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!