Summer 2013

I would not be exaggerating if I said that this summer was the best we've ever had.  There are a few factors that contributed.

1.  We spent our summer in the Bay Area.  It was new.  It was exciting.  It was adventurous.  I was worried about leaving Utah, but I actually ended up loving our new home.  We lived in such a beautiful area and being near the water was awesome.

2.  It was fun to "start over."  We moved to a place where we didn't know anyone and no one knew us.  We got to be our own family.  We made amazing friends and got to spend time with Ben and Alicia, who lived about 90 minutes away.  We miss you guys so much!

3.  Probably the very best thing about this summer was the fact that Aaron was only allowed to work 40 hours a week and didn't have homework.  That hasn't happened since just about the day after Aaron got home from his mission.  Our schedule was wide open and we got to be the ones who decided what to do with our time.  If we wanted to go to the park, we could go to the park.  If we wanted to go into the city, we did it.  If we didn't want to do anything at all, we didn't have to.  (Definitely missing this already.)

4.  There are so many fun things to do in the Bay Area.  And I'm proud to say that we were adventurous and did a lot of them.  Here's a recap.  This summer, we:

- Visited Muir Beach

.

- Got passes to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

- Went to Ghirardelli Square with Ben and Alicia.

- Celebrated Hannah's first birthday!

- Went to the Benicia Farmer's Market almost every week.

- Had Sid, Trish, and Brooke out to visit.

- Went to the Jelly Belly Factory.

- Attended the Oakland Temple.

- Ate lots and lots of delicious seafood.

- Got our mobster on at a Murder Mystery dinner hosted by the Callisters.

- Flew out to meet my sweet little nephew, Grey, and visited the rest of the fam.

- Went to two A's games and a Giants game.

- Visited the Fisherman's Wharf.

- Biked the Golden Gate.

- Helped out our awesome missionaries here and there.

- Went to the Exploratorium in San Francisco.

- Spent lots of time at the Benicia Waterfront.

- Cruised the Bay on a sunset ferry cruise.

I'm sad to see this summer end......here's to a fall that is just as wonderful!

Hello Utah!

Dear Utah,

Hello!  It's nice to be back.  But you don't feel quite like I expected you to.  I know you are "home," but I just don't feel quite as comfortable or at home as I thought I would.  I'm just bad at change I guess.  Sorry.

I'm so glad to be back near my family.  I missed them so much while we were two states over.  I am also loving the mountains and all these thunderstorms you're providing.  Thanks.  Speaking of thanks, thank you for this wonderful welcome home present.  It was divine.

This one, on the other hand, was not so great.  And it's getting worse by the day.   But I don't blame you.  Keep those thunderstorms coming!

Anyways, I'm glad you will always be my home state.  You're a good one.

Love, Me

You Know You Live In California When...

1. Being environmentally sound is next to godliness.

2. Rent costs you an arm and a leg.  You pay a pretty penny for groceries as well.  And don't even get me started on parking and gas prices.

3. Dogs are treated like children.

4. People think you're joking when you say you're a Republican or that you voted for Mitt Romney.

5. Homeless people have a great sense of humor.

6. You're going 10 over the speed limit and everyone is passing you.

7. You know better than to call California "Cali" or San Francisco "San Fran."

8. The freeways are so confusing that even Siri gets lost.

9. Your dairy products are proud of where they're from.

10. You've lived here for over three months and you still feel like you're on vacation. :)

A Visit to Portland

Aaron had a conference in San Antonio last week, so rather than sit at home alone, Hannah and I took a trip to Portland.  I've been dying to see my sister Lisa and her new baby, and the rest of my family was conveniently visiting at the same time (minus the Kimballs), so it was perfect.  

I can't describe in words how fun this trip was, so this will be mostly a picture post (with only a few of the millions I took).  My favorite things were just talking, playing games, and being together.

Lisa and me with our babes.

Could he be any cuter?!?  (The answer is no.)

Holding Baby Grey for the first time.

Hannah meeting her newest cousin.

Hanging out with the uncles.

Playing the piano with Uncle Steven.

My favorite little sister.  Look at her long hair!

Lisa made us delicious pizza.  Matt is the grill master.

One of the nights we went out to the Rose Gardens.  We explored the gardens and played a little tennis among the roses.

At the Rose Garden.

My mama and me.

The tennis players.

On Thursday, we drove out to Cannon Beach.  I love the quaint town and all of the little shops.  We shopped around for a bit, got some lunch at Mo's, and took a stroll on the beach.

Our message to Aaron.  It was so windy and cold!

Hannah loved the tide pools.

Haystack Rock

Trying to keep from freezing.

Later we went to Lake Oswego, which is just a few minutes from Matt and Lisa's house.  It was so beautiful and clear and it was the perfect night.  We took a picnic, let Hannah play at the park, and the boys played ping pong.

Hannah and me by the lake.  She was trying her best to jump in.

Hannah loved the playground.

Picnic by the lake.

Playing at the park with Uncle Nath.

Friday was our last day there.  It was so hard to say goodbye.  I'm so grateful to be part of such a wonderful family.  My parents and siblings are my very best friends.  We really missed Aaron and Dave and Heidi and their girls and I can't wait for all of us to be together again.

Thanks for having us Lisa!  You are an amazing mom and you, Matt, and Grey are the cutest family!