a little babymoon

last weekend we had a blast visiting friends in san diego, taking maternity pictures and staying at a hotel for a night before the baby comes. it was a little mini vaca that was much needed. we ate delicious food and spent time with the grochmals and the dicksons. it was fantastic. i didn't take a ton of pictures while we were in san diego, but i managed to snap a few when we got to the hotel in dana point. we could see the ocean from any spot on the grounds and we were in the pool or jacuzzi most of the time we were there. we are definitely going back for another staycation in the years to come!

30 weeks!!!

disneyland!

having the clausen's here for a month and a half was SO much fun! uncle greggy got us all into disneyland and we had a blast. brylee was a little older this time so she was more into it than the last time we went. it was really cute. we could all just stand around and watch her all day and be completely satisfied. thank you disneyland for your entertainment, clam chowder and sour dough bread and kiddy rides. we love you!

my first time

i finally ate off of a gourmet food truck this week! have you ever done it? when i worked for my dad's sign company we did quite a few vinyl truck wraps and i always wanted to try, i just never got around to it. then last time i was visiting california i noticed that they advertised for tuesday night food trucks at my old high school. this time we made the time for it and i am sure glad that we did. SO yummy!!! now i just want to try them all! 

oh hello summer

summer is here and i am happy about it. i busted out the sandals and headed to newport beach with some family. my how i love the feeling of sand between my toes. the sound of the waves crashing. the sight of little foot prints all along the shore. i also don't mind a trip to seaside donuts. yum. 

spending time here in socal has been very healing for my soul. today i walked along the beach and thought about my life and our future. i feel so hopeful and excited. although these past days without tyler by my side have been difficult, it has been good for me to be here and think about me, who i am, and what i want for my life and what kind of person, wife and mother i want to be. i feel like i have made somewhat of a breakthrough... now i just have to keep it going. maybe falling down again has helped me to realize what i want to be when i get back up. realize what i am willing to sacrifice in order to have the life i so desire. how hard i need to work to live the way i want to live.

something a friend said recently has really stuck with me, i would rather struggle for money than struggle for my sanity and happiness... or something along those lines. i wholeheartedly agree. life isn't about how much money you have in your bank account. it's about being the best person you can be, about serving others, about being faithful to your beliefs, about finding joy in the journey. i am still climbing this mountain of mine and i know that my Father in Heaven wishes happiness for me in this life. i will continue to be faithful and to do everything i can to live the best and happiest life possible. i can't give up. for me, there is no other option than to keep moving forward and looking to the future with faith.

long beach, ca

part of spring break in california was also riding bikes in long beach and hitting up our favorite italian place, domenico's! we had a blast, even if the wind was sand blasting us! the boys had a good time jumping off the dock and brylee had fun dancing on the cooler. i love these people. i cannot say that enough!