Vacation Destination: San Fran

With the beautiful area, fun city, and the Golden Gate Bridge the Bay area is a place worth visiting!  I love this aspect of where we live. People want to come here... I like to think people would want to come see us no matter our location, but let's be honest the idea of some Cal sun and riding cute little trolley cars might help draw people to our door.  And even if that is your real reason for coming, please don't feel guilty (I completely understand the draw to a fun destination) and come see us any time (we enjoy the trolley rides too)!

At the end of May, Mom paid us a visit and we had a grand time!
Some highlights:

Ole's Waffles- Just a couple block from home... it''s lick your plate good! (Just ask my Mom!)

Conservatory of Flowers

Golden Gate Park

These were the funniest turtles.  They were sunbathing on the log, but as one would get off or try to get on the log would get a little unbalanced and all the other turtles would scramble to adjust.  Every now and then a few would get in a pushing war trying to get comfortable and one would end up falling in. Turtles and ducklings were just some of the animals we enjoyed watching as we explored San Fran.

Boudin Bakery- Rock your world sourdough bread bowl with clam chowder!

Chocolate anyone?  YES please!

No words can explain! It's really that good!

Louis' Diner- Good food.. and oh what a view!

The newest members.  Super good deal and now we can take you when you come to visit too!

Our porch beautified.  (Thanks for the upgrade mom!)

Mom, We love you. Thanks for being our first house guest!  We'd love a repeat anytime! (And I'm sure we will have no trouble finding new things to do too.)

Really it could not have been a better time.  Lots of conversation and laughter, incredible sights, yummy food, and the best of company to enjoy everything with!  We loved showing off our new stomping ground and would be glad to do it again anytime!   So now it is your turn to make San Fran your vacation destination.

Awaiting your arrival,

Margo

Before becoming a resident...

This week I officially became a resident of the great state of California.  You're suppose to do that within ten days of moving... and well it's been a few more days than that. You may be wondering what we have spent the last four months doing... and then again you may not.  Either way I'm going to let you in on the happenings since we moved.

Where to begin?  How about with moving in!  We have a great little apartment (actually it is a very nice size with plenty of space.... can you say parties?!)  in Alameda, CA.  It's in an old Victorian house and has some great features: high ceilings, great molding and architectural details, wood floors, a sweet claw-foot tub!  We have had a blast putting our place together.  There are still projects left to finish, but all in all it has come together well.  I promise pictures to come.  (I know some of you have heard that for three months now!)
The apartment took a little cleaning before unpacking, but putting in a little elbow grease just makes you love a place that much more.  Nothing was broken in the move!  Thank you movers for carefully driving your "big mac" truck!  The only damage was our wedding cake...

It almost made it two years!

We have an AMAZING ward!  I honestly can say that we have met some of the most incredible people at church and are SO blessed to be in this ward.  I love this ward and the instant extended family church provided for us!  This is a ward full of people willing to welcome anyone and anxiously serving in any way.  We've made some great friends, many of whom are in our same place in life (i.e. married without children).

Our first real activity after arriving was the Oakland Greek Festival at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral next to the Oakland Temple. 

 

 We had a great time watching dancers, eating food, touring the cathedral, eating food, looking at art, and yes eating food.  I LOVE Greek food!

Here are some pictures of the dancers.  I don't remember what type of dance they were doing, but it was fun to watch. 

There was a lady across from us with pompoms... I couldn't decide if she was their instructor or just a really excited spectator.

I'll leave you with this movie of the dancers, enjoy!

Until next time,
Margo

reunited, 97, and today ...

The perfect reasons for having frozen yogurt every day!

I took a long weekend in Utah.  It was great to see our families.  Coming home was wonderful! Especially coming home to frozen yogurt... oh and my AMAZING husband! (oh yeah and a totally clean house- thanks Love!)

97 degrees = hottest day of the year = must have more frozen yogurt....  I know some of you are not sympathizing right now, but that is REALLY hot when you don't have AC and have become accustomed to 60-70 degree temperatures.... More frozen yogurt? ABSOLUTELY!  And no way was I turning on the oven!  Dinner out, a walk on the beach, and drinks from 7-11 got us through the heat wave yesterday.

Today: 88 degrees... and I'm feeling like it's time for more fro yo! YUMMY!

Disappointed.

We've been in CA for almost four months and I have yet to feel an earthquake.... I'm disappointed.  On Saturday we even went hiking at Point Reyes, pretty much on the San Andreas fault, and nothing.

Some suspect that California will someday fall into the ocean.  My four months of earthquake free living seem to say maybe not.  However there was a sign at the visitors center that was titled "California is Falling into the Ocean".... suspicions confirmed.  (I'll take a picture of the sign next time we're there.)

And watch now that I've posted this we'll get a big one.  Let's hope not.... but I wouldn't mind a little bump.

Love to you all from earthquake free Cali!

(To be perfectly honest there was an earthquake a little while ago and Tim felt it, but I slept through it.)

Oh yeah... and we graduated

That's about how I feel about posting this now.

Really it actually was more like....

WE GRADUATED! 

 Yahoo!   Hallelujah!  Yippee!  Hooray!

Graduation events went as follows:

April 22:

• The Big Shabang (aka BYU Commencement or graduation with the entire university)

• Dinner with just the grads and parentals- enjoyed at Magleby's at Travani in Springville.

•  Home to finish packing.

April 23:

• 7:00 AM Moving commences..... 12:00 PM Movers ship out. Please take our stuff safely to CA in your "Big Mac" truck.

•  Lunch... Yes it was a big enough deal to mention on the blog, after a morning of cleaning I was HUNGRY...  Tim and I got a super good paninin (turkey artichoke-heart... highly recommended) from Kneaders.. I miss Kneaders and PJ breakfasts with dear friends.
• Marriott School Reception- Just good to see friends and thank professors.  I am blessed to have associated with so many amazing people!
•  Marriott School Convocation (aka graduation with just the Business School)

• Dinner with the Farnsworth Fam- Fabulous! Conversation and dinning at PF Changs

April 24

• Cleaning... cleaning... cleaning.... and yep more cleaning. Thanks to all our helpers!
• 9:00 PM- Goodbye Provo... Hello open road to California!

Important notes: 

Dear PF Changs,

Thank you for really great food and a fun atmosphere.  Most of all thank you for the Great Wall of Chocolate. 

Dear USU,

Thank you for the perfect start to college.  Thank you for life-long friends and incredible mentors.

Dear BYU,

Thanks for some great years, increased knowledge, fun memories, and invaluable friendships.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for being amazing and just being you.  You are exactly who we needed at the time we first met and who we are blessed to always call friends.  We are excited to see where life takes each of you and to share the journey with you in any way.

Dear Family, 

Thank you all for coming to be with us.  Thank you for loving and supporting us.  We are glad we get you for forever!

Dear Timothy John,

Thank you for supporting me in everything, including finishing school. 

Thanks Mom and Dad

The day of graduation we invited our parents to spend the morning with us at Thanksgiving Point's tulip festival.  The flowers were a little hammered from a recent hail storm. We were a little frazzled (okay so when I say we I mean I) with packing, graduation, arranging schedules, running on little to no sleep... and you know the whole closure thing with a major chapter of life.  

But still it was beautiful.

 

And being together was the most beautiful part of it all.

I am so glad we took this time to be with our parents because they deserve so much more time, gratitude, and love.  Thanks Moms and Dads for everything you do for us!  We love you!

Love, Your baby girl and boy

(Probably not how Tim would sign it, but it's the truth.)

FINAL Finals: the end of my undergrad

Final days of school went as follows:

Tuesday April 20-
   Spent time with Megs and Parker
   Went with Megan to get our hair done at Modifi
        (Love that place... miss trusting someone with my hair)
   Tim arrived earlier than expected, bearing gifts of cookies and milk...
          LOVE that boy!
   Gave my final presentation  
     (3+ hours on campus after Tim just got home... not cool)
   Went to dinner with Mark and Amanda at Spark  
         (good friends+good food= a combination that can't be beat). 
   Hoped to be done with finals... not the case (boo).
   Worked on a paper and studied until late.

Wednesday April 21-
  Woke up ridiculously early to study.
  Took my last test in the testing center! 
          (SO glad to walk out of there).
  Drove to Duchesne to collect more of our stuff  
     (Studied while we drove)
  Tim gathered things while I:
     finished an entire simulation (not fun or particularly easy)
     completed some quizzes (my fault for procrastinating)
   sent in my final paper at the last minute... literally.

I sat in disbelief as we drove home- I was done with college.
I felt such joy- WE WERE TOGETHER!

Dialogue and Dancing

I love being around my family

Listening to their thoughts

 

Watching them interact

Witnessing joy as Umpa and the little ones dance

I am blessed to simply know them and be in their company

Cramming and Company Combined

Cramming- not so fun.

Company- absolutely wonderful!

Combined- Busy, but WONDERFUL! * See below for details.

* Megs and Parker came for a visit at the start of finals and it was grand to have them. 

Other company that week included Megan's friend Kevin,  Ben, Elaine, Lorna, Ethan, and Dad.

It was a full time between visitors, preparing for my FINAL finals, and packing.  I only wish I had been able to spend more time with everyone who came, they were all great to give me the time and space I needed to study.  And honestly it was great to have them around, I focused better during my study time knowing that after a good session I would get to chat with Megs or play at the park with Dad and Parker.

Seriously how could this adorable face not alleviate stress?

A few highlights of Megan and Parker's visit:

• Parker as orator and artist

This boy can talk up a storm!  He knows so many words and is a great conversationalist.
When Little P came to visit he knew basic colors (orange, blue, red, green, yellow, purple and pink),
could count to 10,
always was asking for Tim,
would talk about trucks, cars, tractors, and diggers (backhoes).

Parker also practiced his artistic skills on our packing paper...

Parker Picasso

It was fun because the paper was bigger than him!

Every great artist has a supportive mentor

• Playing at the park with Umpa (Dad) and Parker

After Parker went down the slide he asked for my help off and I complied. As I took his little hand a little shock got both of us.  Parker pulled his hand back and looked at me in surprise and pain.  I reached for him again, but he wouldn't take my hand again.  I explained I didn't mean to hurt him and that it was a "shock" from the slide...  Every time he went down the slide after that he would say "shock, shock"  and he was very leery of being assisted after coming down.  It's hard to explain how awfully cute and funny (and a little sad) this was.

(Umpa and Parker talking about "shock")

We enjoyed slides, finding new friends

and a picnic of PB&J with veggies

and milk (of course).


Thanks for a fun visit!  We can't wait to see you again soon!

We're alive and TOGETHER!

It's true we are officially in Cali!

So much has happened since THE boxes arrived that I have been a bit scared to post.

However, I decided I better take the plunge and post.

(Having reminded myself that the longer I wait, the more things will happen, and so the cycle would start.)

Before I jump in to where we left off I have to tell my man that I love him! We’ve been married two years! The BEST two years to date!

I love you Timothy John.  You're my best friend and the best husband. You’re INCREDIBLE and our life is more than I could have dreamed of.  You are my one and only. I'm forever yours.

I’ll post (with pictures) in chronological order (which means official anniversary post to come) over the next few days and bring you all to where we are now!

California Kisses- Margo