Belated Birthdays

Literally, Growing old together!

Another year together, another year older. Eight days after our anniversary, I had a birthday! 27 and never felt so good! Haha--not really, but isn't that what I am supposed to say! In usual fashion, I spent the day at work and since Nick had night class my girlfriends took me out to celebrate. Thanks to Tara, Brooke, Amy, and Bri for the wonderful dinner and even better company. I didn't take a single birthday picture--I can't believe it. Oh well, I look the same just add another crease from the corner of my eyelid :)

Domenic had his 28th birthday on September 8th.

So what would we do, throw a party of course! We are realizing how much we love hosting. Always a good time around our house. We had about 40 people come out to see Nick get older. We had a blast. Good food, great cake, and a crazy time with the money game!

A special thanks to Brett for helping me make Nick his "Boo Boo gets a Thumb" t-shirt! He loved it! (**This is a joke that we have had for quite some time that comes from a patient of mine at work who owns 10 dogs and lets them sleep in bed with him**) HAHA!! I will have to tell the story sometime on another post when this blog is private!

All in all-such a great night. Happy Birthday to us!

Weddings and Even More Weddings

It is little unknown fact about me that I spent middle school and part of high school living in Lodi, California. It was there that at age 13 I met Lauren Roemer and Jennifer Israel. We were instant friends at that awkward adolescent age, and now we have all transformed into the women we are today...thankfully! I was so grateful that I could make two trips to California to spend their special wedding days with them.

Lauren and David-August 21, 2010 at Viaggio Winery

The girls from high school. It was so great to see everyone!

Jen and Tobin-September 24th, 2010 at the Walnut Grove Mansion

The best wedding keepsake of all time--the crab hat! It was one of their first dates that Tobin bought Jen this hat at a fair. Needless to say it has been a staple in their relationship, and even topped their Christmas tree one year!

I am so glad that I was able to help celebrate two of my best friends biggest days! They both looked fabulous, and sure knew how to throw a great party. I think that about does it for the 2010 wedding season!

Two.

Pretty sure that for the last two years of marriage we have kept the party going strong!

Oh, how life is better with you by my side on the dance floor.

Happy Anniversary!

on August 16th...(because it's never too late for an anniversary post, right??)

Nothing like Marrying into an Italian Family

We found time to finally vacation together this last summer and headed to Virginia for the 2nd Annual Garcia Family Reunion. Nick's mother, Chris and her sister's all get together to celebrate their Grandma and Grandpa Garcia. This year they held the reunion in Williamsburg, VA the week of August 9-14th. It was so fun to see Nick's aunts and many of his cousins that I had not met before. We had such a great time. The weather was perfect! We went to Water Country USA, shopping at the outlets, eating tons of great food, and the family bowling tournament. It was great to be back in VA, and to spend time with so much family.

We stayed a few extra days, one of which was our anniversary. Chris was so kind and ordered a cake so the whole family could celebrate. It was terrific.

Here is almost the entire gang at the bowling alley. What a great time we all had. If I rem

ember correctly, I think I bowled a decent game...finally!

Domenic and his mom. It was so great to see Chris wearing Grandpa Garcia's bowling shirt!! The sisters all were wearing different bowling shirts from the earlier generations. Too cute!

Gotta love these Italian women! Dee, Chris, Lynda, and Gilda.

So glad we could make the trip out from Arizona. We had such a great time, and hope to be able to make it out next year.

Everybody Loves A HandyMan

I think the reason I dread blogging these days is because I am so far behind!! So here goes my attempt at a catch-up post.

At the end of July to the beginning of August Nick went to Kentucky for a week to help my brother Kevin work on his house. Nick was in between semesters and was excited about doing some physical labor. Kevin and Rachel bought a beautiful home last spring and there was much painting, gardening, and deck projects to be done. He loved being able to help and spend at week down south. As usual the nephews were entertained with uncle Nick there. Nick decided to give Liam a new nickname of Scooter-due to the fact he likes to scoot on his butt everywhere. And Bennett, wanted to have his own paintbrush to 'help out.' Too cute. We are glad Nick could help them for the week.

Proof that he was getting things done!

10 years later....

...And we are all still friends.

High school was one of those times in people's lives that they either loved or hated. With a group of girlfriends like mine, I walked away loving the years I spent at Tokay High School. As most people know we lived in Lodi, California from 8th grade-11th grade. We moved my senior year to Louisville, KY. Even though I claim KY as my home now, when I think back to high school there are 4 California girls that life wouldn't be the same without. This reunion was brought together when I saw an old friend Annie this last March when she was in AZ for MLB spring training. Even though Annie couldn't make it on the trip, the rest of us got to planning. We decided we had a lot to celebrate--Lauren and Jen Israel were both about to get married in just a few weeks! What other city to have a bachelorette party than Las Vegas, NV! It was time to pack our bags!!

Lindsay, Me, Jen, Lauren, Ingrid

Lindsay--Then: my mormon sister! We played on the basketball team together and somehow survived a horrible year of girls camp. I never went again after that! Now: she has travelled the world, is always looking to help someone else, and still lives with mom and dad! ;)

Jen Israel--Then: The other half of the J-train! We had freshmen year PE together and bonded from day one. How could we not??--we had the same name! We played on the basketball team together, her dad was my driver's ed teacher, and we had many a classic sleepovers at her house over the years. Now: she has a masters from Georgetown and works for a politician--hopefully she will get a paycheck soon! She just married Mr. Tobin Dietrich and lives in Sacramento!

Lauren--Then: she was the punchline of a lot of jokes and took it well. Her house was where I spent most of my highschool! We played basketball together and survived Angel's Bootcamp, and certainly Tp'ed quite a few houses together too. Now: She is the newly married Mrs. Flores and is working as a Pharmacist outside of Seattle, WA.

Ingrid--Then: The sweetest girl I have ever known. She had mad volleyball skills and drove the coolest blue volvo! She started dating Brad our junior year of highschool and ten years later they are still together. Now: She and Brad just got engaged! She works for Louis V in San Francisco and is still the sweetest person I know!

Getting ready for night one on the town

Jen's mom is still packing us snacks! Some things never change!

The pool at Monte Carlo where we stayed

The Bellagio Gardens

Out celebrating the soon-to-be married ladies!

Lauren's dream come true--the Mandalay Bay Aquarium

This was such a great trip! We reconnected and realized that as much as our lives have all changed we still have those high school years that take us back to the good ole' days. When I moved my senior year cell phones weren't common place, instant messenger was just getting popular, and Facebook was unthinkable. No wonder it was so hard to keep in touch. We all went off to college, made new friends and relationships, and have lost touch over the years. But if there was one thing I left thinking about on the 6 hour drive back to AZ it was that for how much we all had changed, just as much of us was still the same. I am looking forward to many more reunions!

Beach and Besties!

Nothing like the girls I spent the first year of college with 9 years ago! We decided it was time to get together, so in mid July the date was set and the travel plans were made. We were the girls at the end of the 3200 hall of the David John dorm, which had its advantages being by the back stairwell! Jesicah, was my Beverly Hills roommate who graduated from high school at 16 and somehow ended up at my room. I was nervous at first, but it turned out I was the lucky one. We were so cool--she had the car, we had cell phones (big deal then people!), and we became instant friends. Julia and Lindsay lived across the hall. Julia was 'that girl from Texas' and Lindsay was 'that girl with the younger boyfriend back home!' Despite those minor flaws (jk!!) the four of us became friends and over the years found our paths reunited again--having that life changing year of college that brings us back together.

The Lovely Ladies:

Julia has been married now for almost 7 years (is that right???) to Ian. Ian is perfect for her. He is tall and from Texas--enough said! She has two precious little girls and lives in Houston, Texas.

Lindsay followed her life plan without any wavering. She met her husband, Michael in Alaska where they grew up. They dated in high school, she went away to college, they both went on missions, and later got married 10 years to the date of their first anniversary of dating! How cute is that! (I hope I got the story right). They have a beautiful little girl who is almost a year old, and are living in Alaska where Michael is an engineer. This is exactly what Lindsay told me her life would be like in the future since the first time we chatted on the end of her dorm bed.

Jesicah is the girl that took me by surprise. She is loud and crazy, but yet at the end of the day I have the best 'life chats' with her. She truly is someone who I know I was meant to meet and share a year of my life-24/7 with! She has a masters in education and is pretty much running a charter school in downtown LA for some of the poorest kids you'll ever meet. She has a passion for teaching, and is one of those teachers I hope my future kids will someday have.

Now, for all the fun things we did!! Shopping, eating, staying up way too late, hottubbing, an hour (yes only one!) at the beach, and a trip to the Newport Beach temple. Here was the weekend in pictures.

We stayed at Jesicah's parents beach house on Balboa Island

Julia and Lindsay--two hot moms here!

Jes, Lindsay, and I making trying to cook!

Julia and I in our matching shirts! LOL

Playing games all night long

The ladies in front of the beach house

Friendship bracelets!!!!

9 years later from that day we met in DJ hall

At the beach-so overcast :(

Julia, Jes, Lindsay, and I at the Newport Temple

This was just the weekend I needed. I am so glad we travelled from Texas, Arizona, and Alaska to be together. I can't wait to do it again. Now for my yearbook posts: HAHA

Jes--Thanks for the being taxi, entertaining us, and always being true to yourself. I love that we can be in the most heated debates, and at the end of it all respect the others opinions.

Julia-As much as I make fun of your 'julia-isms' I love that you are so about making memories.

Lindsay-Thanks for rubbing my back out! I just love you and am glad that we haven't missed a beat together.

~A Reason, A Season, A Lifetime~