Engagement Photos

Today Tyaan and Michael took their engagement photos. Dennis Tannen took them at Newport Beach. He got some amazing shots and there were too many to choose from for the invitations.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Sun(nap)days

Sundays are wonderful days. I try to get a nap in as often as possible. It just seems to be a good way to rest from the craziness of the week before, and prepare for the craziness of the week ahead.

Today Tyaan and Marley joined me...

Trip to Utah

Memorial Day weekend Tyaan, Michael and I took a drive to Salt Lake City.

We stayed at my grandma Avis' house in Salt Lake. We had a lot we wanted to do while we were there. Michael had only been to Salt Lake once, just before entering the MTC so there was lots we wanted to show him.



One of the first places we visited was This is the Place Monument. It is a monument at the base of Emigration Canyon of those that helped the pioneers get to the Salt Lake Valley. It is right next to Pioneer Village which is set up to be like the city at the time it was settled. We spent some time there as well. It was really fun!


We also went to the Church History Museum, which is one of my favorite places. There is some great things to see there. Shannon came to hang out with us there as well!


Of course the most exciting day of the trip was the day we went to Temple Square. Michael and I went to a session at the Salt Lake Temple in the morning, and Tyaan met us there. Before we left Temple Square they were engaged. Afterwards we went to lunch at The Garden Restaurant which is at the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and overlooks the temple. I took this cute picture while they were both making phone calls to announce the exciting news!


Believe it or not, this is really a window that overlooks the temple.


Later that day we went to the conference center. Michael had toured the building previously but hadn't been able to see the roof. It's beautiful, and there is a beautiful view of the temple from there as well.


It was such a great trip. On the drive home we were already deciding when we would be able to visit again. And my baby is getting married!!!

A Sunday Afternoon

This is my idea of a perfect Sunday afternoon.

Curled up in bed, reading a good book. 2 of my favorite girls with me, watching TV.



Too bad everyday can't be Sunday...

Magic Mountain

On May 6th Tyaan, Michael and I went to Magic Mountain. We hadn't gone for a couple years and I decided it was time.


We played a game and each got a cape as a prize. I actually won, so got a stuffed monkey as a prize as well. He went on a bunch of rides with me during the day.


Towards the end of the day Tyaan played a game because she wanted to win a batman hat. She did it!


Michael and Tyaan got pulled up on stage for a fun game. They got to throw water balloons, and at the end got drenched!



We had a lot of fun!

Michael & Tyaan

After their snowboarding 'date' Michael and Tyaan started spending a lot of time together. Here are some photos of them in March & April, 2010.

March 1st at a Jazz-Clippers game at the Staples Center.


March 14 at Bryce's mission farewell


April 5 - They were headed out for ice cream and I had to take a picture. They both swam and played water polo for rival high schools. I thought it was cute that they were both wearing their sweatshirts.


April 2oth - On the pool deck at Mt. SAC, where they are both attending.

Riding Trip

On March 27th we went riding. Jon and Bryce (and Marley!) actually went out the day before and camped for the night. The rest of us went up that morning. It was Tyaan, Michael, Caitlin and Courtney Miller, and myself.

It was a fun day. Everyone had plenty of time to ride, and I even got to ride my bike for the first time. We were out on a dry lake bed, which is fun because you can go really fast.




We had a really small bike out that day... Jon rode it around for a few minutes and made us all laugh.


Jon also brought an RC Car. I drove it around for a while. At the edge of the lake bed there is some terrain and I could get the car jumping pretty well. Marley had a great time chasing it for quite a while.


Jon had posted some signs for me to follow. They had gone to a different spot than we usually do so he was concerned about me being able to find them. It was kind of tricky, but we made it.


We had to be home in time for a broadcast that evening, but everyone got their fill of riding. Most of them even rode from the lake bed to the paved road, which took about a half hour or so. It was fun, and burned the gas out of the tanks. Then it was time to head home!

Swimming in the rain...

This year was Tyaan's first year swimming for Mt. SAC. On February 27th Michael and I went to an invitational with lots of schools in attendance. It was held at SAC, but it was a rainy day.



They don't stop swim meets due to rain. The only thing that stops them is thunder or lightning. There were a few times that day that they stopped the meet and got everyone out of the pool. If thunder was heard, or lightning seen they evacuate the pool, wait several minutes. If there's another within the allotted time they end the meet. If not they keep going. This just meant that we sat in the rain for several hours.


At one point it even began hailing! And of course it was just as Ty started one of her events. She said she could feel it hitting the back of her legs while she was swimming.


She swam the breaststroke this day, which is her least favorite stroke. But...she's good at just about anything she tries, so the coaches had her swim it anyway!


It was fun, as always, to watch her swim...but we were happy to get home to dry off and warm up.

Snowboarding

On February 12 Tyaan finally got to try snowboarding.

She had met Michael a couple weeks before when he returned home from his mission. His mom invited us over to meet him and welcome him home. She learned that he liked to snowboard, she had always wanted to try it so they made plans.

They went to Mt. High in the mountains just above where we live.





Tyaan says she fell a lot when trying to get the hang of it... but like everything else she tries she ended up doing great.


They ended up staying through the evening also and sounds like they had a really good time.

She came home and was ready to go again!

Water Polo Banquet

Tyaan's water polo banquet was on December 11th, 2009. Her coach mentioned how hard she works and that she's an important part of the team. He also said he was looking forward to see how well she does in swim season. There was a nice dinner and they gave out awards.

Here is Ty with her head coach, Jackson


And here she is with the assistant coach Jody.

Thanksgiving trip to Utah

Tyaan and I took a trip to Utah for Thanksgiving. I hadn't been to Thanksgiving dinner at my grandma's house for many years so I was excited.

We got there a day before Thanksgiving so we spent a day out in Salt Lake. This is Tyaan ready to go shopping and to visit my other grandmother.


Finally time for Thanksgiving dinner! It was great food and great company.



We also got to go to Temple Square the night they turned the Christmas lights on. It is so beautiful. My cousin Shannon came with us, which made it extra fun.


Before we went home we got Tyaan to try on my grandmothers wedding dress. It fit her pretty well.

Halloween 2009

Halloween season was a fun one.

Our Ward Halloween party turned out great. They had people bring chili and lots of kids (and teenagers) came dressed up for a trunk or treat. Tyaan borrowed a hat and dressed as a cowgirl. She won an award...she was cute. Here's Russell and Tyaan.



We had our traditional pumpkin carving night with the Withers family. Here is Kathy, Russell and Mike.


Jon (in the background), Tyaan and Katie. This is a fun night for us because the first time the Withers came over to our house was to carve pumpkins. It was the start of a great friendship!


When Halloween finally got here Tyaan dressed up as a football player. Here she is with some friends.


and here she is with her 'lil sis' Katie!

Water Polo Tournament

Sep 25-26th, 2009 Tyaan had a water polo tournament at her school. She hadn't been able to play since December of 2008 because of her injury so she was ready to get in the water. She worked really hard, practicing with her team all summer getting ready for season.


She didn't get a lot of playing time this year because she is a freshman. Here she is sitting with her team, ready to go in.