summer happenings

I guess summer is finally over. I hate admitting that cause in Utah that means goodbye warm weather and on to the chilly fall. 

But its been a good summer and I feel like we got to do a lot of fun things. 

We spent the 4th of July in Provo with the Svendsens. Fireworks in Sugarhouse. 

We enjoyed a lot of Bees games and RSL games. 

I made 3 cherry pies. 

Watched a lot of the World Cup. Saw the final US game at Energy Solutions. 

Laura came to Utah for a week and I got a mini vacation in Ogden. 

Went to the Ogden Temple Open House twice. 

Raptors game. 

And a lot work on our house. Which is dedicated to a whole other post!

im gonna get married

For documentary purposes, lets talk about the days leading up the wedding. 

And leave the wedding day for a long and glorious post all on its on. 

Rudy and I were to get married on June 14th. 

I work at a school where it is incredibly difficult to take days off. 

The last day of school was June 13th. 

I didn't even ask for the days off, I just basically told everyone I wasn't going to be there and luckily they understood and were ok with it. 

My last day of school was our field day.

I was in charge of planning it and I procrastinated it for week. Finally Brad helped me and we came up with a pretty awesome obstacle course. 

The teachers had to demonstrate for the students and we did a boys vs. girls race and obviously the girls won. It was really fun. 

Every year we plan a way to trick the kids and getting them wet. Last year we had a surprise water balloon fight. 

This year we backed them agains the gym and told them we were taking a class photo. 

They didn't know teachers had climbed on the roof.... 

It was awesome and the kids freaked out. 

That night Rudy and I were up late packing for our drive to California in the morning. It was really surreal knowing that we were packing for our wedding that weekend. 

We got in early start in the morning, on the road just after 5 AM. 

The good thing about being in the car for a long is that I fall asleep really easily. Anyone thats been in the car with me  for longer than 30 mins can probably attest to that. So I feel asleep really fast. 

The bad thing about being in the car for a long time is that I can get slightly annoyed with Rudy. HA

Ive almost made a no car rule with him. 

I mean, I have to put up with stunts like this...

and sometimes worse. He likes to sing ridiculously and then talks in about 5 different accents and impersonations. Funny at first....

So I am slightly surprised we made it to California. 

I woke up in St. George and we did a session in the Temple. 

Rudy's mission president is on another mission in the Visitor's Center. 

We stopped by and gave them announcement for the wedding and chatted for a bit. 

We arrived that evening and I spend some time with Christina and Lillie. 

A last little friend hang out as a single lady!

Kelly and the kids arrived that night and I was so excited that they were there. 

In the morning Laura and her family came. 

It was so special for me knowing that my whole family was there for me and my wedding.

 I loved that. 

On Friday I was excited to see this pop up on my computer. 

And I loved getting this snap chat from my roommates. Love them so much!

The highlight of the day was all of the girls went to get their nails done for the big day. 

Cute little Lyla got her nails done for the first time. She was acting crazy excited when we got there and then she got a little in trouble for dropping the nail polish by a worker and she was quiet the rest of the time. 

I had the hardest time ever picking out my nail color! How do you decide what to get for the biggest day of your life! 

I can't remember exactly what else we did, but there was hanging out by the pool, and getting dinner all together. 

That night I do remember staying up a little late and watching TV with Kelly and my dad. 

My dad told me it was my last night being a Robins girl and being single. 

And although I was fine with changing my marital status, I was pretty sad at losing my name. 

Good thing its still my middle name! 

Kate is 5!

Last week I was able to make it up to Kate's 5th Birthday Party. 

When Kelly told me that Kate put me as first on her invite list, I knew I had to be there!

I love coming up and being able to go to the kids birthday parties. It is so fun to celebrate with them and remember all of their parties throughout the years. 

It makes living in Utah so great to be close to the kids. 

Because Kate has so many boy friends she had a "Princess & Pirate" party. 

We may have messed up on the cupcakes, but everything else went great. 

The boys were good helps during the party too. 

I loved having Seth come sit by me at the end and the small moments that he lets me still put my arm around him or hold his hand. I don't want him to keep growing up. 

This was the most shocking moment of the day…they actually smiled. 

families are forever.

Today is my 27th birthday. 

I have to be a little honest. 

I wasn't that excited about it. 

I feel like I should have a baby or something at this age. 

But last night, as I was contemplating life on my birthday eve, I thought less about myself and more about my family. 

27 years ago I was born into the Robins family. 

{Dad, do you still have that shirt?}

And when I think about the concept of families it sometimes boggles my mind. 

A lot of time in life we are constantly looking for friends. 

I know I have been with my move and it happens in lots of different stages of life. 

The sometimes struggling ability to find people that you like, and they like you, that you can talk to them and I think the most important--be yourself around them. 

A lot of the time that is very hard to find and the search for friends is constantly happening. 

Yet, in life we have been blessed with instant friends in a family. 

You are given a family that has to like you! 

They have to accept you and love and they become your longest lasting friendship that you have ever had which makes you so comfortable around them. 

Perhaps I am rambling now but when you really think about, its amazing! 

I am so grateful for two incredible sisters that I LOVE hanging out with. 

I love being their little sister.

I couldn't be proud to call them my sisters and friends. 

I just love the concept of a family. 

An instant group of friends that love you and care for you. 

And if that isn't enough, you've been given two parents that have so much love for you that you can't even comprehend everything they have done for you!

 How awesome is it to have that many people in your life with so much love!

But wait, it gets even better! You get these people, that love you and are your best friends…really forever! I get to spend eternity with my family.

So that is what I have to be most grateful for on my own birthday. 

My family members who I have been given that I love so much. 

Thank you for loving me for 27 years. 

{and I may not have a kid at 27 but I have 7 of the best nieces and nephews around that I love almost as much}

Home for the Holidays

There are few things in life that I really really love.

Ok, I take that back. I do love quite a lot of things.

And easily get excited over things I love.

However, towards the top of the list is California and my nieces and nephews.

Combine those things, and you've got one happy Leigh.

I also love working for a school. Giving me the opportunity to be home with my little California kiddies for a long time.

Upon arrival to Los Angeles, the first thing I ditched were my Uggs.

 No need for those when temps are in the 70s and I need to soak up as much warm weather as much as possible.

The Christmas days were spent at Laura's new home in the OC. Its a little weird that she lives there now. But since I have still seen her everyday since I've been here, it hasn't completely affected me.

 

I love spending Christmas Eve with the kids. I love that as soon as they go to bed so excited, we turn into Santa's Workshop. I really don't do much except watch the real adults put together the toys. But I do love to be Santa and eat his cookies and carrots.

 

I got the privilege of sleeping with Chase on Christmas Eve. He woke up three times in the night in excitement. After the fact, it was really cute and I loved how sweet and excited he was. During the night it wasn't so fun.

 

Christmas morning is always so exciting with the kids. I loved seeing how happy they were. And was perfectly content to hold Lyla throughout most of the morning.

I was able to spend the next few days at Laura's house enjoying time with the kids.

We stayed in our jammies till noon, watched movies and cuddled.

 

Rode bikes and scooters to the park,

swam in the pool

 and even went to the beach.

It was so perfect.

I am still trying to get in as much cuddles, short-wearing and sun soaking in as much as possible.