If you are going to San Francisco...

In October I tagged along with David on his business trip to Sacramento. I had never been to Northern California and really wanted to go to San Francisco. So I came along with him to Sacramento and after working Friday from 7 am to midnight and then Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm, we spent Sunday in San Francisco and then flew home Monday. Also on the trip were two of David's coworkers. It was such a fun trip! San Francisco is absolutely beautiful! The weather was nice and sunny although by the end of the day it was windy and cold. Here we are driving on the Bay Bridge. It took forever to get in to the city. Not only was there a 49ers game going on, but it was Fleet Week. There was a free air show over the bay that day. It was so packed and people were everywhere, but it was really cool to see the air show. I thought the coolest planes were the F-22s. They were super loud and could do fast crazy tricks in the air.

There was absolutely no where to park. Most of the garages were full. We finally found one and they killed us on the rate. They charged $50 to park for the day. I took a peak under their sticker to see what the normal parking rate was and it is normally $15!

This was on the roof of our parking garage. We went up there to watch some of the air show.

That is Alcatraz in the background. We didn't have time to go out and tour it. Some day I want to tour it! I have a strange fascination with Alcatraz - maybe its because I watched the movie The Rock a lot while growing up.

Then we headed over to Fishermans Wharf.

I had the most delicious fish tacos ever and David had the crab chowder.

Next we headed over to Ghirardelli Square.

I ordered the pumpkin caramel hot chocolate! It tasted just as good as it looked!

I really wanted to ride on the trolley cars, but the line was insanely long and it was starting to get cold.

Then we headed back to Sacramento and took the Golden Gate Bridge off the island.

We also stopped at the Sacramento LDS Temple on our way back to the hotel.

It was a short trip, but we had so much fun. I really love traveling to new places with David. We have some more trips coming up and I cannot wait!!

Birthday Catch Up

I am working to finally get caught up before the holidays come so here goes August and September. We celebrated lots of birthdays during those two months. First up was the birthday of my wonderful friend and former roommate, Courtney. She had a birthday dinner at an Italian restaurant in Salt Lake. It was so much fun to see all my old roommates and to celebrate Courtney's birthday!

Here are all of us King Henry girls!

Next up was my 25th birthday. David and I kept it pretty low-key this year. David actually had to work in Cedar City all week. He came home Thursday evening - the night of my birthday. He was super sweet, though, and had flowers and chocolate delivered to my office. As soon as he got home, we headed out to La Jolla Groves. It is a restaurant in the Riverwoods in Provo. It is super delicious. They use all fresh foods from local markets. The chef there used to be the chef of Chef's Table in Provo (the fanciest restaurant in Provo). I'm sure you all wanted to know that background. Anyway, it was really good.

For my birthday, David got me a new pair of jeans! Dark skinnies as he calls them. I was sooo happy! I had been wanting new jeans, but never even told him that. He even got my size right all on his own!

That weekend we took David's younger brother, Ben, out to celebrate his 25th birthday. We took him to this new place in Provo called the Provo Beach Club. They have an arcade, indoor wave to surf on, high ropes course, bowling, and golf simulator. Ben and David spent the afternoon golfing at Myrtle Beach.

And I just observed from the golf cart.

After golfing, we took Ben to Tucanos. He had never been and really wanted to try it. Plus I needed to use my free birthday meal card there! Needless to say, Ben loved it!

That evening was the BYU versus Utah game. No need to recap what a horrible game that was!

We even had a few other birthdays during September/August - my sister Michalle, our sister-in-law Heather, David's Dad, David's grandmother, our sister-in-law Carlee, just to name a few. September is always fun with all the birthday celebrations!

Final Summer Trip

At the end of July, we flew to Phoenix for the wedding of my very good friend, Nichole. My boss and his wife were so nice and let us stay in their gorgeous vacation home in Mesa. It was so fun! The morning after we arrived, David and I drove down to see the house David grew up in when he was little. He was born in Mesa and lived in this house until he was eight and moved to California. It was so fun to see the house he lived in as a baby!

And this was David's first school.

Then we headed back to the house for some pool time! The weather was actually perfect. I was afraid it was going to be horribly hot but it was not bad at all. It was a little overcast so the temperatures were only in the high 90's. Rather than the 120's!

Sweet dive!

We spent a lot of time just lounging and reading at the pool. Work has been so crazy for us, so it was nice to have a long weekend to rest and relax.

For lunch on Saturday we went to Tia Rosas. I ate here when I came to Arizona for my company retreat in 2010. It was so good!

Saturday night was Nichole's wedding in Tucson. I met Nichole our freshmen year of high school. She and I were both in choir and became really good friends. She has always been there for me and was actually in Utah with me when David and I started dating! If she had not come and visited me in Utah, David may have never invited us over to watch Nacho Libre at his apartment! She has always been such a good friend to me. I was so glad I was able to come to Arizona to be at her wedding! Noelle was a bridesmaid so I got to see her, too!! It was so fun to see her again and I cannot wait for her wedding - Oct 2012!!

Me, Noelle, Stephanie, and Michelle - more high school friends who happen to also be Nichole's cousins!

The first dance!!

Nichole was so beautiful! Her dress was gorgeous and she looked so happy! It was such a fun trip. David and I were so glad we got to see Nichole and be a part of her special day!

Texas!

In the middle of July, we headed to Texas for one of my best friend's weddings. We flew down late Tuesday night to stay at my parents house. We enjoyed a break from work to rest, relax, and spend time with friends. The first day I went to lunch with my close friends from high school. The next day, my sister, Rachel, her four children, and I took David on a little tour of downtown Richmond. Exciting, I know. It was actually pretty neat. Here is David tasting a delicious Texas grape.

We got to tour this beautiful home that was built in the early 1900s. I think. (The trip was over two months ago so I have forgotten my Richmond history facts) I do remember, though, that the guy who built the house wanted it to look like the white house. Job accomplished.

David riding in the back with the Orme children!

Later in the afternoon, my sister, Lori, and her two girls came down from the Austin area to visit us. It was so great to see her, Avery, and Addie! That night David and I got dressed up and headed to Houston for a mini photo shoot by my amazing photographer friend, Carlea Wilson of Carlea J Photography. She is seriously amazing and the pictures turned out great! Then she and her husband, Dustin, took David and I to the most delicious Mexican restaurant in Houston called El Tiempo. I seriously still dream about that food. It was amazing.

Three of the Dynes sisters!!

On Friday, David's best friend, Danny, and Danny's new wife, Megan, came down from College Station to visit us and stay the night at my parents' house. It also happened to be Danny's birthday on Saturday so we decided to go down to Galveston. David had never been and I really wanted him to see it in person. It was a short trip since the wedding was that evening, but we had fun. Here we are on the ferry in Galveston. Wow was it humid!

I will admit, the beaches in Texas are not as pretty as the California beaches, but I love that warm water! Way better than the FREEZING water in California.

Megan got Danny some sweet fishing gear for his birthday. We were so glad we got to see them and spend some time with Danny on his birthday!

Thanks again Danny and Megan!!

On to the wedding! I have known Catherine since we were in 6th grade. I still remember meeting on the first day of school! She has been such a great friend to me all these years. Even though we live in different states and have lived in different states for the last six years, I know I can always call her at any moment and things are just like old times. She was a gorgeous bride! She was so happy and just glowing. I was so happy to be a part of her special day. This is the bride and groom's first dance at the reception

So beautiful! For the reception she added the headband and belt on her dress. I thought it was so cute!!

More of my wonderful friends from high school! Kendra, Noelle, George, and Allison!

My amazing friends! I never would have made it growing up without these girls. It was so much fun to dance and party the night away with these ladies!

And of course the trip would not have been fun without David. My very best friend! Thank you for the trip to Texas!