Our Trip to Southern California

Liz, Emma, and Devan after 1 exciting day!

I know I am late on posting this, but I thought I would share some highlights from the trip we made to Southern California earlier this month. I was invited to sign my cookbooks at the Grand Opening of Sam's Club in El Monte, CA on May 16th. Casa Di Bertacchi Meatballs sponsored most of the trip, so we took a few extra days to enjoy it. On the 13th, we drove to Carlsbad, stopping in Yuma to see a tank monument in the middle of no where. Ivan had discovered it on a business trip he had made there and wanted the rest of us to see it.

The kids enjoyed seeing all the tanks outside Yuma, AZ.

We stayed at the Inns of America Suites in Carlsbad. It was a beautiful hotel close to the ocean and with a shuttle to Legoland! Raytheon offers amazing discounts for their employees. We were able to get a 2 day pass for $49. It's normally $60+ per day. Our kids love Legoland. They'd rather go there than to Disneyland. It's a great place for families with kids under the age of 12. We picked a great 2 days to go. The lines were minimal. We had been in the summer when it was busy, so we were grateful to have small wait times on this trip. We loved seeing all the amazing things and the mini USA made out of Legos!

Test Track was Liz's favorite ride. We must have gone on this roller coaster at least 10 times in the 2 days we were there.

Emma loved all the one on one time with Dad!

We loved driving the boats over and over again.
The kids had fun bumping into Ivan and I along the way.

On Thursday night, we picked up pizza and headed to the beach for dinner and a sunset. The kids loved playing in the water and running along the beach. Spencer just glowed! He loves the ocean. He has since he was little. Just seeing the joy in his face made my day!

It can't get much better than this!

Devan and Liz race the waves.

On Friday, we spent another fun filled day at Legoland riding our favorite rides. The boys were excited to get some Legos to take home as their souvenoir! That night we drove up to Anaheim and stayed at the Hot Pepper Tree Suites. The whole hotel was decorated in SW Mission style making us feel like we were back in Tucson but without the heat!

Bidding farewell after our 2nd day at Legoland!

On Saturday, Ivan and the kids headed to Knott's Berry Farm while I went to sign my newest cookbook, 101 Things To Do With Meatballs, at the Sam's Club in El Monte. What a gorgeous store! I had lots of fun signing books and visiting with customers. Thanks, Casa Di Bertacchi, for making this trip a reality! They also paid for my ingredient cost for writing this great cookbook. With such an amazing frozen meatball, I couldn't go wrong!


After the signing, I headed to meet up with Ivan, the kids, and my roommate from my freshman year, Jenny Bruner! We went to Knott's on the wrong day! Every school group you could imagine was there and the lines for the rides were at least an hour and 1/2 long. It gave me lots of time to catch up with Jenny. Ivan and the kids loved the shows that they were able to see. The kids were so miserable by 4 p.m. that Ivan took the boys and Emma back to the hotel leaving Liz and I to ride the rides with Jenny. Lizzie wanted to ride the fastest and scariest rides in the park. Jenny and I were a little relieved that she was about an inch too short to go on the 3 scariest. Liz was so disappointed. She really wanted to go on the ride that drops you 6 stories!!


We were heading to ride a roller coaster that spins you as you are riding when my phone rang. It was my mom calling me to let me know my grandma had just passed away. I stood in line looking at the ride thinking how my grandma would have loved this one. She loved any ride that would spin you crazy. She could out ride me at any amusement park until she was 75! Some of my favorite memories with her are from trips we made to amusement parks in Indiana.

Emma touching the San Diego Temple.

On Sunday, we headed to the San Diego Temple before heading back to Tucson. We wanted to give our kids the chance to touch the temple. President Monson said,

"As we touch the temple,

the temple will touch us."

We want that for our kids. The San Diego Temple is probably my favorite temple inside and out. The older missionary serving at the temple said that President Hinckley refered to the Salt Lake Temple as the King of all temples and to the San Diego Temple as the Queen. I completely agree.

Families Are Forever

How grateful I am that my grandma and grandpa had been sealed in the temple to my mom whom I am sealed to. Death does not separate us. We can be together forever through these sacred ordinances performed in the Lord's house. What a great comfort that truth is in my life!