A California Summer

A California Summer



The last 2 weeks have been quite the adventure! A family, friends, fun, sun, beach filled adventure. I could get used to adventures like that :)  First there was K & J's wedding...

K and I have known each other from grade school, but somehow in all the drama that is Jr. high we found our escape in each other. We went to different high schools but always kept our friendship. She planned to have her wedding at the beautiful Circle Oaks Ranch in Fallbrook. We spent Thursday and Friday celebrating with Downtown dinners and the Rehearsal with Perfect weather. Of course we wake up Saturday to booming thunder...and rain. In July. In California. In a drought. K handled it beautifully, I don't think I would have been as calm and composed- she just believed it would all work out. And it did! We had to postpone the ceremony a few minutes but after raining for 8 hours it stopped and we had the outdoor ceremony and reception as planned! After an anxious afternoon of waiting, the rest of the evening was a beautiful celebration of the bride and groom.

KL's Wedding Day

K & J  Tying the Knot

The next few days were a dream. This year, as you know, I've had many trips out to California. All of them were needed, and sweet time with family- but none of them were what you could call relaxing. I finally had 3 days to spend with my parents and sister (and her precious baby E). Sunday I went to church with my mom and then spent an afternoon at Balboa Island shopping Main Street and walking around the island. Monday my sis and I relaxed and then headed to my grandma's where we made us lunch and played in the pool with Bug. She would squeal with delight every time K would dive under water and pop out at her. It was the cutest thing. That afternoon I got to spend a fun afternoon with C.L and R.D.


 The next morning I went surfing with my dad at Doheney which was a blast! We met up with K and Bug at Antoines in San Clemente for some delicious omelettes and coffee.

Surfing with Dad

 Giggles with Papa

Watching Bug while her mom surfed

 Talking on her cell like her daddy

I left on Wednesday quite cheerfully because as luck would have it I got a flight to LongBeach Friday-Sunday! So Friday I went back up and spent all afternoon and the night with my Grandma and Aunt L. The next morning I left early to have brunch with my sister K and my sis in law M who happened to be in town from Australia!! We had an amazing time eating and catching up at Haute Cakes in Newport. The rest of the day was fun but a little crazy- I drove to San Clemente to get some Rainbows at the outlet, picked up a bracelet at Swirl that I had been eyeing- and grabbed some cute tops at Jacks Outlet, then headed to Dana Point to pick up a unAnniversary cake to surprise Sweetie, then Irvine Spectrum for FroYo with KH and back to the Orange Circle for dinner with CL at the FillingStation then I headed back to Newport to hang out with M a little more. The next morning I grabbed some Avalon bagels and a latte and ate at the park while I watched the ducks attack people. Always entertaining :)

Driving down PCH in my (rental) Mazda 2

Tri-City Park Breakfast



I got back to Longview Sunday night (unfortunately Sweetie was on a trip so I didn't get to see him) and then headed out to Santa Fe the next morning. It's been a pretty chill week here. I found a group to play tennis with one morning which felt great. One morning we went to Cafe Pasquals for breakfast and walked around the downtown. Other than that I've watched a lot of HGTV, studied, ran and relaxed. It's actually been really nice to take it slow after the last few weeks.

Oldest house in the U.S!



Café Pasquals- where the locals eat

Beautiful Scenery