Surfin' USA

Last year we let the fog ruin our 4th of July plans, but NOT THIS YEAR.

Our 4th of July consisted of two trips to the beach, a burger (well a lettuce burger) and a nap. It wasn't quite a Utah 4th of July, but it was still pretty great.

In the morning we headed down to Linda Mar where we surfed the day away. Of course I was singing the Beach Boys Surfin' USA the entire time. The waves were just perfect for us beginners and we were all able to get up a few times which is a blast. The highlight for me was being out in the water with dolphins! It was like a 4th of July miracle! There were these huge pods of dolphins there were poppin out of the water so close to us. Kinda scary at first to see the fins, but they super exciting to be so close to all those dolphins! 

It appears Miles' wetsuit has gotten a lil small there. He had some real nice back cleavage. 

I need to remember to take a BEFORE picture next time we go surfing, it leaves you lookin pretty rough after!

We headed to In-n-out then back home for a nap. Surfing takes every last ounce of energy you may have!

Then back to the beach for a party with our friends! Being away from family on holidays is a bummer, but we are so lucky to have friends here who are just like family to us now. We couldn't be more lucky with the group of friends we have! We played Spike ball, watched more dolphins, ate yummy snacks, and danced with sparklers.

We are surrounded by the cutest little girls in our ward. Here's to hoping we have daughters as cute and fun as them someday. Isla, in the pink below and I have become really good friends. Whenever we are around her she comes and sits on my lap and tells me stories about the time 'when she was a little baby.' It's the cutest. Her Mom, Julia, told me that whenever she and her sister Addie play house, Isla always wants her pretend name to be Carrie. 

Happy 4th of July!

a quick trip to utah

Back in June we made a quick little trip back to Utah to visit family and friends.

As we flew into SLC we go to watch the prettiest sunset over the Great Salt Lake, it was a great welcome home.

 On Thursday we got to go to Tarah's sealing and reception. Both Miles and I were close with Tarah through college so it was really special to be there with her on her big day. All of the roommates were there except Jenna. It was so fun catching up with everyone. I love these girls so much!

 We are so happy for Tarah and Nate. Their wedding day was so beautiful. Seriously so glad I could be there.

The next day we headed down to St George to see Owen!!! And Shiree and Matthew of course. This was our first time meeting our new nephew Owen. He is so tiny and adorable. We loved getting to spend time with them, I wish we could have stayed longer. It was pretty shocking to go from SF's cold foggy summer to St George's hot 113 degree temperatures. I can decide which is worse! It did feel incredible being able to swim in Shiree and Matthew's pool. It was a much needed taste of summer. 

 How perfect is he?!

My Mom is the baby whisperer. 

Saturday night we had a BBQ with the Hills and Corrigans. We played pickle ball and wiffle ball and ran around in the grass with no shoes on. All the things we can't do in the city. We love getting to hang out with our nephews, we miss them so much!

On Sunday I got to hear Carson give an awesome Father's day talk, then spent the day with the Miles family having a BBQ and volleyball. 

Monday we hung out with Jereme, Trevor, and Syd. Because of a weird schedule mix up we ended up hiking up the "living room" in SLC during the hottest part of the day. It was pretty brutal in the heat, but we made it and the view was pretty awesome! 

It was such a fun and busy weekend, only wish it could have been longer!

you + me

Back in June my cousin Brett and his wife Jessica brought their 4 kids to SF to visit. They stayed at our house in exchange for some beautiful photos taken by Jessica. I love them!

Hills come to visit

May and June were the months of lots of visitors for us. We feel so lucky to have a spare bedroom in our house so that we can have family and friends come to visit.

The Hills got done with school on a Friday and then flew out to here to visit us. It was such a blast having them here for weekend. They were so awesome to be patient with us through the traffic and fog that changed some plans. It was so much fun for us to show them around our city. 

Cooper's freckles...so stinkin cute!

It's crazy to me how much my nephews have changed every time I see them! Cade and Carson are these super cool teenagers now and I don't even know how that happened! We love these guys!

One of the big highlights of the weekend was the Giants game. I have been wanting to take the Hill's to a Giants game since they are the biggest baseball fans I know! The Giants were playing the National's. It was just your normal baseball game until the Giant's pitcher purposefully threw a fastball at Bryce Harper (The Hill's favorite player) He ended up charging after him and started a huge brawl. It was pretty hilarious. By far the most exciting baseball game I have ever been to! 

Thanks for spending your first week of summer with us in our tiny house in foggy San Francisco, Hills! We love you guys!

grown up prom

This weekend we got to go to the EY Formal Holiday Party at the Metreon. 

It was so much fun getting dressed up all fancy shmancy. It felt like Prom except way less awkward and my Dad wasn't there to take 1,000 pictures of us before we left. We used a self stick for the one below. (Miss you Dad.)

 The venue was beautiful with a great view of the city. We ate some yummy food and listened to the music then headed out because we remembered that we aren't really party people. 

We walked around and looked at the pretty Christmas decorations around Union Square. Christmas time in the city is so magical.

 He looks so good in bow tie. Like whoa!

& it wouldn't be a Saturday night if we didn't go to the grocery store at 11:00 now would it? 

Thanks for being my hot date, Mr Miles. XOXO

i tried.

It's a little harder to get myself to the temple these days. It had been too long, so Friday I was determined to go. Sometimes I forget that I live in California and that you should never drive anywhere on a Friday in California because the traffic is horrific. 

Basically it took twice as long to get there as I planned and by the time I made it to the temple it was time to turn around and head back home to make it back for the ward Christmas party. 

I walked around the temple grounds. I said a prayer that I would feel the peace of the temple even though I wasn't going to go inside. & I did.

I'm grateful for the temple. It's such a nice break from the craziness that is the city across the bridge that we live in. 

 It's fall in the east bay! So pretty.

Although my temple trip was not what I intended, it was still what I needed and it felt nice to know that I tried.