Austin comes home!

So I'm trying to update the blog on the many different trips we've been lucky enough to take, so I thought I'd start with this.

Austin got home from his mission the night of the last day of summer school. He got home on a Thursday night, and unfortunately Allegiant Air flies only on Mondays and Fridays. So we weren't able to be there in person, but I persuaded Dad to let us be on FaceTime so we could see the arrival.

When we got there Friday afternoon, I was trying to figure out where to meet up with the family at the curb when Austin jumped out just past security. I love this reaction picture.

We got a few stares from  my shriek.

While we were there with Alyse Tommy and Dane, our lives basically revolved around Dane. As per usual. He's got all sorts of funny tricks, including calling Bethany "Bubba". So everyone needs to call her that now. He loved the men there, which is pretty hilarious.

We also played some Risk, as per usual. Note the Del Taco drink... I missed Del.

The main thing we did was go to the beach. Dane LOVED it. One of the things the boys did which was also "funny" was pick up Bethany by an arm or leg and throw her in the water.

Brandon then also decided to throw me over his shoulder and throw me in the water. I had no chance.

Funny story- Alyse said a few days after they left they were talking about the beach, and Dane said, "Brandon, Camille, throw!" hahaha we didn't even know he was watching the whole thing.

After that was Ruby's on the pier. A good way to end the time with the Leiningers.

One of the things we did while we were there was go to the San Diego temple with Austin! It is temple #19 for us, and it seemed to be a good way to help Austin get back into normal life again.

 I always hate going home, but especially after a fun time like this. But, the blow was eased by knowing that I would be back in Utah with them in a few weeks.

What is the opposite of "easing a blow"? Oh right, being delayed for 4 hours with no explanation at the airport. I knew it was a bad sign when the pilot and copilot were in line behind me to get food... when we were supposed to take off. But we made it through and got back in time for fireworks!

 Stars and stripes for 4th of July!

2013 at a glance.

2013 was a good year for us. In a nutshell, here's our year.

- We visited 5 new temples:

1) Redlands, CA

2) Jordan River, UT

3) Billings, MT

4) Draper, UT

and 5) Los Angeles, CA

- Oh wait, we graduated college.

- Brandon traveled to Miami for PA school interviews, and got in! (No pictures, sadly.)

- We started running together, and I ran in 5 races.

1) Color Fun Run

2) Dirty Dash

3) Temple to Temple Relay

4) Tater Trot

5) Santa Run

- We got to send Dallin off on a mission, and all the fun that came with it (aka Dane time).

- Got to see one of my best friends get married!

- I started my first teaching job.

- Celebrated our second anniversary by camping out in Yellowstone.

-Traveled to Mendocino with Brandon's family for their 30th wedding anniversary (which I need to blog about... whoops).

I'm sure there's a ton that I'm missing, but I'm so grateful for the blessings 2013 brought me. I'm also SO grateful that it's over, because it was a challenging year for sure. I love Brandon, and am so glad he is with me every step of the way.

2014 has a lot of life experiences in store for us- a move, a new job (gulp), a missionary coming home (yay!), PA School, lots of more running for me, and basically a new start for us. Bittersweetness.

R.I.P. Chuck.

Elder Austin's not going to be happy to find out this way, but it happened.

On June 27th, Dallin was stopped at an intersection in Chuck the truck, and was waiting to turn right. At the same time, a man in a moving truck was waiting to turn left and decided to turn right, without looking or regard for who was in the right turn lane. Dallin tried to avoid it, but...

 

Chuck's heroism saved Dallin from further injury, but at the cost of his being totaled.

We will miss Chuck, and know he's in a better place (the junk yard). He's been a good truck, and it was DEFINITELY not Dallin's fault! As long as Austin knows this, he won't hold it against Dallin. Right?