summer

Near the end of July I took a week and a 1/2 long vacation to California with my friends Chris and Brad.  I had been telling my old roommate and friends Denise and Veda that I would visit them--and finally made good on my promise.  We spent the first part of our trip visiting Denise and Veda in beautiful, sunny, fun San Diego.  I didn't take many photos, and then my camera died and I forgot my charger.  When I collect pictures from friends I will post more.  Our first Sunday night we had fish tacos (so good!) for dinner and then we (Veda, Jake, Denise, Cubbie, Chris, Brad, and I) took a walk down on the San Diego harbor.

Jake, Veda, Brad, and I trying to have a chicken fight?

Our first day at the beach, Brad, Chris, and I got super sunburned.  We went to the beach almost every day, and it was awesome.  I think I got more burned every day--and the last day my cheeks got the most of it.  One afternoon Denise, Veda, and I got caught in a rip tide and Denise and Veda got out of it, but I had to be towed in on a surf board by a life guard.  It was humiliating.  We ate a lot of fish, swam a ton, had the best weather, and had a great time.  Towards the end of the week we said good-bye to SD and headed North to Stockton to visit Chris' mom and sister.  Chris' sister has a pool so we kept up our daily swim.  Good thing I brought all my swimsuits.  Chris lives about 2 hours from San Francisco, so Brad and I went in for a short visit the day before we headed back to Utah.  We had enough time to see the Japense Tea Gardens (where my camera died), eat fish on Pier 39, do a little shopping, and head back. 

*****

The following Sunday was my birthday.  I won't tell you how old I am--but I turned 19 again.  Is their a limit on how many times you can do that?  That morning I went to Natalie and Dave's baby blessing of their new little guy Emmett.  He is adorable, just like his big sis Penny.

 That afternoon I took some friends and we had a little bbq at Addie's.  Chris and Brad guessed that my birthday wish was an Aileen sandwich.  If that was right (it wasn't), it came true.  We took a group picture out back before we all left (minus Addie, Shaun, and Sophie).  Sophie wouldn't get in the picture because she was having too much fun on the neighbors slide.

'Twas a good time.  Also, a shout out to Shaun and Addie who also had summer birthdays in July.  Addie, the girls, and I went to Guru's for a birthday lunch for Addie and had their delicious chocolate cake.  Well, we more watched the girls eat it.  If you haven't had it I would highly recommend it.