Weekend in Phoenix

This weekend we went over to Phoenix. Our friend Ciara had to go during the week for a conference, so she invited us to come for the weekend. We arrived Friday night and went to dinner at Zen 32 for sushi. Saturday morning we slept in, then went to lunch at an Irish pub downtown, and then spent the rest of the day by the pool. That night, we went to ASU to check it out. Good times with good friends, as usual!

Our New House....On Wheels!

We love camping, and this weekend, we found a great deal on Craig's List for this camper. Dan can use it for his office, and we can use it as a guest room when we're not camping in it. It's a 22' Fleetwood Mallard. Here it is, parked out back.

Here's the view from the master bed. To the left is the bathroom, and a vanity. There's a curtain that divides the master bed and bath from the rest of the camper. You can see the kitchen here, pretty big refrigerator and freezer, stove, oven, and sink.

Here's the couch, it converts to a bed. The camper sleeps up to 7. The 7th has to weigh under 150 pounds, to sleep on the bunk bed.

The dinette is down, making a bed here, but you get the idea. You can also see the master bed and bunk, and the door to the bathroom.

We're excited to use it, and can't wait to take it out with our family and friends.

Our New Photo Wall

We've wanted to have a photo wall in our house for a while now, and it's FINALLY done! We did 12x12 prints of some of our favorite pictures that I've taken over the course of the last year (and one from our wedding - taken by Daniele Rose). We love it!

Camping at Silver Strand

This weekend we went camping at Silver Strand. It's a little strip of land that connects the island of Coronado with Imperial Beach. We went with the neighbors, as usual! It was such a great time. We got down there on Friday and spent the evening out by the fire. Saturday we rode our bikes to Coronado, past the Hotel Del Coronado, up to the Coronado Brewing Company. CBC is one of our favorite places to eat in the San Diego area, and their beer is great. I'm a big fan of Neptune's Nectar, and Dan likes Mermaid Red.

Valentine's Day at Olvera Street

For Valentine's Day, we took the train downtown with the neighbors. We went to Olvera Street for lunch, and to do a little shopping. It was such a good time.

The indigenous people of the Tongva nation, the aboriginal tribe of the Los Angeles Basin had long been established near the river when King Carlos the III of Spain ordered the settlement of the territory by Felipe de Neve thus sending 11 families (44 people) on the long journey from Mexico to Alta California to start the pueblo de La Reina De Los Angeles in 1781.

Olvera Street is located on the general site of the birthplace of the city of Los Angeles (Mexico), near the Plaza, and the Plaza Church. Originally called Vine Street, in 1877 it was renamed after Agustin Olvera, the first judge of the county of Los Angeles (then USA).

This cross is across the plaza, at the beginning of Olvera Street. It reads "The town of Our Lady Queen of the Angels," now known as Los Angeles (the angels).

Surf City Half Marathon

We spent this morning in Huntington Beach, Surf City USA : ). I did the 1/2 marathon and Dan rode his bike on the beach. Actually, it's my dad's bike that he bought while he was here at the Mission Tiki FM. I finished the race and raised $500 for the Free Wheelchair Mission in the process. Last year, it was cold and rainy. This year, the weather was gorgeous. It was a perfect day to be at the beach. Unfortunately, I think I will lose a toenail again (not my big toe this time, the second toe, and maybe the small 5-toe too - as that toe turned into a big blister about 2x the size of the regular toe). Regardless, it was a beautiful day in sunny California!

We're Going to Alaska

Today we booked our trip to Alaska! We're going in May with my Mom & Pop and Dan's parents. We are both so excited to go back to Seattle for a couple of days, we love it there and haven't been in a couple of years now. Neither of us has been to Alaska, so we're looking forward to seeing it with our families, and being able to check another state off the list!