So Many Activities

What a week it has been. I love that Brian and I were able to celebrate our 20th Anniversary for a few days. We went on a double date to Lucille's' BBQ. The catfish is very yummy there and we enjoyed lovely conversation. On Wednesday Brian was able to take off work. We rode around beautiful new places and ate lunch with Celia and Spencer and took Joseph and Emmy out with us at night to Pete's. I loved the family time and walking outdoors when the weather had cooled down and we had the nice delta breeze. We live in such a beautiful place. We had been going on car rides to areas of our community we have passed by, but never explored beautiful. I felt like I was filling in a map in my mind discovering new ways to get places and having a great knowledge of our area.

Andrew left this last week too. The open house and airport goodbyes were endearing to see from my perspective. He will be missed. Luckily, Emmy has a lot of good friends, family, and school work to keep her busy.

Spencer has been off school for a while so we have had a lot of quality time together. We went to wake island on one of our rides and he loved it so much. He was laughing and dancing to the music. A dog came and visited us, he had food from Beach Hut Deli and got to watch a few wake boarders fall and also do some great tricks. One time an official on a jet ski busted some people and Spencer got the biggest kick out of it. I know feel like I know what he likes more because of how happy he was. We went to a ward BBQ, Celia went to a swim party, I walked with a friend and attended a Relief Society dinner that had several great classes which I enjoyed very much. Emmy and I worked on her personal progress and Brian and Joe stained the back fence. ( It looks so much better!) I feel so blessed and spoiled with gifts and friends and fun times. There have been challenges for sure, but the good has outweighed the bad. The kids go back to school in the next week or too, it will be nice to slow things down and get into a routine again.

Mountains and Mountains to climb

Just as Emmy starts her senior year tomorrow, Spencer is on a two week summer vacation. I hope we can structure up our days enough to have a pleasant few weeks. We have already had a great summer full or car rides, swimming, trips to the mall and various Dimple stores. It has been hot, but we have managed well. This week should be fun with our upcoming anniversary and various activities. Emmy had fun with the Solano's going to Newport Marriott Villas for a long weekend and also visiting Eagle Falls yesterday, near Lake Tahoe. With commuting Emmy to and from various girls camps, I've come to notice the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains nearby.

We're so blessed to live in such a great place. We went to Andrew's open house for his mission tonight. I'm excited for him to serve in the Utah, South Salt Lake Mission. He will be a great missionary and he will be missed here. Only two years. What  a great sacrifice to help others! Joseph will go when he is older. I think that will be very hard for me to let him go. It is so great to see each missionary grow in strength and spirit. Sometimes it is hard to do what is best for us, but the experience we take from it is worth it.

Mom's Mendocino Birthday

What? It's Mom's Birthday?(Commence in singing Happy Birthday). That was what happened over a hundred times on my birthday road trip to the Ocean.  We decided to be spontaneous and meander in a north west direction on my birthday. We stopped at Grocery Outlet and got a few things then we ended up in Mendocino. We also passed through Redwood forest to and from the ocean.  It was a hot day and Spencer, Celia, and I went to get a car wash and to a garage sale. We loved our ride, it was so fun. Everyone was happy and it was such beautiful scenery and miles of mountain turns. Who knew it was so beautiful here? In Fort Brag, we found a turn off that had a jungle beach walk. We noticed so much fog moving in and beautiful waves and there was a lovely breezy by the beach. Much different then the triple digit temperatures back at home. I was in awe of the arches and beautiful bluffs in Mendocino. We had never been there and were very impressed. The colors were beautiful and the various flowers gave off a pleasant perfume like smell. Joseph was a little concerned I walked a precarious path to reach an area more extended out of over the water. I guess I am adventurous still even as a 40 year old. I got a little nervous passed the pass that looked  like it might rock slide down thirty feet at any moment, but the view was worth the risk.  We passed by Napa on the way home. It was beautiful too. I'm so glad for the family time. I missed Emmy, but knew she as having fun in Newport. Overall, it was a magical, better than expected sort of day.

River Time

Date night didn't fall on my birthday, but who says we can't celebrate early? A while ago I was thinking of where to go for my birthday dinner and thought Scott's Seafood would be nice. Who knew I would enjoy seafood so much since I steered clear of it as a youth. I had swordfish and coconut shrimp. It was beautiful I should have taken a picture of it but usually don't photograph food much. The River was beautiful, I'm so glad we went to the Sacramento location instead of Folsom it was somewhere new.:) The sunset was great and it is just nice to relax and talk and enjoy great food. I loved the triple berry dessert and walking by the river after and of course touring "The Pocket" area I know where that is.:)