It's So Hard To Say Goodbye

This week we have been saying "Goodbye" to all of the wonderful people and things we have become attached to in Southern California. On Wednesday I was able to go out to dinner with a few of my volleyball friends from our ward. We had a great time eating and enjoying each others company. On Thursday Hailey and I were able to meet most of my favorite people from our ward (and Hailey's favorite friends) for lunch. We hung out for 2 hours before I had to leave and pick up Peyton from school. I could have stayed forever just talking and enjoying their company. After Peyton got out of school we headed to Disneyland to meet cousin Aurora and Aunt Natalie for one last trip to Disneyland before we move. It was really cold but we stayed until 10:30 PM because we didn't want to leave all of the magic and great company. Today we spent a couple of hours at Peyton's school during her class party where the kids ate and played games. Peyton had a fun time with her friends and said "goodbye" to her two best friends for the past year and a half.

Here is Peyton with her teacher, Mrs. Ehlert, and her best friend Warren.
Here is Peyton with her very best friend, Brooke. They have been attached to each other since we moved here last year and were lucky enough to be in the same class for both 1st grade and 2nd grade. Peyton will really miss Brooke.

We are so sad to be leaving all of our friends and some of our family but we are hoping to make plenty of good friends in Arizona and we know we are going to enjoy being near so much of our family. Thank you to all of the people who have made our short stay in California so wonderful. We love you and we will miss you.

We're Moving

No, the title is not a typo. We are moving again. After a fun year and a half in Irvine we are moving back to Gilbert, Arizona. We are not sure how long we will be in Arizona (hopefully a very long time) but we are just trying to do what is best for our family and right now we know we need to be in Arizona. We will miss our friends and our ward here in Irvine. I was just finally starting to feel like this was home but that is usually when Heavenly Father tells us it is time to leave. We have had such a great time going to Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, and enjoying the wonderful weather we have here. We hope we will be able to visit often so that we will be able to see our friends and some of our favorite places.

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

We had our ward party last night and we had such a great time. The girls got to sit on Santa's lap and were able to tell him what they wanted for Christmas.

After we ate dinner the primary children got ready to perform the nativity. The girls dressed up as angles and the boys were shepherds. Even though Hailey isn't technically a sunbeam yet she really wanted to participate so I let her.

Here is the whole primary singing their final song with us. Hailey tried really hard to sing even though she didn't know the words to most of the songs. She was so well behaved and fit in perfectly with all the primary kids. We are really going to miss our ward here in Irvine. We made a lot of great friends and hopefully we will be able to visit them whenever we make it back to California.

Peyton's Award

Peyton received an award at school on Friday for having a positive attitude at school. Her teacher chose 5 students that she felt showed a positive attitude and then their classmates wrote nice things about each of them. Her teacher read them out loud and that is what the video at the end of this post is. Peyton was so excited to get the award since she is leaving Woodbury next week. It was perfect timing by her teacher. We are really proud of Peyton. She is such a great girl.

Peyton's First and Last Basketball Game

Peyton really wanted to play basketball this season so we signed her up with the local basketball league. She had her first practice and game last Saturday and she really enjoyed playing. She did manage to get her 2 times and came off the court crying but after a few minutes she always got back on the court. Unfortunately she won't be able to play in anymore games because we are moving to Arizona next Saturday. The move was kind of sudden but at least she got to play in one game.

Hailey really wanted to play too so she went behind the bleachers and found another friend to play with. She had a great time.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy 30th Birthday!

We went to Arizona for Thanksgiving weekend and we were able to do lots of fun things with both my family and Ryan's family.

On Thanksgiving morning me, my mom, sisters, and sister in law all went to a water aerobics class that Ryan's sister, Ashley, was teaching at her gym.
Later that day we had Thanksgiving dinner at my parent's house and it was delicious. Thanksgiving was also my birthday but we decided to celebrate another day since we were already busy with so many other things.

The day after Thanksgiving the girls, my mom, and I put up my mom's Christmas tree and decorated it. The girls had a lot of fun putting on the decorations.

Later that weekend we spent time at Freestone Park with my family. Hailey went on the Carousel with Uncle Andrew.

Peyton went on the carousel with Aunt Rachael and her friend Steve.

Then some of my family posed for a quick family picture at the park.

On Saturday we went to a park with Ryan's family and celebrated my 30th birthday. We had a lot of fun watching the kids play and just relaxing. We were so grateful that we were able to spend such a fun weekend with both of our families.