PALM SPRINGS - Our New Home!!!

As you can see from our new header picture, we have moved to PALM SPRINGS California!! The move actually took place over Labor Day weekend, but its' taken me until now to catch up on my summer posts, and get all moved in and organized. I should be a pro at moving by now, but I still get way too stressed! This picture is actually the view from our backyard:) Yes...I broke down and we are renting a home on a golf course. Jed was beyond happy when we found this home, even though he never has time to see his family, let alone golf!! We have a little mini pool too, but there is also a really fun community pool and clubhouse right down the street from us. I must admit, we are pretty spoiled:)


Having a pool is really nice when it's still 105 degrees outside!! This has definitely been one of the drawbacks - it's so incredibly hot!! I think we jump in at least once a day:)



This is such a typical Lexi face:) It's usually when she's doing something that she knows she shouldn't be doing!


Olivia's 1st and 2nd day of school (2nd grade) - so far she loves picking out her "uniform" everyday. We owe a HUGE THANK YOU to Mimi for taking Olivia shopping for all of her school clothes:) We now own a ton of navy blue, white and khaki colored clothes;)


Our location is perfect. Lexi and I walk Olivia to school every morning, because it's right around the corner, and it's an incredible school! So far I have been extremely impressed and she LOVES it! She even likes the fact that she has to wear a uniform (I must admit that I do too - it makes our mornings and getting ready much easier). We are also in a wonderful ward. We went to a ward party last week and met a lot of people who we already have connections with - or are related too - distantly:)

Moving to California was a huge surprise to us, especially since we thought we would be moving to Houston or Dallas, but as much as we miss Texas and our friends there, I think this is going to be a great move for our family:) We are really enjoying being closer to family and friends!

So to all of our Texas friends - WE LOVE YOU DEARLY!!!! You really made our life in Texas wonderful, and you were more than our friends - you truly became our family! We miss you, but know that we will keep in touch and hopefully see y'all soon...Vegas is only a 4 hr. drive for us;)

Lexi Turned 2!!

On August 31, 2010 Lexi turned 2 years old!! We had a super fun party for her at my mom's when the family was in town. And of course the party had a cowgirl theme which had to include horses and all of Lexi's other favorite things:) The party favors were cowboy hats, filled with Lexi's favorite foods - chips, Kid Cliff Z bars, licorice, and other candy!

Words cannot describe how much I love this little girl! She keeps us on our toes everyday, but she is definitely the spice in our family - so vibrant and fun and full of life. I love you baby girl:) We are so blessed to have you as part of our family!



We played a lot of fun games, including pin-the-tale on the donkey. (Jed was totally trying to cheat)


Another game - Bean Bag Boot Toss





We also set up some big tubs and had the kids run the barrels while we timed them. They used "Lexi's Coda" - her stick horse:) I think the boys enjoyed this game the most!





It was so fun to be able to spend time with Brooke and the boys. We don't get to see them very often:( We miss you already - best of luck in Michigan!




Cassy out-did herself again with making Lexi's horse cake!!! She LOVED it:) Thanks Cassy - you're amazing!




Papa and the grandkids - he came out all dressed up and ready for the party (so did Mimi, but I didn't get a picture of her) Looking good dad:)

Summer Re-cap (Back to San Diego)

Cassy and I took the 3 kids to Disneyland and it was so much fun. It has actually been quite a few years since I've been there, and I finally got to go to California Adventure! I loved the Tower of Terror!! Chris and my mom came later in the evening and joined us for the fun - the advantage to having season passes - how lucky:)





It was really nice to have a whole day with just Olivia:) We rarely get this opportunity - so thank you mom and dad for watching Lexi for me. I Love you both!!






One night at my parents during our family reunion, we had an outdoor movie night and it was a blast - complete with a concession stand and the kids in their pj's, cuddled up in blankets and sleeping bags on the grass!!


We also got to go to the Wild Animal Park with the family (we were just missing Jed). It was an extra hot day in San Diego, but it was still fun:)

Summer Re-Cap (Utah)

We went to Utah for about 3 weeks in July and stayed with Jed's parents. Jed and his parents surprised me and the girls and flew him into town. He actually ended up staying for two weeks, because he was able to finish his training at a facility in Ogden. It was so much to be able to see him more - or at least for a few hours in the evenings:) One thing I really miss about Utah are the gorgeous summer nights!! When I'm there I'm constantly reminded of all of our Heavenly Father's beautiful creations:) The beautiful sunsets, the large mountains, the cool mountain breeze and air - wow, I'm missing it now just thinking about it! And if I haven't said this before, I truly have the world's greatest in-laws. Jed's family has made me feel loved and welcomed since the first day I met them:) They really are the most incredible people - I love and miss you all!!


We discovered this summer that Lexi LOVES horses! She calls them the nay-nays:) She couldn't wait for grandpa Tim to come home at night so that she could go out and see the horses while he did the chores. She also loves Teton (the dog). She would kiss him and hug him and talk to him - so cute. Oh, and pull his ears - not so cute. P.S. I'm not pregnant in this picture - horrible angle I guess:( Lexi loves Coda - the horse:)



Olivia loved spending so much time with all of her girl cousins! Jessa just turned 10 - these girls are growing up way too fast!



Lexi and Tycee definitely had a love-hate relationship. I think this picture says it all:)



Grandma Lori and her granddaughters (minus Ella). The girls wanted to go on the 4-wheeler any chance they could get!



Grandma Betty and Grandpa Dough gave Lexi a stick horse for her birthday that said "Lexi's Coda" - she plays with it all the time!



My little model in action. Tim and Lori gave Lexi her first pair of jeans, boots and a belt for her birthday. It's become kind of a right of passage with the Gines granddaughters - such a fun tradition.


Also while we were in Utah, my mom, sister-in-law Brooke and I threw a couple's shower for my brother Bryce and Lora at my aunt Becky's house. It was so much fun and we had such yummy food!! We already feel like Lora's part of the family - we love you guys!


And this is the best cake ever!!!! I was looking forward to the shower so that I could eat this cake (ok so that's only partially true, but still they're AMAZING!) "Nothing Bundt Cakes" - chocolate and pumpkin are the best. They all have a divine cream cheese frosting. Check them out if you haven't - you'll thank me for sure:)

Summer Re-Cap (San Diego)

Lexi went from one injury to the next this summer. As soon as one would heal she would get the next one! She slipped by the pool and put her tooth through her lip, but the worst was her fall down the stairs:( You can't see it very well in the picture but she had a good bump on her forehead with a bruise and her nose was swollen, giving her a black eye. I guess this is what happens when you have an adventurous child:) She truly has no fear and wants to see and experience everything! It's actually really fun to watch her, when she's not getting hurt.




We also took a day and went to the Del Mar Fair. This has become a tradition of ours when we're in San Diego in June and the kids always have so much fun! Olivia really loved getting her face painted. I was just surprised that she chose the dragon - but I must admit it looked pretty cool once it was finished:)





Jed flew to San Diego for Father's Day and we had a great weekend with him and my parents and Chris and Cassy and their kids.

Summer Re-cap (Texas)

Okay, so you may have thought that we fell off the face of the earth, but we've actually just been moving around the country instead! So I promise that I won't be too long and boring in my summer re-cap - or at least I'll try not to be;)



Our first move took place over Memorial Day weekend, when we packed up our house and put everything in storage as the girls and I moved to San Diego to stay with my parents while Jed finished his training in Houston. Before we moved we were only seeing him on the weekends - so being at my parents made the summer go by a lot faster! It was really hard to leave San Antonio and all of our friends, but I refused to say "goodbye," just "we'll see you later!" We left thinking that we would definitely be moving back to Texas, we just weren't sure where?! The night before we left we went to dinner with our best friends, the Biorns!! I was also able to go to lunch with my girlfriends. Oh we miss y'all so much!!









I never posted anything about Mother's Day, but I found this picture and had to let everyone know how amazing my husband is!! One of my favorite meals in San Antonio were the Panchos Enchiladas from Canyon Cafe - yum! So Jed got the recipe from my friend Kristina and made me an unforgettable Mother's Day dinner - a true highlight:)