Date 30: Aqua Cycles and Kayaks

This summer, I snagged a Groupon

to rent these Aqua Cycles and Kayaks (not pictured) 

down at the Carlsbad Lagoon.

We had such a fun time paddling around with our friends,

enjoying the sunshine, talking about life,

and getting a workout 

all at the same time. 

Gosh, I'm so thankful for this place we call home.

STAYcation

My parents rented a cute little house in Coronado last week

and we took off a couple days to staycation with them.

When you live here, why wouldn't you?

It went a little something like this:

Eat. Play.
Bike. Eat. Draw. Read. Swim. Shop. Drink. Golf. Nap. Eat. Play.
Read. Eat. Walk. Read. Bike. Beach. Bike. Swim. Nap. Massage. Bike. Eat. Play.
Read. Eat. Nap. Read. Swim. Eat. Visit. Bike. Eat. Bike. Play.
Bike. Pay Respects. Bike. Eat. Bike. Play. Swim. Pose. Eat. Play. Relax.
Read. Bike. Eat. Bike. Walk. Drink. Bike. Eat. Read. Play. Eat. Play.

And of course picture-taking fits in there somewhere
er... everywhere
so I'll share a few

The backyard
The gorgeous San Diego skylineSidewalk ChalkThe ParentalsPlaying CardsBoys will be boysThe kiddosMom sippin' a banana daiquiri @ the DelCutie patooties on their bikesSkyline at sunset = stunningFamily FrizbeeThe Fam Bam walking on the beach
It was absolutely perfect.
Again?

Summer Weekend Highlights

A couple clearance finds at Old Navy
Date Night
The beautiful city sites
Italian Waiters
More Gelato than we paid for
Marley and Me
10 hours of sleep
A great time of study
Bike rides to the Farmers Market
Fresh squeezed lemonade
Grown Ups (though I still haven't watched the end)
Reading in the swimming pool
Seeing good friends
Karl Strauss burgers with the Lowell's
Caramel apples
a spontaneous visit to my parents'
girls beat boys at Islander
An encouraging sermon at church
changed oil and rotated tires
an awesome Discovery Channel special on Seal Team 6
more reading in the swimming pool
familiar names and faces in the neighborhood
Intern Class
Dinner and great discussion with the Kookers
finishing Firefly Lane (tissues needed!)
Cuddling. love it.

What were the highlights of your weekend?

Weekend Highlights

This weekend felt like Heaven to me.
It was the first weekend in a month that we were home.

We didn't leave early from work on Friday
or drive for hours in traffic
or arrive home way past our bedtimes on Sunday night.
We just stayed put
relaxing and spending life-giving time with friends.
It was so rejuvenating.

A few highlights:

A double-date BBQ and Game Night
Actually waking up cold (instead of hot) in the middle of the night
A spontaneous and beautiful morning walk around the lake
A candid and beautiful display of friendship
The SR Farmers Market
A mini Paint-by-Number
Our new toy coming in the mail
Seeing my father-in-law for a short chat
Zucchini Orzo with Feta
A clean house (Finally!!)
A triple-date BBQ with friends
Walking to Rite Aid for an ice cream cone
Good Conversation
A challenging sermon at church
Playing my current favorite song during worship
Running errands together
Reading a new book at the pool
Getting my wedding ring cleaned and dipped
Celebrating Danny's birthday with a bunch of friends and yummy food
Snuggling before bed

And to think...
next weekend is looking just as lovely.

I'm so thankful for the full life we get to navigate and enjoy.
Our God, our families, our friends, the city we live in..

*sigh*

:-)

Vegas, Baby!

We had so so so much fun in Vegas last weekend
with some of our favorite friends.


It was a lengthy drive out to the desert Friday night
filled with fast food stops, lightening stormsand a casual walk down the 15 freeway
as traffic was at a complete stop for a fatal accident.

When we finally got there at midnight
and checked into our hotel,we played video poker a bit
and hit the town for a late night stroll down the strip.I just love the city lightsand the Chandelier Bar at the Cosmo was absolutely gorgeous.The tasty summer dessert drink I sipped there was everything yum.Plus, anything lit on fire is absolutely radddd.


We spent Saturday sipping drinks by the pool
(not in a $500 cabana!),and shopping while the boys napped.We ate dinner at Ottoand enjoyed gelato for dessert as we strolled the Venetian and the Palazzo.If you haven't seen Le Reve at the Wynn, you must.It's a flippin' awesome aqua-bat show
that had our jaws dropping for about an hour or so.We spent some more time at the pool on Sundaybefore having fro-ho at the new Serendipity3.
CatchPhrase and a stop at Sonic were the highlights of the 7.5 hr drive home.
Definitely could have done without that part... :)

I hadn't been to Vegas since I had turned 21 a few years back.
I had totally forgotten how much stinkin fun it is.
Especially with these guys!

Thanks, D & E, for an awesome trip.
We love you guys.

Viva the Weekend!

This weekend we're headed out to Vegas
with some fabulous, funnnn friends of ours!

Bring on the sunshine (er, summer storms..?),
margaritas by the pool,
yummy food, fabulous city lights
and good company.

It's time to relax and enjoy summer!

Image Creds go to good ol'Google.

Have a lovely weekend, my friends!!
Got any fun plans?

Surprising the Sister

My wittle sister is not a teenager anymore.
Well, as I write this, she still is.
But on her birthday next week,
she's saying hello to the big two-oh.

We celebrated Sunday with breakfast at Hash House,a stroll through Hillcrest to the candy store,a walk along the Embarcadero and through Seaport Village,and with a little shopping before dinner.

I was pretty excited about this birthday in particular
because we were surprising my sister big time.

Before breakfast, Jeremiah and I gave her
a little suitcase full of Seattle puzzle pieces.She loves puzzles. and she loves Seattle
so I knew it'd be a winner.But the big surprise was this little guy.A simple card that read a little something like this:
"A little birdie told me, it's your birthday.
And when it's your birthday.... anything goes.
But if anything really goes,
you might need these."And what are "these?"

Yes, yes, YES!

They're tickets to see Anything Goes on Broadway.
in New York City!!!

Seeing her face when she opened them,
had to be the highlight of my whole weekend.

Can't wait for our girls' trip this fall!

A Summer Weekend

This was one of those perfect summer weekends.
The kind that's filled with all things wonderful
and all things summer.

Love. Love. Love.

A new little top at Kohl's
A few hours of E! while working on Craft projects
A beautiful late night bonfire on the bay
Gorgeous views from the water
Sleeping in
Everything Bagels with Onion & Chive cream cheese
Wrapping Presents
Working on my sister-in-law's wedding gift
Reading Danielle Steele
Going Swimming
Maggie Moo
Running a few errands
BBQing
Watching Never Let Me Go, Executive Decision and Taking Lives
Celebrating my Sister's birthday.

Absolutely perfect

The New Go-To

There's a new "Go-To" in town these days.

BBQ Chicken
Grilled Corn
Asparagus
Baked Potato
and Fruit.

So yum.
and so summer.

Grillin' Out

{New Summer Tradition:}
Potluck BBQs with good friends!



What's on the menu?
BBQ Chicken
Corn on the Cob
Yummy Salad
Watermelon
Peach Lemonade
Good Conversation

and...

Bug spray!