California Knows How To Party

One thing I love about Tyler's parents is that they take a million pictures. I never had to get my camera out once the whole trip! That said, get ready for picture overload!!

We had such a great time visiting the Hedman's in California. It was a rare opportunity for the whole clan to be together. With Tyler's brother leaving on his mission at the end of the summer and another brother scheduled to leave in a year, it's going to be a long while before we all get to be together again.

Our trip started out with a fun surprise. I've never been excited for the traveling part of any vacation before, but I was this time because we planned to meet up with Tyler's parents and his on-the-way-home missionary brother at the Houston airport. Elder Hedman had no idea!

Ryan served his mission in South Texas and his parents came out to pick him up from his mission and spend some time doing missionary work with him. Their connecting flight back to LA was through Houston so we booked our flight on the same plane they were on. We kept it a secret from Elder Hedman so he could be surprised at the airport. It was a success! 

Here's us at the airport after surprising Ryan. 

Tyler and Ryan talked the whole way home.

Everyone was excited to welcome Elder Hedman home and then we had a family meeting and got to hear about Ryan's mission and pass out presents!

Maddie is so stinkin' cute in this one!

UTMB shirts for the parents.

Tyler wanted to get this Gators shirt for Ryan because apparently he likes the Gators.
Ryan is also styling his cowboy hat, boots, and shiny belt buckle. He's converted to Texan.

Here's Tyler with other goodies for the fam.

Ryan brought back knives for all the brothers. No gift could make Tyler happier.

The next day the brothers all geared up for a motorcycle ride.

On Sunday we took our traditional on-the-porch family photo.

This time with a complete family! (and no one photo shopped in!)

The whole Hedman clan!

Me and Tyler

Trevor, Natalie, and Maddie
(oldest brother and family)

Ma and Pa Hedman

The brothers and Dad.
Kevin, Ryan, Tyler, Dad, Kyle, and Trevor

The girls!
Chandra, Mom, Kalie, Natalie, and Maddie

Since everyone still had school and work the first couple days we were there, we took a day to go bike riding with just me and Tyler, Ryan, and Tyler's dad.

I don't know how this happened, but this is the first time I've ever been mountain biking in my life. It seems like I should have been before since my brothers and dad were always going for scouts and I'm usually pretty adventurous and I like the outdoors, but when I thought back, I couldn't think of a single time I had actually been mountain biking. Weird. 

In case you are wondering, I loved it! I love being out in nature, enjoying the scenery and getting a workout at the same time. And I love it when a workout doesn't seem like a workout. I was so focused on making it up a hill and shifting gears and looking around that I hardly noticed I was working.

If I had the choice (and the time) I would choose to hike, bike, swim, raft, or whatever any day over the treadmill. Too bad every day can't be an outdoorsy day.

Geared up to go.

At the start of the trail: Time Trial

Taking a breather. Look at that view!

Chugging along. Again, beautiful view. I have to admit, the desert is growing on me.

Fighting our way up a steep grade.

 We did some other fun activities too.

Shooting...

Basketball....

Picnicking... (is that a word?)

Playing with baby bunnies..... (aww!)

Bunny ears on the bunny, get it?

I even got to cut Kevin's hair. He loved it.

And of course lots and lots of dirt biking.
I'm actually going to make a separate post with all of Tyler's dirt biking pictures because this one is getting way too long already. But here's one...

While we were there the Hedman's had a couple big events for the family. The first, of course, was Ryan getting home. They also had two graduations - Kyle from high school and Kalie from 8th grade. And Kevin received his Endowment in the LA temple. 


Here's us at the LA temple.

And here we are at Kyle's graduation.

Wow, that was a lot of pictures. I think I made it through the whole trip. As you can see, we kept plenty busy and had lots of fun the whole time we were there. We can't wait to go back!