I'm going to DISNEYLAND!

Sorry. This was a draft and it was scheduled accidentally and I have been busy.

Josh and Hailey were here last week for Hayley's family vacation. They had a beach house and went to Disneyland and Seaworld. On Wednesday we went as a family to Disneyland and met up with Josh and Hayley in the park. It was fun. My dad, Jen, Kate, and I went early, a little after opening and had a little fun before Josh and Hayley got there. I need to note that I have not been to Disneyland in about 12-13 years after having a pass for two years. So this trip was a little exciting to see how things have changed and have a kid to take on rides.

Here we are on the Casey Jr. Train ride.



We then took Kate to Mickey's house thinking Kate would love this, being so in love with Mickey's Clubhouse. Well, she wasn't as excited as we hoped. Or better said, not excited at all. I think that she was a little tired and a little shock over the whole thing.



Mickey scared her a little.


We went to Goofy's Playhouse and she had fun there. We met up with Josh and Hayley there and let Kate play. I kept thinking while we ere there, "This is one expensive slide and playground to take Kate to, I hope she finds something else that she will enjoy. 


She also liked the car. She loves driving our car.


We then headed over to the Roger Rabbit's Cab ride with Josh and Hayley.


This picture sums up well how the ride went. I fought with the wheel to keep it straight because Kate was terrified of how much it moved.


That tuckered her out and she fell asleep the instant we set her in her stroller. We then went to Buzz Year ride in tomorrowland. I went twice as there was practically no line. Then my mom got there with lunch.


In-N-Out was the meal of choice. We ate and the secret picnic area that it seems will always be a secret. It is so quiet and peaceful to eat there. 


Kate promptly woke up at the end of the meal and we progressed with the days activities. Jen, and my mom took Kate to see Mickey Mouse Clubhouse show in California Adventure. That is was Kate wanted in way of Mickey. She really liked it. Meanwhile the older kids (Josh, Hayley, Jarrod, Me, and my dad) all went on the rides a toddler and Pregnant woman can't go on. The roller coaster, The Screamer, was all we went on really before they were done though.

We went on the Jungle Cruise. Kate really liked that one. She was in a smiling mood too.



She liked all the animals. The elephants were her favorite I think. 


Aren't we a great couple?


And a happy family?


Kate said goodbye to the baby elephant when the ride was about to end. I tried to get her to say it again. Here is my try.

We really had fun. What a day.

Oven Lessons

In the last week or so I have learned a few lessons from a couple of ovens. On the Friday of my convocation, I cleaned the oven while Jen went to go get the sunglasses for Kate, to keep them away from the fumes. Well, I discovered that lye really can burn a hole in your skin. The oven cleaner contains lye. Now before you all think I am an idiot, I did wear gloves and I was careful. The problem is as I was cleaning, I really didn't notice when my upper arm would touch the side of the oven. I had a dozen burns but one was particularly greasy and soap burned as much as the lye and the grease just had a hard time coming off. It burned a good hole in my skin.


I was making a sandwich and was melting the cheese here at Jen's parent's home. Jen told me to be careful to not burn myself (because I always seem to get a burn from the oven) and I said I always do. I was joking but I had the tray at the highest point and the broiler on high. I was watching my right hand because it was closest to the burners, and so my right hand touched the heating element. Yeah, it hurt. It really didn't hurt as much as I thought it would though, if it was a gash that size it would have hurt a lot more I think.



So lessons learned, ovens are hot and lye burns holes in skin. Painful lessons but hopefully I learned them.

Graduation Convocation

For those of you that don't know (I certainly didn't before Jen graduated) there is the commencement ceremony which is for all BYU students together. Then the next day each College has its own convocation ceremony. That is where the tassel is moved to the right and each persons name is called out and they walk across and shake some important people hands. That was a long ceremony. They had a video about N. Eldon Tanner, the person the building the Marriott School is housed in is named after. It was good, very inspiring. I wish they showed that at the beginning of my stay there and not the end.

The really long part was the handing out degrees and calling each persons name. The Marriott School had 1000+ people graduating out of the 6000+ from BYU. That was roughly 13%. If you include minors, about 25% of the graduating class of BYU had some degree from the Marriott School. Of the 700+ Masters graduates, roughly half were in the Marriott School. With all the MBAs, MAccs, and MPAs, that isn't that surprising. The Marriott school offers no PhDs so that was nice not to have to sit through one of those hooding ceremonies. There were several people that took off after they got there degree which made it a little lonely. It really was a long ceremony.

To keep themselves entertained, my mom, lyss, and Kate sang some songs. This was a new one for Kate.

Jen and Kate were waiting for me on the other side of the stage with my family. It was great. Couldn't have done it without them. May sound cliche but it really is true.


Say cheese.


The graduate.



Isn't she cute?





Dan still an UnderGrad. I am not.

Cool Kate in her new glasses.


Alyssa's B-Day was the day after the move which was the day after the graduation so this was the last time we could celebrate her B-Day. I have no pictures of the move, crazy day and all.


We tried to get Kate to blow out the candles but she didn't seem interested. Maybe she will soon. Her birthday is at the end of the month. AHHH, we soon will have a two year old.


We said goodbye to my Grandpa Campbell and Grandma Nancy. I was so sad to leave. They have lived so close and we have such a good time going over a visiting with them. Kate really loves being with them. We will miss them so much. Maybe we can convince them to come to CA.


Kate said goodbye to Jared and Alex, her best friends. The only times we get a picture of Kate with her friends is when we are never going to see them again it seems. 


Saying goodbye to Mary and Jared.