Has it REALLY been THaT long?!?!

Okay so I had promised myself that I was going to blog at least once a week.... yeah whoops. Okay so quick update since my last post. I earned a free car, become a director for the most amazing company for women out there. Brandon did amazing at selling pest control in California. I came home at the beginning of august to go to a MK seminar in Texas and then to Lake Powell with my family. Brandon joined me about a month later (talk about the longest month of my life... life without a husband is HARD) Then Brandon started school. I made a super hard decision and decided to take this semester off because my business is going so well. I think I might have just found out what i want to be 'when I grow up.' We shall see. Brandon is just busy going to school and I am working full time being a mommy and working my mary kay job into that life... Talk about the BEST decision I have ever made so far. I have been able to enjoy what all the other 'stay at home' moms enjoy, while still making money to play and help Brandon so he doesn't have to work while going to school. (His classes are starting to get a lot harder.) Yay for graduating and pre-dental classes right?!

LONG STORY SHORT:

We moved back to Utah - started school - Moved into an apartment - Bought a TV :) - And we are living and loving life to its fullest. Oh and I have become a homemaker... (we have yummy smelling candles, new dishes to try, and crafts around the house) SO MUCH FUN!!!!!


Here are some pictures from our wonderful summer in Livermore CA. I hope you enjoy this hasty catch up post. More to come

This sandwich was amazing.. Seriously one of the best sandwiches I have EVER eaten. It is called Mr. Pickles. Kinda on the pricy side for my Utah budget but definitely worth every single penny. If you ever get a chance to head to Northern CA then you should definitely see if one of these will be in your area.

Another place that you can't miss when vacationing or visiting California is Fenton's. This place is great. We got to see Myrtle the cow. Such a fun outing :) Food and ice cream is also incredible. Here is little Tylee sporting the Fenton's hat with daddy (brandon) and Myrtle.

Mommy and Tylee at Fenton's :) 

Here is a picture of a 'black and tan.' You GOTTA try one of these. PUT THIS ON THE BUCKET LIST!!!!!! :) :) only at Fenton's

On the days that daddy was close we met him for lunch. Here is mommy and Tylee at 'Chubway' (Subway) eating lunch with dad.

Tylee loved every moment that she got to spend with her daddy. Sometimes they were hard to come by in the summer months (He worked long hours - thanks and we love you)

Date night on a Saturday evening!

 Long story short: While visiting some family (Carbines) in California, this little one disappeared and we found her upstairs in the dog kennel. I almost wish we had one of these at our home - It could come in handy ;)

We had multiple face time dates with my mommy and Tylee's Grandma Bales :) We sure missed her during the summer. 

On the way back to Cali with mommie's new car, Tylee got a new DVD player for the LONG drive. She loved it. Here she is trying to show me the movie "Wook MOM"

                                                                                                   We were able to visit the JELLY BELLY factory in CA. It was so much fun to see the jelly beans be made and try them at different stages of the creation process. It was very interesting. here is me and Tylee outside the factory. 

Tylee's BIRTHDAY 2 years OLD!!!

For Tylee's Birthday I made her a minnie mouse cake and we had minnie balloons. We took her to Fairy Land in Oakland and had so much fun. Here are a few pictures of our adventure.

There was a slide that she found and she went down it over and over and over again. She loved it. 

There were lots of 'child only' areas. This was one of them. 

Waiting while Tylee headed down the slide

Birthday girl lunch with mom! Shicken Nuggets!!

 We decided to stop at the Oakland temple on the way home. Wow what a beautiful place. I must say that I am so glad we chose to be married and sealed in the house of the Lord. Very special place. This one is so beautiful and such an amazing place to visit. 

Pool time fun with dad

Date Night

Date Night... 

Date Night?!

Summer fun at the park...

Double slide with mom

 

Matching outfits. SO FUNNY

Skype dates with PAPA bales  and Kasen!

Riding her bike... She can't reach the pedals so she just 'walks' it. 

 DAY TO DAY WITH TYLEE

TRIP TO SAN FRAN

Brandon's knocking gear?? Missing the shirt and wearing the wrong pants... you get the idea. 

Homemade Sopapilla Cheesecakes :) MMMM GOOD 

More updates in the griffin family!

This picture was too cute to pass up... We had just eaten spaghetti so yes she is trying to take her pants off so she can have a bath but her hair and eyes and just everything look so cute :) I love this little personality.

This one is always asking to 'do my feenernails' :) 

                 
 Mommy and Daughter: AKA Best friends forever! 

This man is my favorite... We have way too much fun together.

We took a mid-summer break to visit Utah to pick up my NEW FREE CAR... Here are some pictures in the airport and airplane. Tylee LOVED it! She keeps asking when we can ride on the airplane again. 

The BEAUTIFUL new car: Thanks girls on my Mary Kay team for helping me earn this wonderful car! Now its my turn to help you!!!!

 Me and my good friend Misty in the new wheels

Yep only 2 miles on this FREE car! NBD 

I LOVE MARY KAY!!!!!!! Best job ever - lets me stay home with my beautiful little girl while still earning a 'full-time' income. I LOVE this company and what it allows for my family. Definitely makes it easier to put God first Family second and my career third. Thats how it should be.

We tried to go boating and Tylee tried to drive!

BUT

The Boat wouldn't start so we tried the whole 'redneck - start the boat in the water with the pickup' and that still didn't work :( but it was a really good try and a good excuse to drive to Benson Marina and smell the not so fresh air!

Not the best picture but its the only we got of us two

Tylee is here sporting her permawedge when she puts on her one-piece

Grandpa and Tylee shared a popsicle when we got back

HERE IS A FEW PICTURES OF THE PRINCESS TURNING 2!!!!! I can't believe she is a terrible wonderful two year old already!! Here is some pictures of the griffin birthday party. She had a total of 3 parties... can you say spoiled?

 Tangled is her favorite princess so she was really really excited about this doll

And I just had to post this picture of someone's AWESOME bumper sticker!! I hope cops let you off always because of this cleverness!!! :) 

New Month - New Challenges

Well my summer goals of blogging have pretty much become extinct and honestly I have not a one good excuse... OOPS. Pinterest, FB and Netflix/Hulu not to mention a pool right outside my front door and a beach 40ish min away have taken priority. Oh I've done other things too, but this summer has been one great relaxation. I decided that I should at least be recording some things to remember. I have become ADDICTED to pinterest, as most of the girls in today's world. But because I waste too much time 'pinning' and not actually doing, I decided to do a month of Pinterest in the making. Which is to try a new recipe and either a craft or an activity a day. August is a super busy month so I'm not going to guarantee that I will do one EVERY day but every day that I am home I hope to accomplish something. I have begun the packing process (for those of you who don't know, we moved back to California for the summer so Brandon could sell pest control. He is doing VERY well and we will probably return to the company next year) but now that the summer is starting to come to a close, I am heading back to Logan to find an apartment and get settled. I am also going to Dallas, Texas and Lake Powell for a few trips. I will miss Brandon, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Here is a little update in our lives. 

This was the start of our California adventure. 

I wish I had taken more pictures but here is a picture of Tylee and I on the airplane. As you can see, we got a seat with no window :( and Tylee got super tuckered out. She was very good on the plane though. We had books, snacks, coloring items and of course the 'fuzzy' we don't go anywhere without that item. This is also one of the last pictures that you will see of Tylee with a binky in her mouth. 

We found a yummy little mexican joint that everybody loved.                

She is growing up way too fast. I found this super cute hat that I just couldn't pass up at old navy. She has gotten quite the attitude. She is so much fun I can't even stand it. I love this little stinker so much!!!!

One word!!! Potty-trained. Or maybe thats two! One of the biggest accomplishments this summer has been getting the little one out of diapers and into panties. If you can't tell by the picture of them on her head.... she is really silly and loves to laugh and have fun. She is always doing something that cracks me up. Even if its something that could make me REALLY mad like making a huge mess. She usually says something that makes me turn around to hide my laugh!

I did mention that the beach is very close to us this summer didn't I?! We love it here.. even if this beach is jacket worthy. The ocean is so calming and peaceful. Not to mention it is a great place to go play in some sand. Here are a few pictures of us at the beach!

The waves were pretty big so we weren't able to wade in the beach but we could get our toes wet when the tide came in. It was a blast

This is tylee's kind of relaxation. Dogs, Capri Suns, Water and Sand!!! :)

 A little happy family time is sometimes all you need! Love you guys forever