Do You Ever Have Those Days?

So, as much as I love being here in California, there are some days when it gets kind of lonely and I find comfort in my new friends, Stacy and Clinton. From TLC's "What Not to Wear". I love the show and look forward to it. Well, on one particularly gloomy day, I was watching said show and had to leave the room. So I paused it and went to do whatever it was, but when I came back to my friends, this is what I saw. . .

I couldn't help but laugh out loud, and then think to myself that I have no real reason to be feeling the way I was. I got myself up (after the show, of course) and remembered that I have so many things to keep me busy, and so many things to make me happy, and of course I am thankful for all of them.

This picture has been cause for many conversations lately, and I am glad that the TV paused where it did. This woman was excited because someone she knew was getting a make over. It wasn't even her! In my life I need to appreciate the little things and enjoy the things that make me happy. I am pretty sure I won't be running around screaming with my hands in the air, but on the inside, this is exactly how I feel. No, not every second of every day, but I try to feel this way at least once every day. Some days are better than others, but I have been blessed with so much that I can't help but give back by being happy and trying to make those around me feel the same way.

What We've Been Up To

Before Mike started work, we tried to get around to see some stuff. So we made it to a few fun places. We went to the tech museum downtown. It has all sorts of nerdy stuff, like creating a microchip and then programming it, and then having a robot draw a self portrait of you. They also had these robots that would spell out a message in blocks. Whatever you told them to write, they would find the block and do it. This is what Mike was doing while I was in the bathroom.

Pretty impressive if you ask me.

Then, we had to go to another baseball game. Again, the Angels were playing the A's in Oakland, so we went dressed in our Angels gear and sat on the 4th row behind the A's dugout. Dangerous territory, but the Angels won, so it was all worth it. We also got to see some of our favorite players from the Bees that got picked up by the Angels recently. I almost felt like I was home for a minute.
Most recently we went to Carmel. Yesterday in fact. The whole name of the town is Carmel by the Sea, CA. If that tells you anything. It is right by the water, and the downtown was so fun. We went with the intention of going to the art festival, but instead we just explored main street and did a little shopping and lunch. We ate at a delicious restaurant, and then stopped by a little shop called "The White Rabbit." The entire store is based around Alice in Wonderland. The owner even had an original copy of "Through the Looking Glass" that was valued at around $400. Anyway, we decided that we are going to use our Saturdays to explore this area. It is so pretty. Visitors are always welcome. Hope to see you soon.

We Finally Did It!

Well, the day finally came. We packed up the moving van and headed out west. I can still see my mom standing in the middle of the cul de sac jumping up and down and waving her arms. It was a bittersweet moment and an image I most likely will never forget. I will miss my family more than I can say (bitter) but I am so excited to start this new chapter of our lives (sweet) and I know that there are many wonderful adventures in store for us over the next few years. There were only a few tears shed in the last moments together as a family. Mostly as a result of Brooks saying "we will miss you, Mike and Paige" in his teeny tiny little voice, knowing that he means it but not understanding how much he in turn will be missed. Thanks family for all of the support and please please please come see us soon.
Ok, so now on to the move. Mike's mom, stepdad, and little sisters, Katie and Rachel were nice enough to help us with the move. And Mike (stepdad) and Leslie (mom) were even nicer to drive the U-haul through traffic so that we could get there ahead of the truck to get everything set up before we started moving in boxes and furniture. I am so happy that we had their help, but even happier that we had their company.
So, I had no idea, but this was the first time to the beach for these two. These are Mike's little sisters, and they are both so much fun. Rachel (on left) was my driving companion. She read to me, and listened to me sing at the top of my lungs for 12 hours. What an awesome girl! I can't wait for these two to come out and spend a weekend with us.
I just love this picture of Rachel. She looks like she is loving life at this moment and she honestly couldn't get enough of the beach.

Just the girls.

So for now things are going pretty good. Mike starts work tomorrow and we have been busy the last week and a half. We almost have our apartment put together (we just need to hang a few more things) and it is feeling like a home more and more every day. I don't know what I am going to do with myself after he starts working. It has been so fun being able to spend the whole day with him. I still don't have a job, but I am vigilant with the search so hopefully something comes up soon. I am so happy that we are here. Life is good and hopefully only gets better. Here's to California Dreamin'.

never thought i would say this

This is a long post. . .scroll down for more pics and stories. And they are all out of order. I tried to get it in order, but to no avail. So, sorry.

One Last Thing

Over Labor day weekend, we decided that we probably ought to have one last hurrah with the Randles before we move, so we met up in Las Vegas (the Randles currently live in the middle of no where southern Arizona). We (Steph and I) thought that the boys could golf and we could get a spa treatment. It ended up being probably 150 degrees outside (maybe a little less) so the boys gave up on golf while Steph and I were hanging out in the mineral pools at the spa. It is a difficult life we lead. Then we headed in to Vegas for some, you guessed it, shopping and good food.

In the spa, they had these signs everywhere. I am pretty sure they were directed at all the twenty-something girls who come to have a treatment done, and all they want to do is talk. We thought it was pretty funny.
We ate dinner at Maggiano's, an awesome italian restaurant. It was the first time I have ever had a five course meal, and paced myself enough to still be able to enjoy a leisurely walk down the strip afterward.

The Randles

And the whole gang.

We thought it would be fun to go to the Excalibur and see the Tournament of Kings. And it was really fun. While I was there, I decided 'what the heck!' I am going to enjoy this.' Steph and I cheered so loud for our knight, and at the end he apologized to us for not winning. I am pretty sure that the rest of our section hated us because we wouldn't shut up. After the show, the knights were outside taking pictures and signing autographs. We thought we totally needed a pic with our (little) knight. He was up on a horse the entire time, so we had no idea he was so tiny. I guess in mideval times, you didn't need to be tall, as long as your horse was the same height as the other guy's. It was really fun, although next time I go, I am bringing some silverware with me. I don't do so well when I have to tear my food apart with my hands.

Thanks you guys for a fun weekend. We will see you in California soon. :)

Just a few more pics of the beach in southern California. I thought this was kind of funny. They are all standing with their left hand in their pocket looking at the same thing. From left to right, we have Mike, Bryan, my brother Mike and my brother Trent.

Just the two of us!

Ok, so this house was the cutest house. I took probably eighty-three pics of it with the dream that one day I would have one just like it, with a view of the water, of course.

From this part of the state, on the day that half my family got in the car and the other jumped on a plane, all heading home to Utah, me and Mike were off on yet another adventure. This time we flew to Northern California to go on the monster of all apartment hunts. We looked at probably 25 apartments in 4 days. And no, I didn't take any pictures. But we did find one and signed the paperwork before we came home the next week. We will be living in Campbell, CA. I am really excited, and as I am writing this, I am thinking that we get our moving truck today and in two days we will be on the road to California. Now enough about that because I have a feeling today might be an emotional one.

I've Been Everywhere, Man, I've Been Everywhere. . .

Well, we are finally back home after it feels like the mother of all vacations. It started in the Mile High City (for those of you who aren't down with the Lingo, Denver). I flew out there to meet Mike on his loooong drive back home from Oklahoma. While we were there, we thought we would hit up a Rockies game. We had really great seats and the game itself wasn't too bad either. The stadium is really pretty, and I am bummed that the only picture I got was of the scoreboard, but at least I took one. I am usually terrible at remembering that I have my camera with me.

And from one baseball game to another, (and one state to another) we ended up at Dodger stadium. We spent the week in Newport Beach with my family, and although we tried to take in a game in Anaheim, the Angels weren't in town, so we settled for the next best thing.

Me and Mike at Dodger Stadium

This is the view of Dodger stadium from the (not so) cheap seats. Thanks mom and dad for an awesome vacation. And yes while we were in this vacation, we hit up Disneyland and California adventure, but as I mentioned before, the not-remembering-the-camera problem struck again, but not to worry I always have my 'memories, like the corners of my mind. Misty water colored memories. . .' oh sorry. Anyway, the trip was a blast and I am so glad that we got to go on a great trip before we move.