California... part 2

On Thursday we enjoyed the morning at Hilarie's house and once Jaxon was down for his nap we snuck off to Disneyland- just me and the hubs!

Thanks to my sister for watching little j. we were able to enjoy another great day at the happiest place on earth... doing the big kid stuff :) Since we hadn't made it to California Adventure with Jaxon, we decided to do that first and then spend the nightime at Disneyland! Josh even talked me into going on Grizzly River Run, after I threw a fit about it because I didn't want to get soaking wet as soon as we got there, so we hurried back over at 10pm and rode it right before the park closed- then we ran back over to disneyland {soaking wet} and waited in a long [but worth it] line for the new Star Tours... IF you haven't been you have to go!

California Screamin'... Hollywood Tower of Terror... and Soarin over California :)

so fun with my love

Friday we were exhausted, but were able to sleep in a little while Jaxon played with his cousins... and it was yet, another beach day!! We planned on the whole family being there this time, and we had a great time. All the grown men/boys went all the way out in the waves and were having a blast together :) The kids played in the sand, built sand castles, and Jaxon just absolutely LOVED the beach- everything about it!!!

Saturday was a nice laid back day... spending the morning at my brother Troy and sister in law BreAnne's house and enjoying the family tradition of "big breakfast" which is a mighty breakfast feast in this family that only happens on special occasions :) I don't think we ate the rest of the day. yuck!

Josh and I snuck away for some shopping and got Jaxon some birthday presents and Josh a couple new shirts and hats {I joked with him that we were "school shopping" for him}. The boys got matching Fox hats and they look so darn cute in them :) [I didn't really take pictures this day]

Sunday was my little brother Zachary's mission farewell at church and party afterwards with tons of friends and family! Church that day was AWESOME. All the speakers were just so great, and I will never forget it. Zachary is going to be such an awesome missionary and I can't wait to hear his experiences while he is serving in the Jackson, Mississippi Mission.

OH- funny side note: my niece Lacy runs around calling Jaxon, Jaxon-Mississippi. It's so cute :)

It was so much fun to get together with everyone at once and be the fun, big, crazy family that we are. I can't believe that is the last time we'll all be together for two years :(

Here are a few pictures we attempted to get- being that it was record breaking heat that day, we did our best!!

I just love seeing all the Criswell cousins together-

ALL five of them bright blue eyes. LOVE it!

I gave my uncle Jimmy a two minute photography lesson since we had forgotten our tripod at home [which by the way, I was sick to my stomach about the entire first day of our trip :( ] He did a pretty good job though, snapping away a bunch and making everyone laugh! I'll take what he got! Thanks Uncle Jimmy :)

It was sad to say goodbye, but we were ready to come home...

especially Josh, seeing that it'd been more than three weeks since he'd even been here!

Our drive home was PERFECT!! Jaxon was a saint! Sleeping most of the way, but even waking up at like 3am and he was all giggles and playing peek a boo with me! I was impressed how good he was, we have a road-trip lovin' toddler :) Thank goodness!

We stopped for dinner and gas in Las Vegas, drove down the strip just for fun, stopped one more time for gas in South Salt Lake and made it all the way to Logan [including all the stops] in just 11 hours!!

But... we didn't get home til 5am and Josh started his new semester that day at 8:30am, and I started my new job that day too! It's been a busy, crazy, getting used to new schedules, etc.. kind of 10 days, but I think we are almost caught up with ourselves :)