End of July?!

It's hard to believe it's the LAST day in July!

We have officially lived in California a year now.

I can't believe it's already been a year.

I can't tell you how much we have been blessed.

There were so many uncertainties when we moved out here,

but everything has worked out perfectly.

I wouldn't change a thing!

The week was busy.
My Uncle Fred and Cousin Sarah were in town from CO.
Brett's Aunt Brenda, Uncle Bret, Cousins Tanner, and AJ were in town from CO, too.
Tanner was playing in a basketball tournament.
Brett was able to catch a game.
not me.
(which I was bummed).
We did show Brenda and AJ around some of our favorite places 
one night.
Laguna.
Balboa Island.
Balboa Ferry.
Newport Beach.
Pier.
Yogurtland.
We had a blast.
Thanks for letting us show you around!

(Laguna Beach July 27th)
Anyone love FREE Pergo Pasta Sauce?!
That's what is it at Albertsons right now.
Click Here

To find out how to get FREE sauce
I did it.
and.
MORE.
I had some extra free time this morning and did some REAL Couponing.
Brett was great to go to Albertsons, Target, and Ralphs with me today.
Look what we got.
Take a guess on the price.

Target: 2 bags of pretzels, 2 boxes of Nature Valleys, 2 boxes of bagel bites, 
1 tide, 2 cans of soup, 2 packs of pencils, & 2 Sobes...
Albertsons: 12 jars of Prego Pasta Sauce
Rlaphs: 4 boxes of pasta, 2 packs of chicken breast, 
toothpaste, corn, & 2 gallons of milk.
Grand Total (out of our checking account): $5.39
**The guy at Target took EVERY coupon I had.
 brought our total to $3.05
Rlaphs I had a "$5 off your next shopping trip"
which I used making our total $2.34.
Albertsons the sauce was COMPLETELY FREE.
(I was suppose to get 12 cents back, but they would give it).
Now you might be thinking what on earth do you do with
12 pasta sauces?!
Pizza
Chicken
Spaghetti
and More!
(Maybe I'll leave some new recipes with pasta sauce...soon)

San Diego...

So, Saturday we headed south.

My girls were playing in a basketball tournament.

They played a great game.

(I was only able to make one game, because of work).

After the game we thought it would a terrific idea to explore.

Note: I am not a fan of LONG car rides

Started out peachy...

Traffic on a Saturday

USUALLY

not bad

This Saturday

bad HORRIBLE

We finally made it to the game.

(luckily on time)

After the game idea:

Explore.

Head towards Coronado Island.

FAIL.

We drove in FOUR circles.

Not little ones,

big ones.

Fifth time a Charm.

the Bridge (finally)

A view of the harbor.

From the Bridge.

Downtown San Diego

From the Bridge.

We didn't have much time.

We had to get back to Irvine.

Which on a Saturday

We hit Traffic.

Again.

Needless to stay,

My first impression of San Diego

UGH.

Don't worry we'll go back.

I'll be able to update

on things

I 

Loved

promise.

...To the Man I Love...

** Warning might be mushy**

Brett David Mertens,

Happy Anniversary

It all started 5 years ago...

We went to Chapel

Starbucks

the movies

Fell in LOVE

the rest is history...

I've never been more in love

You amaze me

I would marry you all over again

again

again

I can't wait to see what is in store

God has truly blessed me

I LOVE YOU!

P.S. I'm glad it's only been 2 years

I have MANY more years with you.

...A Perfect Friday...

I feel like since we got back from vacation Brett and I have been none stop.  

Football.

Work.

Basketball.

Summer School.

Tutoring.

and

On

and 

On.

Friday was time for

Just the Two of Us.

First I took Brett on a tour.

A tour of CLS.

Hard hats and vest
 REQUIRED.

After our tour.

We went back to get ready for dinner.

We got engaged 7/15/07.

Ate at Maggiano's to Celebrate 7/16/07.

Married 7/19/08.

Ate at Maggiano's to Celebrate 7/20/08.

One Year Anniversary 7/19/09.

Dinner at Grisanti's (Italian Restaurant).

(No Maggiano's in Lincoln, NE)

So (of course) keeping with Tradition.

Dinner at Maggiano's.

(excuse Brett's squint)

Next for the night

my pure excitement

To go to IEKA.

(minor detail... we ended up drive 2 miles past... 
due to not knowing which exit to take).

there it went.

My excitement

and

IKEA.

(For those who do not know going 2 miles on the 405 on a Friday night equals about 20 extra minutes)

But FINALLY

We MADE IT!

I FELL IN LOVE.

I had never been before.

I can't wait to go back.

The night would not be complete without

Frozen Yogurt.

We decided to take Bentley.

Good Idea?!

you tell me...

Head out the window

wind blowing in her hair.

Oh I LOVE my life.

**side note we went to San Diego today**

** I will update later **

The End To...

A GREAT VACATION.

We spent the rest of our vacation in Colorado Springs (mostly).

We had a FABULOUS 4th of July.

We ventured up to Amanda (my best friend) and Pat's House.

Mountain Air.

Rain.

Hail.

Fog.

Friends.

Family.

Ladder Golf.

Amanda and I BEAT the Champions.

One game was all it took.

Yeah... we're that GOOD.

Thank You 

Amanda and Pat for a WONDERFUL Evening.

Part 2 of July 4th Celebration.

July 5th.

My House.

My "aunts" and "uncles".

It was GREAT to see everyone.

You ALL are VERY special to me.

(My cake I made).

No better way to finish a Colorado Vacation

Hiking.

Mountains.

Dirt Roads.

Brett and I decided to try a new hike in the Colorado Springs Area.

We found these.

Bridge #1

Bridge #2

Bridge #3

Bridge #4

Bridge #5

Bridge #6

Brett needed to lift this rock,

So we could walk up this.

to get to the 7th bridge.

Bridge #7

7 Bridges.

Hills.

Rocks.

A True Colorado Blue Sky.

We had a TWO wonderful weeks.

Family.

Friends.

Adventures.

Memories.

...American Way...

Day 12

Location: Colorado Springs

Nothing more American...

...A Rodeo...

But before the Rodeo

...Off to get Mani's and Pedi's...

Perfect.

Like I said before nothing more American then a good old fashion Rodeo

I hadn't been to a Rodeo in a LONG time.

We were EXCITED.

We weren't sure what to expect.

It was a  Ranch Rodeo.

a little ALOT different than a 'regular' Rodeo.

They had some different events.

(not this one)

but THIS ONE...

...Milk a Wild Cow...

Pretty Funny.

A 'wild cow' is let into the ring.

One Cowboy ropes the cow.

the next wrestles him around his head to stop.

while another is dragging along while holding onto his tail.

all so one Cowboy can get milk in a beer bottle.

that Cowboy runs to a circle 

where the judge turns the bottle upside down to see if a drop (or more) to stop the time.

It was my highlight of the Rodeo.

So fun.

...A GREAT night...

A great way to get into the holiday spirit.

Speaking of...

HAPPY 4th OF JULY

Thank you all military

Past.

Present.

To all our Soldiers that fight to keep America free

their sacrifice.

THANK YOU

Ten-Eleven

Day 10

Location: Colorado Springs

Another day of relaxation for me.  

Brett = Summer School ALL day.

Me = PB & J Puppy Chow

(See pervious post)

We were able to get out of the house for a haircut...

AND

Dinner with my Uncle and Cousin.

Day 11

Location: Colorado Springs

Another day of not doing much is so relaxing.

We went to see my dad and walk around the "lake". 

until it started to rain.

We ate lunch with my mom at the BEST Mexican place.

Hole in the wall downtown. Yummy.

We went to target.

American Family Furniture.

(Love looking at furniture)

The highlight of the day.

SKY SOX

BEAUTIFUL day for Baseball.

And to top it off...

FIREWORKS!

THANKS MOM, We had a GREAT time.

XOXO