california dreaming

We did it...we took a vacation! After a two year "famine" in the Bull household, we finally had a small "feast" we like to refer to as a vacation. Our vacation was fun, relaxing, and in my eyes pretty much perfect. I am so protective of the time I get to spend with my family, and it feels like with each passing year this time is less and less. So to have seven entire days alone together was just what my doctor ordered.

(We spent 7 glorious days in Southern California. Four of those days we spent at Disneyland, which by the way completely got it's very own post....stay tuned.)


After we cashed in some "Reward Miles" that were about to expire (which is so me to let a gift card or reward card almost expire) we boarded a plane for California to see our Scott and Larissa and to play play play.


We had our very own Beach Resort to stay at. Our resort came with a private pool, hot tub, and friendly faces of our family.


We picniced at the beach in the perfect 80 degree weather that came with our trip.


We played in the ocean and the sand. Seth got his first touch of the ocean and never looked back. No literally, he never looked back. He had no fear of the water and just wanted to go out farther and farther. Same for our Ly Ly...she was having the time of her life.


We had a major break through with our Ly Ly and dogs. We owe Brody big time! I would have never thought I would be looking at a picture of Lyza actually sitting within 10 yards of any kind of dog. She has a paralyzing fear of them, however, one week with Brody and they are life long pals. ("Brody....Brody....Whoa"...inside joke, love it.)


To say we had a great time is understating it a bit. I can never get enough of my party of four. I wish every day was a vacation day.



And did I mention...in my next life I am totally going to live here!!

happily ever after

Every girl wants her "happily ever after" right? We want our very own Prince who will take care of our every need, shower us with love and affection, and make all our dreams come true. Lucky for me I was able to snag my very own Prince about 8 plus years ago. And since that day my Prince has been slaying dragon's to keep me safe (ok I guess they aren't real dragons but he does take out the garbage every week and takes care of the vacuuming...those are my kind of dragons that need to be slayed), he loves taking me to elegant ball's where we ballroom dance the night away (ok he doesn't do that either, but he will watch Dancing with the Stars with me on occassion.) and fulfilling my every wish and desire (ok that would be impossible to do because I have quite a few of those wish things and even more of the desires.)

However, my Prince did give me 4 fun filled days of my very own "happily ever after" when he took his party of four to the most "Most Magical Place on Earth". And yes I do believe it is just that MAGICAL!!!

Disclaimer: Family vacation album pretty much exploded below. You have been warned...there are a lot a photos.


I never thought I would enjoy taking my children to Disneyland as much as I do. Nothing quite like it in my book. And by the way do you see in the picture above how it looks like there is no one at Disneyland? Well that is because there was practically no one at Disneyland. We figured out that mid September is the only time to go. You practically have the park to yourselves.



We took pictures at the entrance to the park with Mom!



We took pictures at the entrance to the park with Dad.



We took pictures of Lyza coming off of her very first "big person" ride. No "It's a small world here"...go big or go home was our motto.



We took pictures of some of our favorite rides. Seth's was the merry-go-round and one of Ly Ly's was the Matterhorn.



We took pictures of some of the Princesses we met...I think I see a "Princess Ly Ly" in there!



We took pictures of some Fairies we met at Pixie Hollow.



We took pictures of all the magical characters we met who live inside Disneyland.



We took a picture of Seth's FAVORITE attraction...the water feature outside the entrance gate. Seriously every day he would stand by this thing forever and cry when I finally forced him to leave.



We took a picture of ourselves to prove to our posterity, who might actually read this sometime, that we WERE actually there together. You might not have been able to tell since we are in 2 pictures together the entire trip.



We took pictures of all the fun things we want to remember about our time in Disneyland. Daddy's love for frozen banana's (which by the way are $4 a pop). Seth's unwillingness to take any kind of picture in front of the Castle. Lyza's sticky face after eating an oversized lollipop, which is a required purchase in the park. And all of the happy faces we enjoyed each day.



We took pictures of two little people that were exhausted after each and every day spent at the park.

So to the "Happiest Place on Earth" we bid you a fond farewell and thank you for our 4 days together. Thank you for the magical looks on my children's faces that I will remember always.

"And they lived happily ever after"

it's official

It is official, I have fallen for someone else. I am completely and utterly in love with another man. He doesn't say much, he is still coming into himself and his personality. He has a tender heart, fantastically long eyelashes, and a spell binding laugh. Oh, his laugh...Oh the joy! This man gives the best hugs and open mouth kisses. He is always excited when he sees me, it makes me feel so loved.

I didn't start this relationship with any expectations. I imagined that I would care for this man, love him, and teach him. I never knew my feelings would get to be so strong. I didn't want to fall too hard for him...I was scared to be too vulnerable? What if I got hurt in the process?

Well it is too late now because I have fallen hard and I don't see my feelings for this man decreasing anytime soon. I hope he feels the same way for me as I do about him. It might be awhile before he can share his true feelings with me. That's OK, I can be patient and wait for that day. I only hope that his love is as deep as mine.

P.S. The best part about this "love affair" is that my husband knows everything and completely understands!!

ms. arizona and her beautiful offspring

(Three Sisters and Three Babies: Shalice, Ava, Sharielle, Sloan, Shaundee, Seth)

Ms. Arizona (aka: my sister Sharielle) and her beautiful offspring (aka: her daughter Sloan) came into town and it was GLORIOUS! I don't think anyone fully understands how much fun the 3 of us have together. We talk, we laugh, we eat, we shop...and then we do it all over again for each day we are together. It pretty much is heaven.



Sloan, pictured in the middle of Lyza and I, is the sweetest and cutest little thing you have ever seen. On a scale of 1 to 10 she is definitely an ELEVEN.




We took an excursion with all EIGHT children to a huge bounce house zoo. They bounced, they climbed, and they expended some much needed energy.




We watch the ever entertaining Signing Time numerous times every day. Can you see the glow on Seth and Sloan's face. This is the look on there faces when their favorite show, Signing Time, is on.



Then we handed all of our bundles of joys over to the men of the house and focused on our job at hand. Dinner, shopping, and talking (until midnight if my memory serves me right)

Please note in the picture above that we are the only people left in the mall this night. Is it embarrassing to be asked to stop shopping and leave the mall because it closed?





We watched General Conference together...well some of us watched...others of us... well you can see?




But most of all we remembered that we are 3 of the luckiest sisters in the world!

Dear Ms. Arizona,

Please come again soon. We know it is cold here and we don't have an H&M yet..but we can offer you sleep deprivation, budget breaking shopping, and most of all two sisters who love and miss you every day.

See you soon!

a day for joy

Dear Tessa Joy,

Today I met you for the first time. I had heard so much about you previously, but had never had the chance to see you yet. I have to admit that over the last week or so, you have been on my mind constantly. I would think about you and your sweet family. I would pray for you and for all of your loved ones that were so worried. My little Lyza would never forget you in our family prayers at night. She would have so many questions she wanted answered about you. I couldn't always answer all of her questions, but our conversations would always end with me telling her that "Heavenly Father loves His little children more then anything, and He will do what is best for little Tessa Joy."

Today when I met you my emotions ran high, I apologize for not keeping my composure. Today when I met you, your body was still but your spirit was strong...overwhelming actually. Today when I met you, I watch as your mother was so courageous and noble...she amazes me. Today when I met you, I heard your oldest sister play beautiful piano music for you. Today when I met you I felt the love of our Savior.

I am so thankful I got to meet you today. Your story and example came into my life when I need a refresher course on what is really important. I have been changed for the better. For someone so tiny who wasn't with us for very long...you have touched so many peoples lives.

You have touched mine.

With Love,

Shaundee