San Diego Anniversary

It seems as if our wedding day was yesterday. The emotions still reign fresh and everything feels the same, yet the world has been turning for an entire year. Marriage is tough. I never believed people about the first year of marriage, but it is work. Nick's mom always says anything worth fighting for is work. It's wonderful as well. We spent our first anniversary in San Diego. A year ago we thought we would go over to Hawaii and enjoy time there, but we are now living only a few hours from sunny California. We were both very excited at the thought of going to the zoo!!!

We got there Friday and headed to La Jolla Beach. For us the water and the air was a bit too cold. The sand was hot beneath our feet, but the waters were way too cold. We sat on the beach and just watched all of the fearless surfers and crazy people in the waters. That night we walked to Little Italy to this little place Nick's family told us about. The portions were huge! It was truly authentic Italian.

This bottle is not ours, but it was above our table.

Saturday we headed for a day of fun at the Zoo. Wow, it was huge! The animals were so cool and we were just in awe the entire time. I think my favorite was the panda. Everything was cute, but I have to go with the exotic thing. I'll tell the story with pictures.

Santa's reindeer in their offseason!

Selfie!

Panda is cool. This was the mama!

These are related to giraffes.

All the koalas we saw were asleep!

Babies

This Tasmanian Devil was named Nick.

After the Zoo we were pretty beat. We went to George's to eat that night to view the sea. It was beautiful!!! After George's we headed down to the beach to see the seals. They were right there!!! I cannot believe it!

Sunday we went to visit Chris, Tara and Natalie. We all walked up to a little eatery. It's so funny because everything in Cali seems to be "crunchy granola.' Not much meat, all organic.. the way I love it! A kid skateboarded into the shop to eat! You don't see that in Texas much! We also walked a lot during our time there which I loved!!!

We did not have a our wedding cake so we settled on a Dairy Queen Cake blizzard!!! Ahhh a year of marital bliss... not always, but usually!!! It's been a wonderful time with my best friend!!!

Fireworks n' Family

I've lived out of suitcases for almost two months. It's actually not so bad. I'll save the post about moving to Las Vegas for later. I must focus on the fun of the past week! I fly back to Las Vegas in the morning so it seems I'm "home" here and then I'll be "home" there! Last week I jetted off to San Antonio where I first go to spend time with Tiffany and her family. We got to visit and just hang out. Tiff, JC and the girls took me to dinner where we enjoyed live music then we went home to just chat. The next day Tiffany had to work so her mom came and got me and the girls and we went to the movies and to lunch... then to a goat farm! It was so cool!!! Linda took me shopping around that night for something to wear for family photos... then the next day (July 4) Dad and Brenda came to get me and we all said our goodbyes. It was a wonderful time!!!

Hailey & Aubrey

 

Alyssa and her family drove in from North Dakota, Steven and his family came in from Oklahoma and we all gathered downtown on the RiverWalk. Brenda's brothers and their families were able to join us as well! It was like a mini reunion. We walked around and showed Henry the Alamo... he is from Nigeria so this is all very new to him. We took family photos all dressed in our red, white and blue. My room had an amazing view of the fireworks so we all piled in there for the show. It was so much fun to have everyone together just laughing and talking. Saturday we crazily decided to go to Sea World. Dad stayed back and enjoyed time with other family members. Steven, Ashley, Rylie, Saige, Rex and I watched a bit of the beach show and noticed a little basketball thing next to it. Steven went first and won a mini basketball. I had to win one for the sisters, too! So I shot the 3 pointers with the men's basketballs and boo-ya, I won!!!! Then we stood in line forever to see Shamu. Shamu isn't as cool as when I was little. It's all too political and they don't get to ride them anymore blah blah. It was great, but different. By this time we were all so tired of waiting in lines and the crazy crowds. We decided it was time to get back. We gathered at the hotel where Brenda's brothers, Jay and Jimmy brought their entire families to meet us. This was a very special time to get everyone together. We all went on the RiverWalk to eat and just hung out for a bit longer at the rooftop pool.

There was a point when I looked at the crowd and just thanked God. I always say Dad and I got a second chance. God provided us with this lovely family. I'm so blessed to be a part of it.

When we got back we took Dad in for his angiogram. His stress tests showed some blockage on his heart. I wasn't too thrilled, but I wasn't worried. They did not find any blockage so he was free to go after two hours of sitting still. It was a scare for him for sure. I hate health issues and know we must fight them as we get older, but it's just a scary thing. I try to workout and eat healthy, but we just never really know what is lurking within us ready to harm us. Again, what a blessing that he was just fine and went through all of it for basically nothing... well, except peace of mind and a regimen to be a bit healthier which just might be worth all of it.

Ahhh so the suitcase travels back West. Then it will hit San Diego this weekend. Hey, I'm not complaining. This is an adventurous time. I miss Nick and the cat though. I will have to pack them in my suitcase next time.

Glenn and Andrea Create A Fairytale

The beaming bride began her walk down the aisle and I felt a tear come to my eye. I flashed back to the days of college. Andrea had boyfriends here and there as there are with every girl in college. Flashing forward to this day when she marries her match. Everything was just too perfect. Such a wonderful union for two lovely people.

Andrea and Glenn's wedding weekend began as we had a luncheon with the girls on Friday and rehearsal dinner. I was sick the entire week battling to get better! I was still a bit miserable on Friday coughing up a few lungs. The luncheon was beyond amazing at Ocean Prime. Andrea's mom's friends set it up for us. Just perfect. Then the rehearsal dinner was at Iron Cactus. We had such a great time just talking with everyone. Andrea's family is precious and so very kind. It was fun to hang out with them.

We primped all day for the wedding at The Crescent. We laughed, listened to music and just played. All of the bridesmaids are so sweet and friendly so we all got along great. 

Selfie!

Melissa doing push ups!

Kacie

Shyloh

Kayla and Dahleen

We finally all headed down for the wedding. It was outside, but not that hot. Everything was gorgeous! The ceremony was both funny and touching. Baby Kayla was the Baby of Honor! She was so good and so very adorable. So much love in that space.

We all headed inside to the reception. I always joke I don't dance, but I decided since Andrea loves to dance that I had to just get over it. I walked in on her brother's arm with Raelyn on the other and tried my best to dance! Then they gals all came in and the Texas Tech Fight Song started. If you haven't seen a bride in the air in a stunt in her dress, you haven't seen anything yet! It was just way too cool. All of the former cheer and dance squad members joined us on the floor for the dance. It was a sight to see!!! Just pure laughter and fun! The rest of the night was spent dancing and talking with new and old friends. Andrea's family is from Louisiana, and boy, they can party! There were more of them out on the dance floor than us! And... the band... Emerald City played the reception. They were amazing... words cannot even describe how great they were! After the wedding we headed across the way to an after party... which I have never been to a wedding with an after party. It was really neat. We were all tired by this time and just enjoyed a nice chat. The bride and groom joined those of us that went to say bye! We didn't get home until 2 AM... well, in all of this, when we went to get our cars from the valet they had apparently wrecked Anna's car... wow... so we were waiting on that to get resolved. It was a fairy tale of a night. Personally it warms my heart that God blessed me with such wonderful people. Looking around that room and listening to the toasts... everyone there was genuine and salt of the earth. Truly blessed are we.

Melissa

Summer

KD Ladies: Summer, Jana, Laura, Anna