July Happenings

It's hard to believe we're already into August!  Not sure where the first 7 months of the year have gone!  We've had a few busy months and are enjoying a bit of down time spent at home with Toby and Bella the next couple of weeks. We realized we hadn't done a blog post in a while and want to share a few pics of fun visits with family and friends from this month.  Unfortunately, I didn't take near enough photos, but so happy to have a few to share. Enjoy!

DFW
I had a last minute trip to DFW to attend a conference for work. It allowed me to stay an extra two days over the weekend for a quick visit home.  As you've come to expect, I take tons of pictures of my baby neice, Briley, when I hang out with her. She's the happiest lil' girl!


Miss Briley can sit up on her own now.  She loves playing with her toys and "reading" books.



Briley is also a pro at rolling over...she's across the room before you know it!



Oh fun...jewelry...can I have your pretty earrings Aunt Erin?  When you're holding Briley and wearing jewelry or sunglasses, she wants it!  This picture cracks me up because she really wanted my earring and wouldn't stop trying to grab it.



I wasn't at home when this photo or the ones below were taken, but I had to share them with you because they are so precious.  My sister and mom sent them to me after a lil' photo shoot.  I might be a bit biased, but Briley is a living baby doll!



She juts loves those ruffles!



Check out her two, teeny-tiny bottom teeth!

Kristen Visits SF

Kristen and I have been friends since our freshman year at Kilgore. Anytime we're together we have the best time! I'm so fortunate for our friendship and look forward to our visits every year despite the distance.



Day #1: We explored all of the city including Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, Union Square, Cliff House, and Crissy Field.  The weather was exceptionally amazing for July!



Union Square



Day #2: We spent all day in Napa and visited Alpha Omega Winery, Beringer, and Castello di Amerosa.  We also had a yumym lunch in Yountville...a super cute town in the valley.

 

In the Barrel Room at Castello di Amerosa.



Day #3: We drove 1.5 hours south to Santa Cruz for an afternoon of sunbathing. We had to wait about an hour for the fog to roll away, but once it did the skies were blue and the sun shining bright!



Many sea lions make Santa Cruz their home.  From the pier, you're able to get up close to these big guys.  This sea lion was my fav...I really like the 'fro he's got going on.

 

Beachbums!

 

This picture sums up my happy place...the beach!

Chelsea and Brian Visit SF
Mike and I have been friends with Chelsea and Brian for years.  We went to school in Mansfield with Chelsea, and met Brian in College Station where we went to college.  Whenever I think of gingerbread houses, I think of Chelsea and Brian.  For many years it was a tradition for us to get together and make them during the holidays.  It was so nice to spend some time with them as they enjoyed a vacation in SF and Napa. We'll look forward to seeing them again when we're home in Texas for Christmas!  They are such special friends to us!


Chelsea and I overlooking the Pacific Ocean.



A pic of us from years ago.  Y'all are the best!

 

South Lake Tahoe

We just spent 3 nights/days in gorgeous South Lake Tahoe.  It was Erin's first visit (Mike's second) to the lake during the summer....we both agree that summer is our favorite time to visit Tahoe since we're not into cold weather or skiing (although that's fun here too).  We love what the south part of the lake has to offer....awesome mountain views, hiking, water activities, and great restaurants/casionos within walking distance of where we stay (the Hilton Embassy suites with points).  And to think this awesome destination is only four hours from San Francisco!  An unexpected surprise of the trip was going to dinner with friends from college who were staying next door to us.  They live in Atlanta....small world to run into them!  All in all, we had a wonderful trip and are thankful Mike's job earns reward travel to allow us to spend time together since he's gone during the week.  We both look forward to going back to Tahoe!   

THURSDAY


First glimpse of Lake Tahoe as we drive through the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

 

Gorgeous!  The water is varying shade of blue...reminds me a bit of the Caribbean.

  

We arrived Thursday afternoon and headed straight for the "beach" to lay out lakeside.

 

View from Erin's chair.





Pretty funny to see a seagull in the middle of a mountain lake!





FRIDAY





We decided to hike the Pyramid Creek Trail up to Horsetail Falls.  Here's a view of the waterfall before we embark on hiking up the mountain. Can you see it?  It's in the middle of the photo.



And we're off...



This was a gorgeous hike.  It was interesting because at times we're crossing large boulders like this one, and other times we were in the forest.  It must be crazy to view this mountain when the snow is melting...we could see where the snow has melted and cascaded down the waterfall in the boulders year after year.



We're getting closer!  Kind of...I zoomed in on this photograph. :)

 



This photo provides a bit more perspective on how much farther we have to hike to the waterfall.

 

The water was crystal clear and ice cold.  Stunning!



Cascading waterfall down the mountain.





We were told by hikers who had reached the top to stear clear of the waterfall and instead climb up a fallen log to then cross over to the waterfall.  Ummm, really?  Mike went first and after talking Erin into following (this took about 15 minutes of convincing), she finally started the almost vertical climb up the log AND boulders/rocks.



Here she goes...



Whew, we made it up the log and some pretty steep rocks. Stunning view below!



So, we didn't quite make it to the top of the mountain.  We were about 30 minutes more of hiking away, but Erin didn't have her best hiking shoes on and we didn't pack a lunch and felt the super steep climb wasn't safe.  We've already decided to hike to the top of the Falls on our next visit to Tahoe when we're better prepared.



SATURDAY





We took it easy on Saturday and layed out by the lake all day.  It was so relaxing after the day before's crazy hike.



TAHOE, WE LOVE YOU!!!  UNTIL NEXT TIME...

A Great June Spent with Family and Friends

ADRIENNE'S WEDDING IN DALLAS

I was able to kick-off a great vacation with Adrienne's and Jordan's wedding festivities.  Adrienne and I have been friends for forever...we grew up in Mansfield, danced on our high school dance/drill team, and went to Texas A&M.  She's such a great friend to me and I'm so fortunate we still remain wonderful friends despite living so far apart.  It was such an honor to celebrate her special wedding with her wonderful family and friends.  The rehearsal dinner was such fun and the wedding was perfection.  Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Mclain!



The girls of the bridal party at the rehearsal dinner.



At the venue for the ceremony rehearsal...Old Red Museum in downtown Dallas. 



Beautiful couple!



Bridal Party

Bridal Party

Adrienne and Jordan sharing their vows during the wedding ceremony.

The incredible, super delicious almond wedding cake.  Mike and I get very excited any time baked goods are around.

Mike flew in from LA to attend the wedding.

My parents, Mike and I.

FLORIDA

Lauren, Briley and I took a girls trip to visit family in Florida for several days.  This was Briley's first time on a plane and her first trip to the beach.  We love our annual visits to Florida to see our grandparents and family, and look forward to next year! 



Our flight to Orlando was not full so Briley had her own seat!




Briley is reading to her great-grandmother.



Baby Munchkin Chunk!



My grandparents' neighbors, Dale and Cathy, who are like family!

Cousin William

Cousin Jacob

Aunt Cindy

Uncle Jody



Briley looks adorable in her new outfit from her great-grandmother.




Pretty girls!



Happy girl!



Out to lunch





Lunch at our fav burger joint, The Breakers, on New Smyrna Beach



Briley's first steps in the sand at the beach...and she LOVES it!





First time Briley's feet feel the sea!





Chunk in a bikini...love it and so does she!





Briley already knows how to chill and lay out...check out that leg propped up!



Day 2 at the beach was perfect....Tropical Storm Debby was gone and the sun and blue skies were in full force.

Total beachbums here.  Briley was destined to love the beach as much as her mom and aunt!



She wants to move so bad, but she can't quite sit up on her own yet.  I can only imagine her next summer when she's walking.





Haha!  I couldn't resist taking this photo.




Two of my fav people!