Lots of car, Loads of sun, and a little bit of TJ

So just two short weeks ago I thought something terrible was going to happen. I thought I was going to be subject to the misery that surely comes to all adults who have a job. I thought I was going to miss a family vacation. To california. I was bummed when everyone started talking about it, but it was so spur of the moment I knew I couldn't get work off plus I was saving my vacation days to go visit my sister Kerri in Wisconsin. But some interesting events occurred in just a few days. First off Bry called and said he wanted to come. Oh man did I want to go then! But no, I am a responsible adult now, and I can understand why staying home to work is important, so I'm sad for a minute then dismiss those feelings. Then Kerri calls mom and says that instead of us coming to visit them in Wisconsin how about we just come down to Vegas when they are there visiting the Heatons. What a great idea! (Since we were having a hard time finding a time the whole family could go). So now my brain really got thinking. If we are not going to Wisconsin to visit Kerri, and Bry is going with the family to cali right now, then I sure as heck better go!! Cause this is going to be our only longish vacation!! agh!! So what do I do?? I call Alyse, this girl who does recalls for our office and ask her if she can work for me. She says yes, at least to two of the four days. Then I call Danielle, my super head manager, since my manager is out of town. I explain to her the last minute decision my family has made to go on vacation and how I really want to go because it is going to be our only vacation this summer, which I had not originally know, and can a please get work off, and I already have this girl alyse who can work for me. And she says "of course, Have fun!" YES!!!! So then I realize the life of an adult is not so bad. A few short phone calls and some nice people can make life a lot better!

So now I am going to California with the family. We decide to go to San Diego tuesday so we can wake up and drive right down to Tijuana on Wednesday. How sweet is that! Mexico here we come! And of course we are only going there because Bry came along, and I am so glad he did. He go to show us all around his mission. It was so interesting seeing all the shops, people, the different smells, the different way of driving ( I loved it, but I dont think dad was too crazy about it! :) . It was just one day but I feel like I experienced and learned a lot. We got to meet a few of the people Bryant baptized. We got to see the humble homes of so many many people. There are just houses everywhere. It is amazing that they live with so little and we always have to be getting something new, something more. I think I learned they really do have all they need, just their families, and they are happy. I'm grateful for my family and the time I got to spend with them on this vacation, no matter how short it was.

We started our trip down to tj here, at the Mexican car insurance place... good thing we didn't need it, but good to have it!

Then it was off to the boarder!

He was sooooooooooooooo excited!! But who can blame him!

This is the mission office

This was Bry's apartment

This is the amazing taco shop we ate at. Really, it was soooo good! I especially loved the Horchata, which I thought I hated.... Only in the u.s. I guess!

Then we hit up the Revolution. Here at the classic "zebras"

Here is us with Francia, her son, and her sister Celeste. They are people Bry baptized. It was so cool to meet them! You could tell how excited they were to see Bry again, and how grateful they are for him. I thought it was especially cool how I could even understand and follow most of the spanish conversations. Although it did also give me the feeling (and Brandon too) of how scary it would be to live in a country and not understand a word people were saying. Oh wait. Aren't I doing that in 2 months?! haha Ya. Needless to say I have been much better about studying German lately... :)

Out the right window is Bry's very first apartment.

This is all in Bry's first area. The whole area was really poor, and just covered with houses. These pictures really don't do the scene justice. It was crazy to see.

Thurday we started off with a tour of the old USS MIDWAY, an aircraft carrier. SO COOL!! It was so much bigger than I could even imagine! Walking around inside there was just always another hallway you could go down, or another door. It was crazy!

It was super interesting learning about how the pilots take off and land on the ship.

Sick picture out the port hole.

Me in the captains chair!

That afternoon we finally hit the Beach!!

Me just havin some fun with the camera...

Brandon just having some fun in the sand...

I just love this picture! We are all so excited, and we really were! This ride was sick!

There were a few rides by Mission beach so we hung out there that night and played around.

Thursday we headed up to La Jolla so people could snorkel.

After seeing this beautiful sight we headed home. What a great way to end the trip!