beach love

When Troy and I were first married, we had a choice to move to Northern California or Southern California after college. We chose Southern California to experience a bit of an adventure.

We started out in Aliso Viejo, CA. Every Monday night we'd get together with friends and head down to the beach. Main Beach in Laguna. Each would pitch in some snacks and come ready with boogie boards and bocce ball. It was bliss!

A couple years later, we moved to Dana Point, CA. We rented an apartment from my Grandpa. It was a 1/2 mile from Doheney State Beach. We'd walk there in the evenings and paddle out together on our surfboards and play until the sun went down. I'm positive there's no cooler feeling that being in the water at sunset.

Now we have kids and love to share the beach experience with them. Though we are an hour away, each drive feels so worth it. I now love to share with them things I remember from my childhood.

It's pretty routine that Troy digs a huge hole and fills it with water. I am the designated sand crab scavenger. (have you ever seen a sand crab?) Lately, the kids are loving being pulled on the boogie board and whipped around in every direction. Mostly I just love how we can go for 5 hours and be completely entertained the entire time!

I am trying to soak in every moment we have here!

Beans

She can be one tough egg to crack. I guess she IS two, and kinda stubborn.

But man I love this little girl!

She is so easy to have around. I admire her independent spirit because it's a trait I don't possess. She is loving. She is shy, but more observant than I give her credit for. She loves her brother even though sometimes "he bugging me". She totally has opinions. She insisted upon cramming her feet into her too-small-shoes for church yesterday. I had to remind Troy that sometimes in a girl's life it's Fashion over Function. She is a skilled climber...much better than her brother. She's potty trained. She can shake her "money maker" like nobody's business!

She still loves her dolls, and naps, and binkies. She eats everything in sight.

She's our one-of-a-kind Beanie Girl!

the livin' is easy

Isn't SUMMERTIME the BEST?!

Really...I don't think I could ever live anywhere too cold because I just love sunny weather!

We've been basking in these early summer days.

Dining outside.

swimming.

BBQing.

running around naked (kids only).

sprinklers.

corn on the cob.

beach days.

laying on the warm concrete.

enjoying the breeze through the screen door.

playing outside til sundown.

late bedtimes.

and it's only JUST BEGUN!

....and it was THIS big!!!!

Lately, we've been doing a lot of fishing.

We haven't had much luck with anything other than small bluegills, but the kids love it.

All we have to do is bait the pole, drop it in, and within seconds we get a bite!

Looks delicious!

entertained

My life has been bliss this week!

My nephew, Spencer, is visiting and helping out with the kids.

I never knew a 12 year old boy could be so helpful.

I went to the dentist the other day and came home to a clean, vacuumed downstairs, laundry in the wash, the kids fed and down for a nap, and the porch swept.

He has restored my faith in teenage boys!

But most of all, my kids ADORE him!

Yesterday he dressed up in costume and had them entranced with his imagination.

Thanks Spencer! We'll miss you when we have to send you home!

law abiding runner

On Friday I'll be running another Ragnar Relay.

I'd like to stay out legal trouble this time.

And by legal trouble I mean breaking the speed limit.

It's hard when you run as fast as I do. real hard.

Wish me luck.

(photo credit: Marsha Lueck)

TWO has arrived

Two has definitely arrived at our house.

It's almost magic how it happens.

All is well. All is calm, then all of a sudden they turn two and they want everyone to know!

Lucy is making her 2 year-old statement by:

getting into things (make-up, lotion, shampoo, powder, etc)

pouting every chance she gets

insisting upon doing EVERYTHING by herself

Hitting us when she's ticked

Telling us to "go away" and "stop it"

bugging her brother and then playing the martyr roll

stubbornly ignoring us when we count to 3

and...

perfecting the scowl

Good news is, we still love her! Crazy how that happens.

Easter Bonanza

Sometimes I complain about living in this hot, not very pretty, kinda sketchy part of the state. But for the most part, I am VERY happy with our community - especially around the holidays.

Each year our community does something fun for the kids on Easter and Christmas.

Something entertaining that:

A.) I don't have to prepare

and

B.) It's free-ish (minus assoc. fees)

Here's Jack hunting for his fair share of eggs.

I think they need to change the name from "Easter Egg Hunt" to "Easter Egg With-your-eyes-wide-open-you-can-see-300-eggs". Not much hunting involved.

The kids with their loot.

I was very proud of them getting plenty of eggs to share with mommy until I opened them up and discovered to save costs this year they, the hunt authorities, must have sent away to India for this year's candy assortment. Not one piece I had ever seen in my life!

Easter bunny this year went with the color-coordinated theme.

Dad was very upset he did not have an ORANGE basket filled to the brim with Peanut Butter Eggs, I assume?!!?

(PS - we totally bought our kids 2 See's candy boxed assortments and ate them both before Easter. We are such loser Easter Bunnies. But really, do kids need See's candy anyway?)

Love this picture of Christ they both got for their rooms.

It's old school Mormon artwork that is very nostalgic for Troy and me.

The Easter Dinner Table

Our good friends, The Southwells, joined us for Sunday dinner. We shared the responsibilities and ended up with this menu that included exorbitant amounts of CREAM/BUTTER in most recipes:

Ham

Scalloped Potatoes

Broccoli Gratin

Frog eye Salad

Homemade Rolls

Coconut Cake

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

Don't let the beauty of this cake fool you. I tried Ina Garten's recipe, but made a few bad alterations and ended up with a cake texture like sawdust. Great flavor, but it literally crumbled in your mouth. You should try the real recipe and let me know if it turns out. I will try it again the right way.

Hope your Easter was great.

i love to see the temple

Last week I went to SLC, Utah for approximately 24 hours.

Every year around this time, there is a training for all the leadership in our church. Basically, the big wigs of our church train the leaders from around the world (who can get to SLC ) on how to do our job (though "job" implies money and we don't get paid) better.

So, off we went. We, as in me & the 3 awesome women I get to work with!

We drove through the night.

Talked non-stop.

Stopped in St. George for a Cafe Rio run.

Talked some more.

Attempted/pretended to conduct a presidency meeting in the car.

Scrapped that idea and kept talking.

Arrived at our awesome accomodations in Springville, UT around 1:30 am.

Continued to talk

Someone clogged a toilet. (and was super, super embarrassed.)

Slept.

Awoke at 7.

Tried to unclog toilet.

Success!

Talked some more.

Drove to SLC.

I love Salt Lake! Though I was a little bitter that SLC welcomed us with a dust and wind storm.

Nonetheless, Salt Lake is a beautiful, clean city.

Of course the LDS temple is a highlight. I can't look at that temple without thinking about those who sacrificed so much to construct it. It is hard to believe by looking at the intricate details that it was built in the 1800's.

Our training meeting was wonderful beyond words. We listened (from the very front row) to the 3 amazing women who oversee all the Young Women ages 12-18 for our worldwide church. They are so inspired. Their love and concern for these young women everywhere is almost tangible. It was an honor to be in their presence. I learned so much, but mostly about myself and how I want to become a better, more virtuous, kind person.

This is us after many, many attempts at getting a picture. We all look amazing!

Here was another attempt. From left to right: Paige, Janna, Shelley aka hairball, Ali - huge face

The wind was blowing SOOO hard. Good thing Paige is pregnant, because one pound skinnier and she would have certainly blown away.

The best part of this trip was getting to know these women better. We left CA as acquaintances and came home as friends.

I am already planning for roadtrip 2011!

what to do with this boy...

Jack wore his new suit to church on Sunday.

Looking quite dapper, I must say!

I had to chuckle every time I looked at him because behind this seersucker suit, crisp white shirt and salmon colored tie lies an extremely precocious & mischievous boy.

He has a charm and knows when to turn it on - like immediately after every bad choice he makes.

Last week he and Lucy team pooped (yes, in unison) in my closet. I was livid, to say the least.

Immediately he apologized and said,

"I know what will make you so happy mom. I love when you think of fun ideas for us to do on Christmas, Valentines, St. Patricks Day, Easter..."

The day previous he had had much success with this line. I was gloating all day to him and Troy about his thoughtfulness to thank me for my "fun holiday ideas", so he knew it was a winner!

Or like when he threw mud at Tim, our neighbor's house, for the 2nd time. We sat him down, talked about consequences and told him (in our most grave voices) that he would have to march over and apologize to Tim. We were hoping we'd sufficiently scared him to make the consequence really hit home. NOPE! He walked right over, looked Tim square in the eyes, pulled out his charm and with all the confidence in the world said,

"I'm so, so, so, so, so, so, so, super, super, super, super, super sorry for throwing mud at your house again, Tim. I will clean it up. O.K. (like in the tone of...we're all cool now, right) But just so you know, my friend did it too!"

I absolutely love Jack. He keeps me on my toes and I'm planning on being here until he leaves our house. Dang...I better have toned calves, that's all I'm saying! And a boy who learns to be obedient would be a PLUS too!

Grandparents, these pictures are for you. I told him to give me his best expressions. He never disappoints.

Is it time yet?

I walked outside my door on Saturday and this is what I saw.

Somebody is ready for summer.

When asked where they were headed, they responded...

"We're walking to the pool."

I'm pretty sure they are not stressed about the fast-approaching swimsuit season.

While muffin-tops are on my mind, all they are dreaming about is cannonballs and goggles.

Oh, to be a kid again!

a camping we will go

If you are a close family friend, or have ever been over to my parents' house for dinner, OR have ever dated me, then you have probably seen (or been forced to see) many Sessions family videos. More than you ever wanted to see.

Some highlights may include, but are not limited to:

"Ali skinning and gutting a deer"

"Sessions family in the bathtub with blue soap beards"

"Uncoordinated Ali doing ballet in the school talent show" (first and last time)

"Ali milking goats or chasing pigs"

"Fat high school Ali returning home after being a Congressional Page in D.C." (steady diet of cafeteria food=20 lbs)

If you haven't seen any of these, I am sorry. You are really missing out.

All I can say is that family video torture must run deep through my veins. Because I have yet ANOTHER video I've worked up for your viewing pleasure.

Making my dad proud, I'm sure!

This is from a recent camping trip. Loved every minute.

(Please watch in HD...it really is soooo much better.)

Camping in San Clemente from ali degraff on Vimeo.

Top of the Mornin' to ya....

The kids were greeted by mysterious leprechaun prints. They were still wet (with magical leprechaun slime) because our leprechaun forgot to come the night before and had to make an early morning mad dash through the house.

Jack and Lucy were bouncing with joy to see that the prints actually led to a treasure in the bushes. And let's be honest, I was pretty excited to eat some Lucky Charms myself!

(dagnabbit...there I go again spelling Leprechauns wrong on this picture. Too lazy to fix it.)

As the day progressed, I was beginning to think I had two LIVE leprechauns of my own! They were not interested in all the fun I had planned for them. Instead, they wrecked havoc of their own by throwing lucky charms cereal throughout the house, and dipping their sticky fingers into the green jello salad in the fridge. Oh well. Half the time I believe these holiday preparations are really done for my OWN fun!

Hope you had a great St. Patty's Day with out all the mischief!

easily distracted.

I am easily distracted, but you already knew that about me.

I should be:

writing a talk for Sunday on Family History (snooze)

grocery shopping - I'm already a day late and we have, well, nothing to eat.

planning a dinner for 200 people

buying paper goods and making LOTS of tissue flowers for that same dinner

Finishing a logo for Youth Conference

doing laundry, dishes, cleaning bathrooms, bedrooms, little bottoms.

Finding babysitters for busy days ahead

Really, the list goes on and on.

Unfortunately, I am doing NONE of those things. Instead, I am parked in front of my computer obsessing over my newfound talent as a videographer. (I say that with much sarcasm!) It is so fun and gratifying to FINALLY be making something watchable out of our snippets (thousands of snippets) of video footage. Two down.....hundreds to go.

Leather Soled Shoes from ali degraff on Vimeo.

here goes attempt #1

Beanies Birthday from ali degraff on Vimeo.

Much thanks to Ryan for helping me video! His are the parts that aren't overexposed or out of focus!

Amazing

I am completely amazed by the courage of this little boy. My biggest fear is that in the face of danger I would fold up into the fetal position and cry. He's my hero.

Jack and I will definitely be practicing 911 this week!