Big Bear Weekend

(where's Caitlin? oh yes, she prefers to be behind the camera...)
Went to Big Bear from Sat-Sunday with my girlfriends from High School. It was just the 5 of us and we had a great time. We hadn't all been together as a group since Lauren got married last May. It was warm (80s) but randomly during the afternoon on Saturday it rained for a couple of hours. I loved it... we cozied up in the cabin and chatted, played with hair, watched The Proposal, and Caitlin napped on the floor. We went on 3 walks while we were there which for some reason took a toll on my pregnant body but it was wonderful nonetheless.

The lake was beautiful but I didn't get many pictures! I really wanted to be ON the lake though...oh how I've missed boating this summer.

Caitlin took some great shots...she is one good photog :-)

Pregnancy Update

Ellery is growing, growing, growing! (pic at 26 weeks).

I am 27 weeks today... after next week I will officially be in my 3rd trimester (crazy!). I can't say it has flown by but sometimes when I think about how fast the next few months will go it feels like October will be here before I know it!

I like being pregnant despite the discomforts. Overall I feel pretty good and am just thankful everything has gone smoothly so far!

Summerness

(picture of the sunset last night after 100+ degree day, some thunder clouds, etc)

It has been a good Summer so far. We've been trying to enjoy the small things (read: the cheap things). Last Summer was a blast so it has been a little bit difficult to compare the two. We went to Maui, Vegas, Lake Powell, Vegas again, and Seattle.
This summer we went to Maui (and Oahu too) but sadly have to miss Lake Powell this year. Adam has already taken off a lot of work and plans to take off when Ellery comes too. I am not allowed to waterski while pregnant and so we had to make the sad decision to skip it this year. We had been very excited to go and I was looking forward to trying my parents' new Malibu ski boat. I haven't even been for a ride yet :-( The last 2 days have been 100+ degrees and it reminds me of the desert and of our trip. My parents and the others leave early Saturday morning for the drive and so I guess I'm a little nostalgic...
We are hoping (and planning) to take a small trip to San Diego to visit Sea World. Vegas would be awesome too so we are keeping our eye open for deals... but I don't want to be around that much smoke and we don't want to spend too much money so we aren't sure we will go.

Its been tons of fun living in our new home here. We are able to enjoy our long Summer evenings a little more since Adam is home way earlier. We are way less stressed in general. We are saving money but living a better lifestyle- it seems too good to be true! We had always avoided moving here but now it is the right time in our life. We are excited for our Baby girl to join us in the Fall but we are super excited to be enjoying the last few months of just the 2 of us as well!

Last night was a pleasant evening. We were expecting some Thunderstorms and feeling a little lazy. We decided to order pizza from Papa Johns as a treat and relax at home watching the Dodger game [we lost :-( ], and then picking up our books to read. We also spent some time laughing at our newly shaven cats. Well, Tigger got shaved but Hobbes only is partly shaved because he was so crazy they had to stop (and by crazy, I mean he turned into a cougar).

Summer Freshness

NO, not like the Katy Perry song lyrics "fine fresh fierce..." although I suppose it works too.
More like a wonderful healthy, colorful, vitamin filled, and satisfying dinner!!

ok so I realize a lot of my posts are about food but sometimes you just can't help but get excited about it! I enjoy good food and have always been one to enjoy a meal out at a restaurant cooked by a professional more than one of my own home cooked meals. (I do enjoy other people's home cooked meals though). But sometimes, when all the right pieces come together you just make a lovely colorful meal that is as pretty as it is tasty!

So here I am sharing my success with you... maybe it will inspire you?

Tonight after I picked Adam up from work we went straight to the gym. That is always a good start to the evening because it gets you in a healthy mindset.
When we came home (after showering) Adam manned the grill and cooked up some chicken breasts. I went to the fridge and made each of us a different salad. Adam's had veggies on it and mine had fruit (I was copy catting a salad I love at Panera but don't want to spend 8 dollars on it).

Aren't they lovely??

Choices...

We are thinking about a little weekend trip this month. We have saved up our credit card points since last year and it seems like a good time to cash in! We can't decide where to go... Vegas or San Diego... or somewhere else?? I would like to go to Sea World but then I think to myself that its only a day trip away so do we really need to use our points to go there? I grew up going to San Diego for a week each summer so it really would be fun!! Las Vegas is always fun... I like the swimming pools and all the hustle and bustle there. It feels like you go to another world when you go to Las Vegas.

Independence Day (weekend!)

We had a wonderful weekend. I just LOVE 3 day weekends. And I really love 4th of July. It was so fun that it combined to make a 3 day weekend this year. Wednesday 4th of Julys are kind of lame.
We spent all of saturday running errands and doing to-do's around the house...we only moved 2 weeks ago and had a goal to get everything done before our BBQ here on Sunday with family.
Sunday morning we went to church then came home for last minute food/party prep! Family came (Adam's parents, Tay, Grannin, and my parents too) and we feasted! Adam manned the grill and cooked Brats and Burgers to perfection!!!
We had fruit salad, watermelon, gourmet basil/avocado/tomato salad, and dessert too! It was a mouthful but it was all delish...and looked pretty too!
Later, we went to Bass Pro Shops for a field trip...it was a grand ole time. In the evening the Broughtons had to leave to go back to T.O and so Adam and I and my parents took off to go to the Speedway for a parade and fireworks show! It was very very fun and well worth the 10 bucks. There were vintage cars and motorcycles parading around the racetrack... and the lovely (budweiser sponsored) fireworks show was set to a great fun soundtrack.
My parents served as our first overnight houseguests...they had to be in San Diego Monday afternoon and staying out with us gave them a great headstart! We enjoyed the morning with a hike up Ice House Canyon and a dip in the icy spring water! (ok, only our toes but still).
After a lunch on the patio at Cheesecake Factory with my grandparents we all said goodbye and went our separate ways! Adam and I headed directly to the couch and watched a movie and the Dodger game. We were tired, but tummies were full and hearts were content!!!

Pregnancy Potions

I went browsing in this store the other day... there is one in town and I was curious to check it out...not looking for anything in particular.

I was greeted by an overeager salesgirl. Doesn't bother me too much- I know that is how they make their money :-)

First, when I went into the dressing room it didn't look like my selection of clothes... she comes up and says "oh ya I put some things in there I thought you might like too..." ha! Well I enjoyed trying them on but only ended up with a dress that I had picked out.

Then, she asked me if I was using any stretch mark cream (as they had a great selection of expensive potions). ( I don't have stretch marks yet thankfully but am not opposed to creams...just not $30 dollars for a small jar... what is it, liquid gold? they say you'll get them if you'll get them...).
In the process of trying to convince me I need it she said to me "do you realize your skin is actually tearing from the inside out" .... hmmm, thanks for that lovely picture. way to be subtle. She tried to repeat the statement a couple of times.

I didn't buy the potion. :-)