went to Nikki's parent's again to put the kids down for naps and visited with her mom. Not only do I have great friends, but they have amazing families. I'm always impressed when I meet someone that enlightens my day just through simple conversations. Clara didn't take very long naps, so while Brooklynn was still sleeping, we went and enjoyed the weather outside and another beautiful yard. Oh, I love beautiful backyards. I put Clara on the steps and she was tickling herself with a leaf, laughing and just having a great time. This is probably my favorite picture from the steps. Braun had a campout so the girls went out to dinner. Nikki and I just visited. Obviously, we never have enough time to visit, but we do all we can while we have the opportunity!Saturday: Wah wah, I hate leaving a good thing. We packed up and Braun thoughtfully offered to take the babies on a walk while I put everything in the car and moved Clara's car seat back to my car. 
Clara has decided she is really clingy and it didn't help to be around strangers. So carrying anything to the car would've been hard. Then we were off. We stopped in Yuma and I had a pretty bad experience in the Jack-in-the-Box that was about 90 degrees inside (I'm not really joking either) but we still made it home in less than six hours. Clara slept from Nikki's to Yuma, so that was good. The only time she really got upset after that was when the sun was in her eyes.
Clara has decided she is really clingy and it didn't help to be around strangers. So carrying anything to the car would've been hard. Then we were off. We stopped in Yuma and I had a pretty bad experience in the Jack-in-the-Box that was about 90 degrees inside (I'm not really joking either) but we still made it home in less than six hours. Clara slept from Nikki's to Yuma, so that was good. The only time she really got upset after that was when the sun was in her eyes. I got home and had to get ready for a wedding reception. Now I have work that I must get done before Monday but I'm exhausted and my eyes are tired. I would like to think I'll wake up early Monday morning; however, that's pretty unlikely considering my track record.
Since there are just not enough pictures above, here's a few random ones. Clara kept blinking. These were four pictures I took right in a row. Nikki suggested maybe her eyes were itchy, which could be very true since she got a little rash from the grass. 
Also, she has an obsession with phones. Fake, real, big, small. And I love miniature furniture. It's cool. I love my sweet little goose.
Also, she has an obsession with phones. Fake, real, big, small. And I love miniature furniture. It's cool. I love my sweet little goose.
Anyway, so in the entry ways, they all have really cool decorative tile, which I love. This was my favorite as standalone tiles (others used a myriad of tiles to create a design).
Then, tonight I drove to North Phoenix to watch "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" that Karen was in. 
It's been years since I've seen that production and I sure enjoyed it. It is funny and just entertaining. Karen's parents and nephew were there so I made sure to talk to him non-stop. I almost drove past the church that it was held at because I've never seen an LDS church like this one. It was white stucco with blue tile. It was very unique and is something I'd expect in Mexico where bright colors are more common. And here you have my second photo of tile for the day. 
[Pictures to come... I started this much too long ago and didn't have time to add the pictures.]
Aunt Lilly taking Clara on a ride...
Oh mercy! Look at that mullet.
Seriously, would you please cut your daughter's mullet? 
A month or so ago I realized over half of the shirts I bought for Clara this Summer are white or cream... and so are her bottoms with a few tan. That's a really good idea for a 16 month old!
Clara loves shoes and often asks me to put them on over her pajamas. Saturday, she decided she loved my socks and wanted those on. I put them on and they looked like little soccer socks. She thought she was so cute and would lift her leg up and show it off. 
