Mine & Jen's Big Day

Alright, so I give. Jen's day was bigger. Getting married for time and all eternity kinda trumps turning 28, but hey at least I got to celebrate both in Utah.

Well here is the best part of this whole week...alright well not the best "part" but definitely the best story.

I was supposed to fly to Utah on the 11th (my birthday) at 7am, well I don't know if you were watching the weather at all the weekend before, but ya that would have been when we were buried under nearly 2 feet of snow and bracing for another blizzard. I knew, just knew my flight was going to get canceled, so Tuesday morning, the 9th, I got up and checked usairways.com and read that they had "relaxed their ticketing"which basically means you can change your ticket without paying all the fees and what not. Well the airport was open for about 12 hours in between the two storms (the 2nd blizzard was expected to start Tuesday around 2pm) and so I threw some clothes into a bag and had my roommate Kim drop me a off at the airport.

I ran to the Preferred line (ya, after a year of travel I have finally arrived and have status with an airline!) and begged the lady to get me out. She was awesome and made it happen. I got out on one of the last flights out of DC and then went through Charlotte where the last seat was First Class! What up?! Haha. You would think this wouldn't have been the first time, but alas, it is the first time I've flown First Class coast to coast. I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E.

So yes my Birthday present came early and I got to Salt Lake by 7:30pm Tuesday night and was able to spend the whole week there with family and friends. Yes I did take the gamble that the office would be closed due to the weather- and lucky again, it was :).
Did I mention it was my birthday? Well it was. I turned 28. Yeah I'm getting old (on a completely random tangent, I recently watched My Best Friend's Wedding and she's supposed to be 28 in that movie! Her back up plan was for 28 and that's where I am. 28. Oh and my back up plan is getting married in June. Dang it all)

Anyhow, I was able to celebrate the day at my Aunt's house with some friends and family. It was perfect. The top picture would be me with my cousins and the next picture is with my crazy Arizona friends who drove up for Jen's wedding.

And here are my BFFs with their adorable kids. How I love these women and their babies. Gosh I miss them everyday.

Adorable.

We were able to stop by Jen's parents place and see her before the wedding. I'm so glad we did, it was just great to see her for a minute. I love that girl and I couldn't be happier for her in her marriage.

Oh just a sampling of the madness that ensued at Annie's place. We did tear the weekend up. It is always a blast to lay around and laugh with my Arizona ladies. I say we do it every few months..keeps me going.
Oh and did I mention the chocolate strawberries we made? Genius idea taught to me my Amanda and passed along with love.

Jen is wonderful and after you meet her parents, you totally understand where she gets it. I love this family. We've gotten to know each other over the years of Jen and I living together and when I was in Indiana for work (and they still lived there) and I just think they are an incredible family.

These two adorable boys are Jen's nephews and they had the attention of every lady in the joint, Jen's poor brothers didn't stand a chance :) haha.

Such a beautiful temple.
Playing it up for the cameras. She is a gorgeous bride.

I am so glad I was able to be there for Jen's big day. I just love her and I love that she is so happy. It always gives me hope when I see my close friends find that happiness.

The Men in my Life

How stinking cute is this boy?! I got to see my nephews for a couple of days while they were with Al here in Virginia and there is just nothing sweeter than these two little men.

Look at how handsome Vince is! I mean he is getting so big! He'll be 4 in May and it just blows me away to think about it. Every time I'm with him, we just play and play. He does love his Aunt Mimi..what can I say, I'm his favorite.

Oh Baby Clyde...how he melts me with those eyes. We keep praying they stay this color. He is just beautiful.

Aww and my little ham. I honestly can't get enough of these two. probably why I'm headed to see them in Florida again this weekend..oh and the next. Maybe I should just move back :)

Snomageddon

In case you haven't heard, the DC area just endured another major snowstorm this weekend. Seriously, we're breaking records all over the place. There was ample warning this time and the stores were a madhouse and we received alerts to be prepared to "shelter down for 3-5 days".

Craziness, right? Well considering we're on Day 3 and we've just been notified the Federal Government is closed tomorrow (and though I don't work for them, most of us go by their schedule) so we're easing into Day 4.

Cabin Fever anyone?

Hahaha. Who am I kidding?! It's been wonderful! Movies, reading, sleeping, cooking, baking...and chatting with my wonderful roommates. Oh and no work, did I mention that?

Here are a few pictures to document this incredible storm...

This would be my car and street before the storm. As you can see we had a little remnant of last Saturday's storm (we got about 6 inches then, but its mostly melted now-enough to cancel church though) but it was pretty clear. This was taken Friday morning around 8am, the snow started at 10:30 am and went until Saturday around 5:30pm.
Here is my car after the storm. Yeah, it's hard to tell..but that's my car buried under the 20"+. Insanity.

Our front steps and sidewalk-my roommate Jami was on it, she shoveled that as soon as the snow stopped. This picture doesn't do it justice, but that snow is pretty dang high.

Our street. The plows were busy and had come during the storm, but we haven't seen them since. A whole lot of ice now.

This would be me trying to walk back to Kim. I was wearing knee-high boots...they're pretty cute, too bad you can't see them!! Seriously, I have never seen this much snow in my life.

Oh and this would be Cowboy Caviar. Yup and it helped us through Saturday that is for sure. It is a dip with avocado, tomato, cilantro and a whole lot of other goodness and it is divine.

Look familiar? This would be my Tortilla Soup. Oh how I love this stuff. Kept me warm and full all weekend.

We were prepared, what can we say?

Kim baked homemade french bread. It was delicious!

As soon as the snow stopped, Kim and I went for a walk to see the damage done. Here is a truck trying to get off a side road. Not sure how he thought he'd manage that.

It really was a Winter Wonderland. It has honestly been a really nice weekend, we've been blessed to have power the whole time though others have not been so fortunate. The snow is starting to get a bit old- especially since we're expected to get 5 more inches come Tuesday night.

All I have to say is it better be nice and clear 7am on Thursday 2/11 so I can head to Utah for my birthday and Jen's wedding. So get with the program Mother Nature-Thanks for the day and a half off work, but enough already!

36 Hours in L.A.

One of the greatest blessings of being single is the opportunity to share those all important life moments with your dearest friends. I have been truly blessed to witness these precious moments with some of my favorite people, and on the weekend of January 15th I was able to be there for my amazing Florida soulmate Amanda as she wed the man of her dreams.

I hopped a coast-to-coast flight Thursday evening and was able to spend the next 24 hours with Amanda, sharing in the millions of emotions that pass through a girl as she prepares for her wedding. It was absolutely perfect. Got the red eye home Friday and was back in DC life Saturday morning. Amanda looking radiant as her Dad walks her down the aisle. Seriously, loved her dress. Gorgeous.

How cute are they? Yes this would be another attempt to work on my photography skills..loving my new camera.

Beautiful.
I love this shot. The reception was adorable.

Sneaking a private moment with the bride. Love this lady. So happy I was able to share this day with her. I mean, what are friends for, right? If not to share life's biggest moments with. Such a blessing.

Phoenix New Years

I'm not sure that I've mentioned how much I love Cafe Rio, but I do. It may even be an addiction, but I don't mind being addicted to this little Mexican slice of heaven. I literally ate there every other day of my vacation. Ya I was gone 10 days=5 times=Delish.

Well after my blissfully wonderful Christmas in the Country of Parowan, I headed South for warmer weather and to ring the New Year in with some of my favorite people.

Being that I use to live in Phoenix, I have been back a few times since I left in 2006, but it is insane to think that the last trek was February 2008! How I've missed my Arizona home and so this trip was long over due but we packed the fun and food in my 3 days there.

Drove to Mesa for this treat. Way too good to me Krista.

We really did more than eat over these 3 days...but not much. So as the following pictures reflect, Krista and I hit up every restaurant we could think of and had a blast doing it.
So here's Bahama Breeze in Mesa, a little shaved ice delicacy reminiscent of my childhood in Hawaii. Good stuff.

Krista had a coupon AND a gift card to Cold Stone, I mean you just can't pass that up! And we surely didn't.An early stop by Chick Fil-A for my poison of choice- Diet Dr. Pepper just makes me happy. Maybe I'm shallow or just easily elated, but I love DDP from the fountain. Divine.

Oh the memories at Red Robin. I first think of Ashley's surprise 21st birthday party, remember Ash?! Aww...I miss you girls already. Oh and their Buffalo Chicken Wrap is to die for- not to mention the endless fries. Ya the diet starts in 2010.

MoJo. A Frozen Yogurt shop that Krista and Ashley shared with me. You just fill the cup up and they weigh it! You put whatever you want in there...it was so fun, not to mention tasty.

We rang the New Years in at a Singles Dance. All I have to say about that...is at least I got to bust a move...and remember how single I am. Thank goodness I was surrounded by great friends :).

Krista getting the party started! This is Martinelli's, aka the Mormon Champagne..haha.. It's sparkling cider for all my Non Mormon readers.

Toasting to a New Year and great friends that have made 2009 a blast. Krista and Ashley, you make me laugh and just make my heart happy. I love you.

Sporting our Christmas PJs.

Enjoying the Arizona Sun and exercising our 2nd Ammendment. Shooting up the Desert. The only way to ring in the year!

Krista and I enjoying the gorgeous weather and catching up on some reading. I love laying in the sun, I'm definitely doing more of that in 2010.

Big Ash modeling the Christmas gift I gave her. I think Spain looks good on you Ash.

Practicing our modeling shots. America's Next Top Model better just watch out! Haha.

Oh I love you girls! Thanks for making this such a great, great New Years. Feels like I never left.

Just a sampling of the madness we created in 3 days together.

Went by way too fast, but it was exactly what I needed and the best way to bring in 2010. It would have only been better had I gotten to see Jen and Em..but luckily for us, Jen (my old roommate, who was in Peru with her family for the Holidays) is getting married in less than a month! Craziness!

2009, you've been wonderful, but I can tell 2010 is going to be even better!

Christmas in the Country

You would think with a new camera for Christmas that I would have taken more pictures...alas, I was a slacker and rather than documenting the gloriously good time, decided to just enjoy it. It was wonderful! I spent the whole Christmas weekend in Parowan, Utah where my Grandma Shurtleff lives and where we've spent Christmas for the last decade. This town has not changed a bit. And even though we tease about it's somewhat backward manners, for an Air Force Brat without a hometown, I do love a place as constant as this. Always feels like coming home when I get on Main Street.

Here is my amazing Grandma. She is a social butterfly and always takes good care of us when we come to visit. I adore her and so does the entire town. We tease her as the doorbell rings every 15 minutes with townsfolk coming to pay homage to the "Queen of Parowan". What can I say? She's a Shurtleff.

Cousins. It doesn't seem to matter that there's at least a decade between us. We have the best time together.

McKenna sporting Nathan's Christmas present. Mom and Dad wanted to get him ready for his new gig in Casper, Wyoming-complete with a Duster as well. He'll blend right in ;).

Nathan and McKenna. Pretty sure they were entranced with Joe and Lauren's Call of Duty skills. Wouldn't be Christmas without video games I guess :).

Shot of Grandma's table. We've had so many great meals and conversations around this thing. Good, good memories here.

Yup, Call of Duty. I don't get it. That's all I have to say.

Kicking it in the living room. This is one of those magical spaces that just seems to expand and fit dozens of people comfortably...I'm not even kidding. We all seem to squeeze right in. Love it.

I'm so grateful for the time I was able to spend with my family. Grandma, parents, brothers, cousins, Aunts, Uncles...I just love them. And when you mix in Cafe Rio (now available in Cedar City!! and soon to be in DC!) and a best friend willing to drive 3 hours to hang out with me in Parowan, Utah (I love you Tiffany), it makes for an absolutely perfect Holiday.

Can't wait till next year.