So, California is a little bit rad.

Once upon a time (as in, a few weeks ago), I went to California with my mom.

I'd never had any desire to go to California before.

It just haven't ever appealed to me as much as a place like London or Paris.

And I'm dying to have an East-coast adventure,

so I just wasn't feeling this California thing.

But when my mom asked me to accompany her to my Aunt Tracy's graduation,

I thought, well why not?

And now that I've been,

I'll admit it....

California is pretty rad.

For starters, the weather is the definition of PERFECTION. 

Aaand, California is also the home of my very super adorable cousins.

Check out Mr. Ben and Zak at their mom's graduation.

The weather was so pleasant in the middle of the day,

that it was even a bit chilly in the morning.

It was May and we had to get some hot chocolate!

That's fine.

Zak and Ben had no complaints.

It was a marvelous little weekend with the whole extended Forster family too.

Complete with dearest Grandma Rosie.

And the lovely aunt Tracy and uncle Daan of course.

Tracy just got her masters degree and is all accomplished and stuff.

No big deal.

But, actually it was a big deal,

and we are all sooo proud of her!

(and I  especially love her because, as you can see,

she thinks I'm funny and laughs at my jokes...)

And we got to hang out with my favorite Angie in the whooole wide world!

Look at these beautiful ladies!!

I LOVE them!

And seriously, Tracy is a bit of a rock star.

She got this crazy, extra long cheer from her fellow graduates

when they read her name.

They just love her so.

And then because California is so lovely, and has such glorious weather,

we got to go have a big ol' party at Daan and Tracy's after graduation.

Complete of course,

with plenty of scrumptious food.

And also,

some hilarious "Olympic games".

I can't even remember who won...

Oh, it was such a lovely little weekend.

And, did I mention that Tracy's house looks like something

straight out of 'Vogue Living' ??

So, props to California.

You're way cooler than I anticipated.

List of Twenty Four: Things I love about being a "grown up"

Being a "grown up" is the best.  Now, I feel as though I should use this term "grown up" loosely as I still treasure (and usually am the one perpetuating in the children and adults around me), childhood.  I live for opportunities to use my imagination and strive to appreciate my life with a child-like wonder... but I also really love some things about being a "grown up"...

1. The updated, wiser version of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich; my favorite, delicious, gluten free flax bread, 'smart choice' peanut butter, and agave nectar... It's nice for my taste buds to enjoy such childhood-delicacies, but to also have gained the wisdom to know that I'm putting foods into my body that will make it very happy as well.
2. A degree in Child Development with a minor in Art that gives me a licence for the rest of my life to get lost in a stack of children's books on a regular basis, and have a legitamate excuse.
3. Dating men instead of boys.
4. Dates to places like art museums.
5.Having smart and cultured and wise and adventurous adult friends.
6. My friends having babies.
7. Being an adult daughter and sister and granddaughter.  It's suuuper fun!!
8. Being invited to the adult table when I go to Grandma CC's for dinner.
9. Updated taste buds... mmmm sushi....
10. Owning a kitchen aid.
11. My own little carefully collected library of DVD's.
12. My Toyota Corolla named Eleanor Rigby.  I LOVE her.
13. Traveling. Scary and stressful as a kid... soooo fun as an adult.
14. Kids thinking I know all.  (As I am 24, clearly my wisdom is without bounds!)
15. NOT being a teenager.
16. A new found appreciation for my womanly curves.
17. A few years under my belt spent creating a personal style.
20. A sense of gumption to be myself in my style, personality and relationships gained through the experiences I've had transitioning from childhood to adulthood.
19. The fact that high heels are acceptable almost all the time.
20. Responsibilities.  It's a wonder to be in charge of the aspects of your life; it's a whole mess of opportunities to create that I never anticipated!
11. It's cool to talk about babies and baking and decorating your house.
22. Visiting Teaching (who would've thought when I was in YW??)
23. the Temple
24. RELIEF SOCIETY!! My fave!


Also Grateful for: A bounteous number of wonderful cousins in my life. Like Brandon who is just the greatest and headed off to med school, and who I got to see a few weeks ago! I love this pic from when we got to go out to lunch! (Also, my wonderful Californian cousins who I got to see last week, and congrats to sweet Summer Marie on the news of her baby GIRL due in the fall!!) I am sooo blessed to know them!!

Titanic 3D and such... great weekend... duh!

So this weekend was stuffed full of wondrous moments.

It started with a float down the San Marcos river.

(and a start on my goal of getting a tan this year)

Then, I saw Titanic 3D.

(It was the BEST; seriously! Go see it!!)

Then I went to San Antonio for a sweet sweet cousin baptism,

and saw lots of other cousins while I was there.

like pretttty Lindsey

And my favoritest little cousins Kelly and Heidi.

And of course there were some delinquent brothers and more cousins...

Ready for a close up as always.

And what's family bonding time without a few reptiles right?

And in San Antonio we did a little shopping at the Mexican market.

Complete with plenty "dia de los muertos" paraphernalia of course...

And Peachy Keen taught me a new hand game.

Me and mom concentrated very hard to get it down.

My little Jelly Man. I just love this guy a whole lot.

This is one of my verrry favorite places to go!!

It smells like roasted corn,

and is super colorful and bright and beautiful,

and chances are you'll hear a Mariachi band

(or Selena impersonator)

while taking a stroll here.

Nacho impersonators are all the rage these days.

Didn't you know?

Pretties.

And then in case you didn't hear, Emma got a bunny for her B-day!!

It's name is something like;

Chancho-fluffy-pants.

I think that's it...

Isn't it such a cute little bunny??

It's teeny tiny!

And Easter!! I'm sooo grateful for it!

My Easter was full from start to finish, of reminders of the Savior,

and how much I need the Atonement every day.

And I'm sooo grateful.

And I have super cute and wonderful friends,

who appreciate swinging

and parks

and Sunday afternoon walks

and such.

I like them a whole lot.

They're so cute right??

Also grateful for:

Leonardo Dicaprio (and seeing his face in 3D on a HUGE screen)

gluten free carrot cake, and gluten free rolls,

kind and sincere compliments,

phone calls to check in,

hugs,

Easter colors,

the lack of blistering heat,

roommate scripture study,

a new phone,

random text conversations with my entire family,

my mom's beautiful singing voice,

and the gospel.