Good Bye Summer

Good Bye Summer, Hello fall. I do love summer so I am sad to see it go. But my favorite season of all is Fall. The only bad thing about fall is that winter has to follow.
Our last month of Summer was a busy one. I have been working so many hours with my new house cleaning business. I even set up a website because I had such a great demand. I may even take on another person to help me. I still need to get licensed and insured though. Check out my website... www.freewebs.com/outstandingcleaningdivas/ I have also been very busy at my other job, teaching water aerobics. 3 instructors were on vacation so that kept me very busy.

Layla and I drove with my in laws to San Diego on August 18th. We were going down to see my brother in law Mat graduate from the Marines. Vaughn was not able to go because of work. Layla did quite well on the drive there because it was night time and she just slept. I however, did not sleep. I never sleep well. We got into San Diego and drove straight to the marine base. To make a long story short we had some problems getting on base so had a little time to freshen up in the van and we were finally were able to at least park right at the gates. We met up with Vaughn's sister Maren and her family and Rheana and her family. Layla had lots of fun hanging out with her cousins and her cousin's cousin. :)

We spent the day touring the facilities and learning about what the marines do. It was very hard on Layla and I because we were hot and both needed a nap but in the end we were able to see Uncle Mat. He looked great in his uniform. The local LDS church put on a BBQ for the LDS Marines and their families. It was very nice to get some food in our bellies. We spent a little more time checking out the base. Then finally we made it to our hotel. Needless to day I did not take many pictures that day because I was tired and grumpy and looked awful.

The next day in San Diego was the actual graduation. It wasnt too long so that was nice. We were very proud of Uncle Mat.
Once we got off base the fun began. We went down town San Diego. We walked around awhile and looked at all the cool statues that were built to pay tribute to the military.

Then we took a Harbor cruise. It was so much fun! We saw some cool ships and submarines. We also saw Sea Lions. It was my first time seeing them in the wild.


After the harbor cruise we headed over the Coronado Bridge to Coronado island. We had some dinner and then went to the beach. The sun was on it's way down so it was very chilly but some brave members of the family dove in anyways. It was my first time ever being in the Pacific Ocean. On that beach was the hotel Del Corando. It was very cool to see it since the hotel I used to work at in Disney World was designed to look just like it. So it was a bit of a trip to see that hotel.



Our last day in San Diego we drove by the temple. It was pretty cool looking temple. Then we stopped by our friends, the Cherrey's house. We had not seen them for a few years. It was so great to see them. Then we were off again on our trip home. Layla did well again but was awake more and required more entertaining. We were so happy to get home.

Mat was able to take a 10 day leave before he had to go on to more training. So Vaughn, I and Layla spent lots of our time over at Vaughn's parents house to see them. We even got to go out on a double date with Mat and Rheana while grandma babysat both kids. The last Saturday of August Vaughn went with his brother and some other brave family members and hiked mount Timpanogos again. If you remember last time he came home and his socks were covered in blood. Well this time his knees gave out on him and he could barley walk the rest of the week. I think that may be the last time he hikes it. We will see.

Layla's 1 year old pictures

These adorable pictures were taken by Tina Miera. Her photography company is called Bumps and Bundles. We LOVE her! You must check her out http://www.bumpsandbundles.com/ We are very sad that she is moving farther away but heck I think I may even travel to have her take pictures again! :) We did these pictures for Layla's 1st Birthday enjoy...

Busy Summer!

July whipped by me so fast I barely had time to breathe! Here is our happenings of July...

Layla turned 1!!! The weekend before her birthday we had a party for friends. It was a pool party but of course the weather was quite cool for that time of the year. Only a couple of kids wanted to get in the water. It was also quite windy so everything kept blowing away. Layla loved opening presents. It took her a second to figure out how it worked but now she loves it. Layla's cake was awesome. I had a friend of mine make it. Not only did it look pretty it tasted good too! We had a great time!











On Layla's actual birthday July 7th, we had a family birthday party at her Grandma and Grandpa Bigham's house. Layla ate the traditional Peppin family 1year birthday meal...spaghetti. And she got to make as big as mess as she wanted. Spaghetti is her favorite food so that helped with the mess. It was so fun to watch her. She got to open presents again which was exciting for her. I still can not believe she's one. Next thing we know she's going to be 16!






The weekend following Layla's big birthday Vaughn joined his uncle John and some friends on a hike up to the tip top of Mount Timpanogas. I knew it was going to be bad when he got back at 10pm. His socks were covered in blood. Had huge blisters on both of his heals that had popped.

July 15th was our 4th anniversary. We went for a hike up Red Butte in the evening after work. We found a perfect spot overlooking the city. We watched as the sun set while we hate a picnic dinner we had brought. It was very romantic. That weekend we went hiking, just the two of us, at Tanners flat. We were up a canyon and it was beautiful. We had a perfect spot. We had camped at Tanner's Flat on your Honeymoon so it was fun being there again. We made foil dinners and smores for desert. We talked and sang and had a great time. I did not want to go home in the morning.















Less then a week from our camping trip we were boarding a plane out to Minneapolis, MN for the Quinn family reunion. My sister Elise flew with us and we met our mom, Eric, Mallorie and Andrew at the hotel. In the morning was the reunion picnic. My sister Nicole her husband Steve and her kids Alex and Ivy met us there. It was so great seeing so many cousins and aunts and uncles and even grandma! We had our picnic at Como Park. Some of my favorite childhood memories involve the park. I was pretty excited to be there with my husband and daughter. We went to the zoo and Observatory. What memories. It all ended too fast and too soon. We spent the rest of our time in Minnesota running all around town. We had fun in Bloomington with my dad's cousins Joe and Mary and Great Aunt Fran and their families. I had seen them at my uncle Kevin's wedding but before that had not seen them since I was just a little kid. It was great to go there and be so comfortable. Besides knowing they were family I felt it. What a great feeling. We also got to spend a little more time with my Grandma Quinn and Aunt Marilyn and Uncle John. Our last night we spent with the Zitnacks. I used to live with them while I went to school in Minnesota. I had not seen them for over 4 years. Their kids had grown like weeds. Even though it had been awhile it was like I had never left. We even slept in my old room. I miss them already. It was sad going home but I was glad to be back in my bed. Although I have not been able to spend much time in it. I stay up too late and get up too early YAWN.










This last weekend in July was very relaxing. We didnt do a damn thing. LOL. I was in my PJs till the afternoon both days. The only thing we did do was go to the zoo.

It was a crazy and eventful July. I hope you enjoyed some of our pictures. August is not quite as crazy but we do have a few events happening. so stay tuned.