Flag Football for Tubbs

In April Tubbs began playing flag football with an organization called, "All Out Flag Football." The season last approximately 7 weeks. Games were on Thursday evenings and practices were on Tuesdays after school. Tubbs ended up playing on the same team as two friends from church and made lots of new friends too. It was a good experience for our first season, so he is planning on playing again in the winter.

Tubbs' team made it to the playoffs and grandma and grandpa Hogue, Aunt Jenny and Randall were able to come down for the game (on grandpa's birthday too)

Another Padres Weekend - May 2015

San Diego Padres baseball. Can't get enough of it. Last time we were down, in April, they won both games. We thought we were good luck. In the 8 games we've been to since last year, they had only lost once.
Until this weekend. 
We had three games lined up and the Nationals were in town. We were excited to see Uncle Bobby's fave player, Bryce Harper, play in person. He didn't disappoint. I think he hit a home run or two. Let's just say we left Friday night's game early we lost so bad. We were tired from the drive down and it was the first time we left before the end of the game.

 This girl always sit next to me during the games and she keeps me on my toes with her questions and antics. She likes to yell and talk trash. I don't know where she gets that from....

 Saturday after breakfast we headed out to find something to do before the 5:40 game. We left the hotel around noon and it began to rain. We pulled into the parking lot at Balboa Park and after looking for a parking spot for 15 minutes, decided to head to Old Town. We went to the Mormon Batallion site again and it was even better than I remember it the first time we saw it....which was in July 2010. 
Luke volunteered for Tubbs to be called up during one demo to show all of the gear the soldiers had strapped on as they marched. It was pretty funny to see Tubbs' face when Luke lifted his arm to volunteer.

 After the "show" was over we headed to the back patio to mine for gold.

Lunch before the game was Luche Libre's and it was awesome. These queso chicken tacoes are the best and worth the 20 minute wait in line.

 Before Satuday's game we waited for signatures before the game, but ended up not getting any. The players only signed a few items before the game started. We were super close though. Maybe next time. (Matt Kemp below)

Waiting for Satuday's 5:40pm game to start up. 

This little girl loves her SD tattoos.

 Sunday games are pretty wonderful because it's kidsfest and the kids get to meet two Padres for signatures. This game it was Abraham Almonte and the new catcher, Austin Hedges.

 Our view before the game starts.

 We have a kitty cat ready for the game.

We lost all three games, so that was a bummer, but we always have a great time together. Until next time San Diego.....

Mother's Day 2015

This year we celebrated Mother's Day a little different. My Tinkerbell half marathon is normally in January, but this year it was moved to May.
I met up with Cass and Michelle at the Expo on Saturday afternoon. All smiles! None of us really trained for this race, so we are in this for a good time. :) Hahaha.

 We had a big pre-Mother's Day dinner at Cheesecake Factory. I went against everything I know to be true about eating the night before a big race. (Of course my biggest regret was that I forgot to order my raspberry lemonade! What was a thinking?!) I ordered some veggie lettuce wraps and a small dish of plain bowtie pasta. I sampled the fried mac and cheese before my meal and had strawberry shortcake for dessert. It's running suicide. Luke got an Oreo cheesecake for them to try. The boys thought it was ok, so they all had a few bites. It was so rich it didn't get finished.

I woke up throughout the night with the worst stomach ache and slept terrible. I definitely had my doubts about making it through 13.1 miles with my gut full of Cheesecake Factory morsels.
My alarm was set for 3:45am, which came way too early. Our hotel was close, so I walked to the park with Cassie, Michelle and Michelle's husband who was also running the race. We met around 4:30am in front of their hotel.

Race started...and ended. I made it. Luke and the kids walked to mile 11, which was close to the hotel. It was so good to see their faces and I collected kisses from everyone. My legs were burning!!

Wiggy lost a top beaver that morning too, while I was running. Luke sent me a photo.

After the race I walked back to the hotel, where I met the family. I showered and got cleaned up. We checked out and went in search of food. I was pretty hungry. We tried to eat at the Broken Yolk but the wait was crazy. I was kind of craving a bean and cheese burrito, so Luke found a Del Taco. He and the kids were amazed that's what I wanted for Mother's Day lunch and I told them I didn't care. Tubbs was pretty concerned and thought I wasn't having a special Mother's Day. We decided daddy would make my favorite dinner of fried chicken and garlic green beans later that night. 
When we got home, Wiggy was able to give me the gift she made me at school and I talked her into rubbing my feet for 30 seconds. :)

While Luke and the kids made dinner they told me to lay down and relax....which is really difficult for me. (Especially when someone is telling me to do it!) :) So I read and napped a little.
While I rested, they tried to make me a strawberry cake too, but they burned it. They tried again and we got some cupcakes this time around. 
Happy Mother's Day to me and to my mother and mother-in-law. It was a special day! 

BYU Women's Conference 2015

It's been a few years since we went to Women's Conference at BYU. In January I received an email about it and emailed my mom. I thought it was something that maybe we might be able to do this year. My mom talked to my Pops and he wanted to go too. My sister Sarah and fave SIL Lindsay also wanted to go. We emailed back and forth several times on flights and hotels. I decided to fly out of Bakes since it would be really affordable for me and Luke found a good rate. The remaining crew decided to make the drive from Roseville.
My flight was originally scheduled to depart at 10:30 which was perfect. After I booked, that was changed to 6:30am. So....I was up and out the door to the airport the same time my fam was leaving Roseville.....5am. I couldn't wait to see all of them! 
I got into Phoenix around 8am and had a five hour layover. Somehow I passed the time with an hour of scripture study, reading magazines on my Nook and walking. I got over 10,000 steps walking around the terminals....trying to find something to eat. I really dislike flying and I get nervous being away from the family. So, my stomach was pretty queasy....but I knew I had to find something. I settled for a BLTA at some joint where I had to sit by all these strangers, cafeteria-style.
My reward for waiting five hours in an airport, was having NO ONE sitting next to me on the flight to Salt Lake. I was pretty thrilled. I moved to the window seat, arranged my pillow and took a nap. It was the only thing that got me through the rest of the day. 

 Pops was driving Lindsay's minivan and they pulled up to the airport terminal right as I was getting my luggage, so it was perfect timing. Its a 30'ish minute drive from SLC to Provo, so we got on the road. On the way our we stopped by Franklin Covey so grandma could do some shopping. She was a happy girl. We checked into the hotel in Orem and then drove a few miles to the Cracker Barrel in Springville. It's really hard to get five people with different diets to agree on food. We encounter this every time we go to Women's Conference. My stomach was still feeling a little uneasy so I was able to have some lighter items that seemed to sit well. What I really wanted was their blueberry pancakes with blueberry syrup! :)

The next morning we were up bright and early. We headed down to the lobby to eat breakfast 1t 7am and then we were headed to BYU....which was a few miles down the road. My sister Sarah was prety sick with bronchitis so she wasn't sleeping well and struggling with her energy. BYU is pretty large campus so there was a lot of walking to be had.

This is us remembering there is no Diet Dr. Pepper on campus.....so sad.

  Leaving the opening session and on our way across campus to our first session. Grandpa always livens everything up and makes grandma laugh.

Towards the end of the day Grandpa grabbed some frozen custard after waiting for grandma to do some shopping at the pop-up bookstore tent.

 We met up with my dad's sister, Peggy and Pam during the closing session on Thursday. (Peggy flew to Boise and then drove down with Pam)

 Thursday evening Lindsay and I wanted to do a little shopping and I remembered there is this waffle place called "Waffle Love" that I wanted to try. It was wonderful. I wish we had more places like this in Bakersfield. I would weigh 200 pounds, but I would love it!

 

I found this shirt Friday morning at the bookstore and sent it to Luke. He says it should say "Mormon girls with bangs." Yeah...he isn't too too much of a fan of the bangs and I just had them cut the day before I left. Good thing they grow....and that he loves me anyways. :)

Lindsay and I went to two great sessions today. The first class was on teaching resilience to our youth and the second was on looking for the good and bringing out the best in your marriage. I wrote so many things down. Hopefully I can keep them in my thoughts and actions at home.

 Friday morning Sarah stayed home and slept. She wasn't feeling well. We got home from the last day of conference around 5:30 and she was showered and feeling better. We met Peggy and Pam at the Texas Roadhouse for dinner. After dinner we headed back to the hotel and crashed. We were tired from all the walking...and lack of sleep.

Saturday morning we ate breakfast, checked out of the hotel in Orem and headed to Salt Lake, where we would staying our last night. We eventually ended up at Temple Square, after a few stops.

 The tulips in Temple Square really are my favorite.  

They are EVERYWHERE and so big.

My fave SIL likes to capture my ugly, fanatical moments. By Saturday afternoon I am REALLY, REALLY missing Luke and the kids. My stomach is in knots again, thinking about the flight home on Sunday. 

Can't I just click my heels together and be home?!

 We finished up Saturday with a stop at the City Creek Center shopping area, across from Temple Square. It's a new shopping area and it's fabulous. I had an awesome salad from Kneader's Bakery and Lindsay kept me honest. I really wanted to try every pastry in the joint, so I'm glad she was a good influence on my diet. On our walk back to the car we even saw the actor who plays Phil Dunphey on "Modern Family." Lindsay heard his voice behind us and we turned around. He had a beard and paper boy cap on, but it was him. He had his two little girls with him, so I didn't snap a photo of him....even though I wanted to. 
We checked into the hotel and then headed to Cafe Rio for dinner. Our adventure was almost to an end. After dinner we headed back to the hotel, cleaned up, packed up and everyone was in bed by 9:30pm. Lindsay and I stayed up chatting and giggling for an hour and then we crashed.
My flight left at 7am, with another layover in Phoenix. Thankfully I was back in Bakersfield by noon'ish. Luke and the kids met me at the airport with flowers! So thankful for Luke and the kids and the opportunity I have to go to BYU Women's Conference with my parents and sisters. It really is the best time and I count my blessings everyday.