A Sea World Saturday

Ben and I arrived in CA late, very late, last Friday night to spend Christmas week with my family in California. Everyone else was arriving later Saturday/Sunday so we decided to have a day date and go to Sea World. I wasn't expecting much, but it was SO much fun. There were the most amazing shows from Shamoo, to the dolphins, and my personal favorite, the sea lion show. On top of that, there were amazing exhibits, fun rides, and the beautiful San Diego atmosphere to boot.

Flamingos always smell....always...

It was a beautiful San Diego day!

My Sea Lion friend!

I was almost positive this turtle was real when I first saw it. Total disappointment. 

Ben riding his raft!

We had such a fun date together :)

There was even a snow world with a bunch of man made snow for all those southern Californians. Just a taste of home for us. 

Ben and I loved the shark tunnel! Ben almost got eaten!

Sea World was such a fun way to start out our trip!

Mrs. Smith

After all the fun events of the week, it was time for Ms. Connors to become Mrs. Smith. After days and days of pounding, cold rain, it was a beautiful sunny day: a true tender mercy. The sealing was beautiful, and we are so glad Steve has entered our family! Here's just a few (I know...I took lots) that captured the day!

Ben and I have too much fun together!

I love my sister-in-law Leslie so much! She keeps us laughing lots :) 

And then they came out of the temple into a giant puddle (hence Kim's surprised reaction here...)

Kim looked absolutely stunning. 

I think this is such a tender picture. We were so glad Grandma and Grandpa Connors who live in CA got to be there!

Me and my little sister, who's not so little anymore!

Picture Perfect

My wonderful mom and dad with the bride and groom!

The Connors girls!

The lovely Smith family

Starla was the best flower girl ever. 

Kim and her friends 

The lovely bridesmaids

Ben and I waiting for all the pictures to wrap up

The reception looked absolutely amazing and elegant.

The view from the reception

Their cake

It was seriously the prettiest night.

They even had soup and bread-bowls.

Josalyn and I. I think the last picture we had together was when we went to EFY a million years ago together. And now we're related!

Eating the cake

First dance

And they lived happily ever after

Pre-Wedding

I went to California to "help" with Kim's wedding preparations last Tuesday and had so so so much fun. Sadly, Ben couldn't come until late Thursday night, but it was fun to have some time with Kim before she got married.

I arrived Tuesday at the San Diego airport and was dropped off at the San Diego Temple where Kim was going to receive her endowments....three hours later. So I had three hours to walk around with my GINORMOUS suitcase and soak in the beautiful CA weather on the peaceful temple grounds. Finally, it came time for the session, and we all had a wonderful experience. I absolutely love the San Diego Temple; it was the temple I went to from 12-16 to do baptisms. It was my temple, and until my family moved from CA, I always thought I would get married there. 

The temple always feels like home. A little piece of our heavenly home on earth.

The next day I got to spend time with Kim and Steve running errands, and it was so fun watching them interact. We are so glad Steve has joined our family!

  

Kim is five years younger than me, and growing up that always seemed like a big age difference, but as we get older the gap narrows; it's a fun transition. I loved spending time with her last week. I got to meet up with some co-workers (some, I had never actually met) for lunch because I was in town (the company I work for is based out of CA). I even made it to the company party that night! It was nice to feel part of an organization, which I sometimes forget because I work from my computer at home rarely speaking to anyone else...anyone but Jennifer that is.  

This is my boss Jennifer--she is the only one I speak to, pretty much, and she is the best boss ever! We IM each other all the time for work and sometimes will have little side conversations about having curly hair, liking doughnuts, or whatever else comes up. She is what humanizes my job so that I know I do really work with people, and it was fun to spend time with her in person!

Our work party dinner

And why yes, yes we did sing the twelve days of Christmas on 12-12-12, all 12 verses...

We came home and dad and Kim practiced their father daughter dance--adorable! 

I got to hang out with Starla, Steve's little sister, for a couple of hours, and she proved to us that she gives the best back massages. Oh such fun!

I loved the Christmas tree at the house. This is the view from the kitchen, and it just looked so cozy and warm glowing through the window panes.

Kim's best friends from Utah flew in, and it was fun watching them have some fun girl time!

The night before the wedding Steve's family had us over to their home for an AMAZING celebratory feast. No one celebrates like the Smiths--one of the many reasons we love them :) Steve made most of the dinner, and I am so glad that we will have a literal chef in the family. 

They even had a cute practice wedding cake for them.

We had a fun family gathering with loving words spoken and beautiful, meaningful songs. After so many years of being so close to the Smiths, it seemed unreal that we were all about to become "really" related.

Steve and Kim even practiced their wedding-cake-cutting skills.

And Ben and I reminisced about our wedding day!

Time flew by before the wedding, and before we knew it, it was finally here! A Connors would become a Smith!

Christmas Festivities

Even with all the traveling Ben and I have and will do in the last few weeks, we have still tried to create some Christmas magic in our home :)

A couple of weeks ago we had a couple of good friends in our ward come over with their darling children to make Christmas tree ice cream cones and eat grilled cheese. We had so much fun!

I love that Pinterest has ideas I would have never thought of otherwise...

The kid's table :)

I have too much fun playing with these kids...

And I have too much fun talking to their moms...

Jack stole a kiss at the end of our fun night together!

As for other Christmas festivities...

We also got to go to Christmas Village on a fun double date, which is Ogden's secret gem--seriously one of the best things Ogden  has to offer! 

Ben and I were able to go with his parents to Temple Square/City Creek to see the lights. 

Along with these Christmas activities, I have been able to try out many new recipes on friends and neighbors--my most proud moment was making these cinnamon rolls. They turned out so fluffy and BIG. I'll be honest, it was one of my prouder moments in baking.

On top of all of that, it has been most wonderful to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. Christ came to earth and died for each of our sins. Knowing this is the key to finding lasting happiness, even in a world where there is so much chaos. I am so grateful that we have Christmas time to reflect a little more than usual. This video always puts things in perspective for me. Merry Christmas!