She'd Be California...If California Was A Girl.

Kourtney knows me so well.

In order to keep me happy and positive she invited me to come to Laguna Beach with her family first thing Wednesday morning.For some strange reason (ha) my friends and family have been so great to me this week.
I don't know whats better...having my Mom sleep with me and do my laundry, having my Dad watch chick flicks with me, or going to Cali with one of my besties!!!
I must admit... I am one blessed girl.

Kourtneys family has a time share in a very local area of town.
I think we were the only "out of towners" on the beach.
It was a little cove with 20 people max on the beach.
It doesn't get much better than that.
Kourtney has 2 adorable sisters that I just adore.
I feel so at home with these 3.The lifeguard found this sting ray washed ashore.
Notice I refused to touch it!

Within minutes of laying out a man named Thomas introduced himself.
Come to find out he is known as the "mayor of the beach."
Before we knew it he was fixing Kassidy's foot, Kourtney's back, and sending us off in his personal kayaks. I think I am ready for Survivor!
As Kourtney and I were paddling along on our first day - we glanced over and saw a fin in the distance.
Kourtney was so excited to see a dolphin.
I paddled as fast as I could - I thought it was a shark.
Kelsey and Kassidy.
Michael Orton is working in Irvine so he came down to spend a little quality time with us.
The mayor told us about the grunion run.
If you haven't ever seen it I highly recommend it.
During each summer month thousands - possibly millions - of small silver fish come on shore to lay their eggs.
You have to stay up till 1 in the morning to see it - but it is totally worth it.Once again - I am not fit for Survivor.
Kourtney wanted to pick them all up - and I was running from the water - let alone the fish.


The mayor even invited himself over for dinner - along with the lifeguard.
I love the locals.
I asked every single one of them,
"What do you do - I want to do what you do so I can veg on the beach everyday"
No one could give me a straight answer -
Truly I want to know how they survive
I am still on the job search for a "beach bum" position.
The second day the mayor decided to send us out in a canoe.
He put me up front and said a few words to Kourtney before sending us out to sea.
Scariest experience of my life.
We were doing circles and I was bailing water before we made it back to shore.
That night we went to my sisters keeper.
I was not ready for that.
Then we headed to our friend Karly Kimballs house to hang out with the local Laguna LDS singles.
It was a blast and resulted in one late night - I loved it.
Have I mentioned I want to live in Laguna?The Welte girls are all models.
Their attempts to teach me only failed miserably - as you can tell - I tried to fit in.

Saturday started bright and early with baptisms at the new beautiful Newport Temple.
It was an amazing experience.
Followed by a few hours and one red sunburn on the beach.
Then it was off to the delicious Beach House restaurant and a walk around Laguna.
I know it is so predictable - but I love the "OC"
Kourtney and I wanted to write BFF in the sand to hang in our new shared room.
It was quite the task.
And resulted in 2 wet bums.
I have to thank the Welte's for literally spoiling me rotten on this vacation.
What a fun family they have!
I just adore every single one of them.
Thanks for everything !
Sunday we went to the Laguna Beach ward - home of my future family.
Cutest ward and chapel ever.
Then Kourtney, Kris, and I headed to the Sawdust Festival before the airport.
I was in love.
It is the cleanest arts festival I have ever attended.
it was amazing.
As I got back on the small plane headed back home I realized how blessed I am to have such great friends.
I wish I could stay in that place forever.
Thanks for a great week Kourtney.
I just love ya!

Daddys Girl.

I know, I know... I have said it too many times.
But just one more for Fathers Day.
I am a total Daddy's girl.I have been wondering when the whole attachment with my Dad started.
Was it the...
Arm tickles on my parents bed when I was a baby?
(I would twirl my arm in the air so he would tickle it)
The secret sips of Diet Coke he would give me as I crawled toward him?
The Lake Powell trips?
The way he gave in when I would beg for a "tweat?"
The fact that he ALWAYS thinks I am THEE best at whatever I do?
That he has waited for my Mom for approximately 26 years now - she's late to nearly everything?
(the man has serious patience)
The fact that he is the most charitable person I know - but would never tell a soul what he does?
That he rocks out on the piano - and looked like Elvis back in the day?
That he adores my best friend?
Or maybe it is that...
he sees the best in every single person - seriously.
he believes every single one of his children could save the world - and then some.
he and my Mom are still disgustingly in love.
he made me where a "tongue rake" on the bottom of my mouth - twice.
he once told me he would clean my teeth more - so that more boys would kiss me
he taught me to do what I love - he loves his job - his job is his hobby and his hobby is his job
he hates Christmas - until the day before - then he goes completely nutso being Santa.

he is the most forgiving person I have ever met
I cannot recall a single time he has EVER yelled at me.
when mistakes are made he simply says, "Be proud of who you are - if you're not proud - you're not doing what is right."
he can outrun me - and you - and anyone
he has been the most gentle, kind, and loving Father I could have ever hoped for
he has sacrificed more for his children - and many other children than anyone I know
he sincerely believes I can accomplish ANYTHING
he has never said, "you can't" - if I want to do something - no matter what the burden or expense - I can do it.

And this is only the tip of the iceberg
I will spare you some of the other details
But I think what it comes down to is...
I just love my Dad.
Happy Fathers Day Dad!
Love ya!
-Love your FAVORITE daughter

Tear.

I have been sincerely worried about Derek and Mary leaving me behind in Utah County.

Tear.
But last week eased the fear.
First, the drive to Cali really isn't all that bad.
Second, I have decided to uproot and go to UCLA asap.
(well, when I get rich AND smart that is.)

Possibly my fav. part of the trip -
BALBOA ISLAND
I have never taken the time to tour cali - I wanted a good overview of LA and the OC
Derek and Mary were so nice to take me on long drives and let me fall in love with cali.

Mary was telling me about this FANTASTIC house on Balboa.
It is her dream house
(and if I could I would steal it from her)
As we walked around the corner Mary could hardly contain herself.The ONLY house with a U of U flag on the island.
Mary is moving in!

Derek was our photog.
I want to live on Balboa SO bad.
It is so simple, calm, and beautiful.

Although I typically can't take the texture of Bananas these frozen treats from "Dads" hit the spot.
Maybe it was the chocolate and toffee that did it for me?
And at the end of the day Mary and I found our street where we will raise our families as next door neighbors.
Derek and Mary Staples next to ________ and Karly _______.
Now that I have found my dream house all I have left to do is:
finish school,
save $345345345345 million to by this house,
get a husband,
and some children,
build the walkway between the 2 roofs
(where Mary and I will lay out while our maids, chefs, gardeners, and nannies do the work.)
There are plenty of other homes on this street for the rest of the fam too - so come on over!

I just have to thank Derek and Mary for letting me tag along.
They are so nice to always include me.
Besides the $25 add on fee
(that Derek so nicely printed out and highlighted for me)
they let me completely tag along for free.
Thank you SO much.
You made my summer!