California, here we come!

So Meagan had her baby on Tuesday, I stayed with her overnight and then headed home wednesday morning in order to pick up our rental car and pack our bags for our birthday/anniversary trip to Cali!!!

Our first stop was Long Beach, because I thought the weather was going to be warm enough to play on the beach..not so, but we still had a great time. I chose our first hotel based on location. Right on the beach, and only 79$ per night (what a deal I thought)!! Naturally, too good to be true..here is me in our shower..and yes it is yellow and green tile!

Great view from our Hotel

Thursday we ate at Famous Dave's (as your can see, Chav really enjoyed himself)...went to an Everything's a Dollar bookstore the size of Barnes and Noble... SO COOL! and then went and saw Act of Valor :)

This ship you could see from the docks

  After the movie on Friday, we drove to Nepal...coolest city!!! All the backyards have docks for their personal boats!!

 Friday we made the drive up the coast to Monterey...mostly overcast and rainy, but still so pretty!

 After we arrived to Monterey, we went to Bubba Gumps (in reference to Forrest Gump...embarrased to say I did not know that), DELICIOUS seafood! As you can see, it was rainy there too!

 The water was super blue in some areas, and then dark gray in others..the pictures really don't do it justice. This was part of the 17-mile Drive in Monterey.

 Then we headed to San Jose, but first stopped in Watsonville..picture of the Martinelli's Co. because my family LOVES that apple juice!

 Chav's apartment while he served in the area, the bottom one :)

 Then we stopped to see Nancy Lund in San Jose. Many of the missionaries have provided service at her house. She had a picture book full of all the missionaries that came, Chav was one of the first ones!

Chav & Nancy

 Then we went to see Kelly Phipps; Chav and Cory (aka Fear) taught her while in the area. She got baptized when she turned 18. Her family are not members, but are supportive of her

27# cat!

Chav & Kelly

 Saturday and Sunday it pored and the wind blew like crazy!! This is me after running from our hotel to the car...no good.

We also visited the Laughlin's while in Monterey..but I forgot to get a photo. Such a kind family! We met them saturday at Cold Stone, and the wife was so excited to meet me we kinda bonked heads...well her head and my mouth..painful but funny at the same time. They have the sweetest children: Cal, Meg, and Tess. I am so glad I got to meet them.

 Our drive back to STG started out beautiful and sunny...

To This...but how cool are all those windmills!

This trip 100% did not come with the type of weather I was hoping for, but I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my birthday and anniversary! 

Supposedly the first 3 years are some of the hardest in a marriage..well we made it, and we're gonna give year 4 hell :)

We have....A NIECE!!!

The new addition to my family came a little early, and I was so glad I was able to be there!
Lottie Olivia Black, born Monday March 13, 2012 at 1:20pm
She weighed 6 pounds 6 ounces and was 19.5 inches long

Baby Shower!!

My little sister is PREGO...so PREGO! 37 weeks, and her doctor thinks she'll go the full 40...she's always been such a petite thing, I can't see her going all that time...but she probably will :D

Meagan has decided to name her little girl after our great-great grandma on the Black side, Lottie.

Middle name remains undecided; however I have thrown out Dash, D., Dashelle, Lynn...but with a name like Lottie..."Lottie D" could turn into "Lottie Dah" so it probably shouldn't happen. I think she's leaning towards Olivia for the middle name...

I took pictures on a couple different camera's so these are the ones I have...

Tons of friends and family came out to support Meagan and our family...we so appreciate everyone that came and gave gifts to Lottie...we cannot wait for her to arrive.

Meagan has grown up so much during her journey of pregnancy. She has always has such a strong desire to be a mother, and I know she is going to be a great one. She has a strong support system from my family, and we will be there for her no matter what.

I'm so glad I got to spend the weekend with her!