Oregon for a Wedding!

This past Thursday I picked up Kyle early from work and we headed to LAX so we could fly to Oregon for his sister Amber's wedding. The traffic was awful (obviously, it's LA) and it really put Kyle in a bad mood. We're talking really bad mood. By the time we got to the car park, I was ready to smack him. Then he went to the bathroom and was totally cheery, which made me want to smack him even more. I got over it quickly though and we didn't have any problems at the airport, so my anxiety lowered a lot. Before we could take off, they had to check something on the plane, so we didn't take off on time. Luckily they held our connecting flight for us and we made it to Oregon within a reasonable time for what time we were supposed to. 

Friday I went with Maria and 3 of Kyle's aunts (Tricia Gaye, Tami, and Gigi) to get pedicures and manicures and out to lunch. It was relaxing and fun to get to spend time with them. Once we got back to the house, Amber's roommate and I got to work on the cake. Maria had already put on the crumb layer, so it was up to us to decorate it. I have seen my mom do cakes many times, but it is different when you are in charge! 

Not up to my mom's standards, but not too shabby!

Amber's fiance (now husband), Nate and his family came over for dinner and Father's blessings later that night. I really like that tradition. It sets such a nice tone for everything. Nate is the second to youngest, so he has older siblings like me and they were fun to be around. We did some last minute things (like tying bows on chairs) and then went to bed.

The next morning we ate breakfast, made sure the kitchen was clean for the caterers, picked up flowers, and headed to the Temple. The sealing was really nice. Nate's grandpa got to do it and he was so cute and personable. When we got out, we grabbed the cookies and water Maria had sent with us (which was MUCH needed in the 100 degree weather) to give out before pictures. Pictures were kind of stressful because everyone was so hot, but we got them done. Kyle and I took the girls back to the house where everyone was gathering for the luncheon. The food was SO good and they had a nice program so we could get to know Nate and Amber a little better. Funny story: Jordan was Nate's mission companion, so he knows both of them very well. So obviously he was supposed to say something at the luncheon. Well, he forgot and somehow thought it was a good idea for him, Jensen, and Uncle Warren to go play tennis for a bit. That obviously did not go over well. Warren said he's never seen anyone run so fast as when Davis went up and reminded them/told them to come back immediately!

After that it was go time. Amber and Nate went and took a nap while we all set up for the reception. The reception was really beautiful. Maria really went above and beyond! There were so many great details, but Maria was the only one who really had a vision of what it was all supposed to be like, so it was very stressful for her. True to form, I just started doing things I could tell needed to be done and ordering people around. They definitely saw the bossy side of me. But things got done, so I'm okay with that. 

Homemade Maria Dowdle cakes

I talked to a few people at the reception, but mostly just relaxed for a little bit. After Amber and Nate left, we started cleaning things up. Adalyn was sitting at one of the tables so I went over to talk to her and she told me she was just sad Amber was gone, so we went and changed her into pajamas to cheer her up. When we got back, pretty much everything was taken down so we had a dance party to cheer the two girlies up. It was SO much fun! We got quite a few of the aunts, uncles, and cousins into it. I loved seeing everyone loosening up and having a good time. And man does that Adalyn have some moves!

By the end of the night I was completely exhausted! The next morning we packed up and headed home. It was too short and very tiring, but it was a great weekend!

Oceanside, Dodgers Game, and Magic Mountain

The weekend of the Fourth of July we went down to visit Kyle's aunt and uncle in Oceanside. Kyle had the 3rd off, so we spent the day getting things done in Bakersfield and headed out early the next morning. We had a great time eating and chatting with Clayton and Momo before heading to the beach for a few hours. We actually hadn't planned on going to the beach, so we weren't really prepared for that. We ended up just putting our legs in for a little while, taking little naps, and just hanging out with each other.

I took this picture because Kyle swore he wouldn't fall asleep

Goofballs at the Beach

In all that unpreparedness, we didn't bring sunscreen. Needless to say, we got FRIED. Kyle was much worse because his legs haven't seen the sun in about four years (mission and a summer in Alaska). Clayton and Momo have Aloe plants on their property, so we put that on along with a lot of this special Japanese lotion. We had a delicious dinner (complete with homemade hamburger buns) and watched the original "Pink Panther" before heading to bed.

Posing with Clayton and the Aloe plants

The next morning we went to Sacrament meeting with Clayton and Momo and then headed back to pack up. Spencer, Amy, and their kids were coming to Oceanside for their annual week at the beach with Amy's family. We met up at a park for a while and played and chatted. Then we headed to their beach house to help them unpack and watch the first half of the FIFA World Cup final before heading home.

Kyle's aunt and uncle, Tricia Gaye and Paul, live about an hour away from us and have been so nice to let us hang out with them. June 10th was Mormon night at Dodger Stadium. We went with Paul and Tricia Gaye to that and had a great time!

We spent the night there, ate breakfast, and then went to Magic Mountain for the day. The company Kyle is interning with had their company party so we got to go for free. It was a lot of fun! Our favorite one was their newest ride. It didn't look that exciting, but it was seriously SO much fun! It was a back to basics kind of ride and we loved it!

By midafternoon we were done, so we headed back to Paul and Tricia Gaye's for some swimming, dinner, homemade ice cream, movie watching, and chatting. Kyle's cousin Michael just got a job out here, so he is staying with them until he can find a house. It was great getting to know him too.

As great as the weekend was, it ended on kind of a sour note for me. Our car was hit (while it was parked and no one was inside it) and the people have been good about all of it, but it has been stressful for me. We got back about 11:30 Saturday night to discover our bathroom had flooded too. And the plane ticket to Oregon had my married name on it (which I haven't changed yet).

We got it all worked out, but I have had a few rough adult weeks because of all of it. And since Kyle works all day at a big kid job, I have had to do most of it myself. Cheers to growing up!

Life in Bakersfield

A couple days before Derrick's wedding Kyle came out to California to start his internship. I had school until a week after Derrick's wedding, so I stayed in Utah for a little while longer. It was pretty great to see him again!

As Kyle says almost every day, it still doesn't feel like real life. Our week days are pretty routine around here: we wake up early, Kyle makes breakfast, we get ready, read scriptures, pray, and head out the door. I take Kyle to work then come back to get things done around the house for a few hours. We don't have Internet in our apartment, so I go to the library pretty much every day but none of the libraries open until 11. I work on research and other things I need to get done during the day and go pick Kyle up when he texts me. He usually gets off about 5:30-6:00, but there have definitely been some later days thrown in there. We make dinner, write thank you notes, and watch "Harry Potter" movies pretty much every night.

I won't lie, it has been hard sometimes for me. I almost had a break down the other day after the dinner I made didn't work the way it was supposed to (I have made it so much!). I think it was the straw that broke the camel's back. I often feel like I'm not doing a lot to contribute, so when I felt I failed at one of my few contributions, it was hard. It didn't help I have very little human interaction throughout the day. Most of the time I really am just fine, I just have my moments. And Kyle has been so wonderful about it and always finds a way to make me feel better. He really is the best!

The weekends are where the fun is really at. The first weekend I was here was the only one we haven't gone somewhere else for at least part of the weekend. We have been to St. George, Oceanside, LA, Valencia, and Oregon so far. First up: St. George.

Kyle's grandma died just about a week after I got to Bakersfield. It was surprising because she was at our wedding and was totally fine. A couple weeks later she had two strokes within 24 hours and she never recovered from them. It was nice for her kids to have time to say good-bye without watching their mom suffer for too long. Her funeral was on Monday, June 29th. We headed down to St. George early Saturday morning (which was only about a 6.5 hour drive for us). 

We stopped at McDonald's and had to document it since I
 don't remember the last time I ate there

We gave the girls our phones to entertain them

Cute Adalyn's face

When we got there all of Kyle's aunts and uncles were headed to the St. George Temple, so we grabbed Audrey, Adalyn, Cody (Kyle's cousin), and convinced Jordan to come with us and we headed down to the pool. We got showered and cleaned up, then met up with the whole big family to go to dinner at Golden Corral (sidenote: I ate more buffet food this weekend than I ever have before in my life). It was fun to actually get to talk to everyone that I originally only met at our wedding. 

Sunday we went to church at Kyle's aunt and uncle's ward. The rest of the day was spent eating up the chance to be with family. The hotel we were staying at had a conference room that we reserved for most of the day. We had food, played games, talked, and laughed. Throughout the day more and more family showed up until there was quite the crew there. Kyle's dad went around and asked everyone what question they wanted to ask Grandpa. We all gathered around and asked him the questions. It was so neat! He is a funny guy and has lived a really interesting life. Kyle's dad is the 11th of 12 kids, so his parents certainly had their hands full! He bore his testimony to everyone and we pulled out the ancestor fan and posterity chart Kyle's uncle had blown up. It meant so much to Grandpa. We also got everyone together to take a family picture (not everyone was there, obviously, but that's okay). I never knew my grandpas, so it was fun for me to feel like I was part of something so great, even though I barely know the man. Grandpa has Parkinsons and Alzheimers, but he was miraculously lucid throughout the weekend.

The funeral was the next day. There was a nice viewing beforehand and I loved getting to see old pictures and some of the incredible things Grandma had sewn. Grandpa gave the Family Prayer and it was emotional for everyone. The funeral itself was really nice. Again, I didn't really know Grandma, but I loved hearing stories about her. She was a feisty one! Actually, the description of how she raised her kids reminds me a lot of Kyle's dad. Near the end, they had all of the grandkids and great grandkids stand and sing "Families Can Be Together Forever." It was pretty much the whole audience, but it meant a lot to Grandpa to get to see that.

Kyle's dad dedicate the grave and it was really nice. It was St. George in the summer though, which means it was SUPER hot! Cute little Audrey is just at the age to understand what happened and she was pretty upset about her grandma dying. She is just so sweet! It was heartbreaking to see her so sad. Afterward we went to Chuck-A-Rama because that was Grandma's favorite place. 

It was a short visit, but it was so great to get to know Kyle's family better. I got really lucky marrying into this amazing family!

Derrick's Wedding

Derrick and Mary got married on June 10th. It was a long day, but really beautiful. Unfortunately, Kyle had already gone to California for his internship, so I was flying solo. 

A couple nights before Amy and I went over to Hiller's (along with Mary and her friends) to help with the flowers again. I wouldn't say I'm very good at it, but I really enjoyed the floral design lessons from Debbie.

Will and Lyla

From Top Left: Will and Dad, Addy, Max, Mandi and Porter

Cute Flower Girls, Lyla and Abby

Max and Dax

Me with Abby and Lyla

Connor was having a really rough day

Max and Dax, the  best of friends!

Will

Will needed his Momma

Addy. This girl was an angel the whole day!

Max, Will, and Dax

They were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple. The sealing was beautiful and they were so cute with each other! It was really hot outside, so the kids were having a tough time in there for a while. Connor in particular was not pleased. We entertained them with food and taking pictures while we waited for the couple to come out.

Mary coming out of the temple

With the grandkids: Connor, Abby, Will, Lyla, Mary, Henry, Porter, Derrick, Addy, Max, and Dax

Me, Shan, Mom, Amy, Mandi, and Alicia

Our family: Alicia, Spencer, Me, Dad, Mary, Derrick, Mom, Shan, and Nate

Derrick and Mom

Derrick and his groomsman: Greg Whipple, Cory Petersen, Jordan Pitt, Derrick, Brian Messer, Ryan Perkins, and Spencer Loock. These are honestly some of the greatest people I know.

After a few pictures, we went over to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Mary has quite a bit of family that couldn't be in the temple, so they also had a ring ceremony. It was a little difficult to keep the kids happy, but it was a nice ceremony. 

At the ring ceremony

We then headed up to the luncheon. My dad was so cute as he ran everything. One of my favorite things he said was that the Keddington weddings started with a groom with a beard and ended with a groom with a beard. Fitting, eh?

Lyla at the luncheon

Connor sleeping

My parents and I helped moved stuff to the reception room before going back to their house for a couple hours. The kids were already there so they could take naps. Amy, Alicia, Mom, and I went to get snow cones and drinks before we headed back to Salt Lake for the reception.

Our cake thieves. They were so funny!

Mom and Derrick's dance was interrupted by Lyla and Dax

First Dance

The reception was really fun! As great as it was to see everyone at my reception, it didn't allow much room for talking to people. I had a nice time chatting with so many people. The kids had a great time dancing throughout the reception. But especially at the end. Everyone got really into the dancing and we convinced every one of my family members to dance with us at some point. It was really fun!

We all love Mary and are beyond grateful that Derrick found her. They are now in North Carolina, which is sad for us, but they are having a grand adventure!