Signing out...

Well...this is it. The day I've been "just not thinking about" for the past few months is actually here. We loaded up the truck yesterday (and because it was too small we get to do again today in a bigger truck) and we're leaving for Oklahoma early tomorrow. Ryan starts at the University of Oklahoma's periodontal residency in early July and that's when the three year countdown begins. I was thinking about putting a little ticker thing on the side of my blog but I think that would just be kinda depressing at first.

Anyway, with this sign out comes a list of things that I will truely miss about living here the past year.

Getting a yummy (and cheap!) lunch or dinner here:

Spending a few hours here:

Or here:

Treating myself every once in a while with one of these:

Discovering this refreshing snack:

But without a doubt, what I will miss most about Southern California is being close to my family. I have loved every minute of the time that we've had to be with the family. I've loved how much of Ryan's family has been able to come see us. It really is a blessing to be able to be in close proximity to your family and I hope one day we'll be able to again.

(Sorry there's no picture. I'm on Lindsay's computer...plus I didn't think I had a picture that didn't leave someone out!)

Happy Birthday Ryan!

Yes it is Friday the 13th today but it is also my little Ryan's birthday!!! Ella and I just want to wish him a very happy happy birthday! We just got back from going to lunch with the birthday boy. We went up to the hospital to meet up with him because it is also Ryan's last day of his internship. It was fun to meet all of the people that Ryan's been working with this past year. We have a tiny little vacation to go to Vegas for a few days (without Ella!) to celebrate Ryan's birthday, Father's Day, and the end of this internship...and then we come back and a few days later and pack it up to head out to the midwest.


this picture is at the Atlantis hotel (it's like the only picture I had of Ryan without anyone else in it)

Wild Animal Park

Ryan and I have been wanting to take Ella to the Wild Animal Park for a while now and since our days here in So. Calif are numbered, last weekend we thought we'd just do it. The Wild Animal Park is kinda like the Zoo and it always reminds me of field trips I took when I was in elementary school. Anyway, here's a few shots from that day...

I can't tell you how many pictures I've had on this rhino. It's a classic Wild Animal Park picture, so of course we had to put Ella on it.


On the tram ride looking at the giraffes


After all the exotic animals we saw that day, what was Ella's favortie? The ducks. Yep, those same animals we see at the park like every day for free!


Trying to dive in with the ducks

Rockin' at the Hard Rock

Last Friday night my cousin, Jessica, threw a party for her husband's 35th birthday. It was downtown San Diego at the Hard Rock Hotel and my mom was nice enough to watch Ella and my sister's kids (no small task!) It was so fun to have a night out with the "grown ups" and such a nice night to be outside (the party was out at the hotel's pool deck/lounge.) That Sunday Eddie (the birthday boy) and a few others ran in the Rock n' Roll marathon. I always love the time we get to spend with this side of my family. I will miss them all terribly when we move out to the midwest again!

My Aunt Nancy, Jessica (right) and Julie (left)


Linds, Jess, and me


Me and my sweetie


The next morning we were lucky enough to meet up with my very bestest friend, Amanda, and her family since they were in town for Amanda's little brother's mission farewell. I love this little family and I wish so bad we could live closer...maybe someday!
Little cheeseball Ella, Camryn, and Trent