aaaaaaand we're back!

so i've let almost two months go by without writing and the longer i put it off, the harder it is for me to get back on it and catch up.  it intimidates me and i don't know why.  i started this for me to document our life to look back on and after i went m.i.a. i was getting harassed (the most loving way possible) to update the blog because people actually read it.. which shocks and flatters me.  so i'm going to attempt to catch you all up from august til now.. because i don't feel like i can write any new posts until i make up for lost time.


we have been ridiculously busy to say the least.


august 1st was our one year anniversary and  i couldn't believe that a year had already flown by.  people always warn you before you get married that the first year is the hardest, so i also couldn't believe that the first year was over and i was even more in love and just lived the best year of my life.  of course we went through difficult times and learned a lot about ourselves and each other, but we also had the most amazing, joyful and exciting times.  marriage is a beautiful gift from God that i am so thankful for.  it is also a sacred place that the Lord uses to refine us into who He wants us to be.



so to celebrate our first year we spent the weekend away in palm springs.  the amazing family i nanny for has a beautiful condo there that they opened up for us to use anytime we want to get away.. talk about blessed.  on the morning of the first it was so much fun to sit with handsome husband and reflect on the last year, watch a video of our wedding, look a pictures, reminisce, talk about highs and lows and highlights.  being out in the desert was so peaceful, relaxing and HOT!  one of the days we actually had a crazy rainstorm, but it was still super hot outside.. i loved it.  when we got back to SD we went out for an incredible dinner at Donovan's downtown. yum.


i'm so blessed to have nick as my husband and by my side forever.



hmmm..  one major highlight of august was that we had so much family in town.. almost every weekend!  we spent one weekend hanging out with the Elms.. We went to dinner on coronado and church in san marcos where uncle ron led worship.  i loved having them here!!


the next weekend the other Elm family and my parents came into town!!  the Elms were moving Michael into his dorm at SDCC (so excited he's down here and so close to us!!) I don't even know where to begin with all the fun we had with them.  We shopped, BBQ-ed, went to dinner for Uncle Rickie's birthday, had the best night ever at the shout house downtown (i have been wanting to go for years!!), went to Syrah, my fav little wine place downtown, layed by the pool, and so much more.  it was amazing and so refreshing spending sweet time with all of them.  i cried when they left. i'm a little girl at heart, i think i always will be.



in mid august we found out that my sister was going to be going up to hume for this year to do the joshua program.  she had so many different plans for this next year that God shut the door to.. every single time.  she didn't have direction, she didn't know what to do, she applied so late and got in.  it is so unlikely for a spot to open up so late and she get picked out of so many people to fill the last spot.  if that isn't cool enough, they told her that she owed $4000 by the next day to hold her spot.  i would say that the Lord definitely wanted her in this program because just the day before my papa tom had just told my parents that because of an investment he had made, he was gifting them some money, and just like that everything was taken care of.  when brooke went up to hume to meet with the director a few weeks before finding all of this out, he had told her that he would love to have her in the program but because it was so late she would probably have to wait until the following year.  he also told her that if God wanted her in the class this year, it would happen and He would make the way.  it gives me chills to look back on this past year and see His hand in her life, guiding her to where she is now.  He clearly shut so many doors to the things she thought she wanted and opened up so easily to where He wanted her, and even provided the money.  our God is so BIG and so good!!
i am so beyond excited for her to be there this year and experience all that i did.  i love that this is something that brooke and i will be able to share together because i have lived it and understand all that she is going through.  i think i am most excited to see how God transforms her over this year, it's going to be incredible.  AND she gets to go to Israel.  i want to go back so bad!!



let's see.. what else did we do? we went to a padres game with some friends! that was fun.  i don't remember who we played but it was a good game.. it was tied in the end and in the extra inning we lost :(


over labor day weekend nick's aunt judy and uncle pete from colorado came out to visit and treated us to an amazing weekend.  we took them to some of our favorite restaurants and spent sweet quality time together.  one day they took us deep sea fishing.  i was so excited to go and be on a boat in the middle of the ocean! but i have never been on a boat in the middle of the ocean and therefore had no idea that i get extremely sea sick.  i am so happy that nick loved it because for me it was five long hours of extreme nausea.  thankfully i didn't throw up.  on a boat of 75 people, and no working bathroom, my option would have been to be THAT girl throwing up over the railing.. and i just didn't want to do that.  my equilibrium was off for the next few days to come which made it really unfortunate when they took us wine tasting in temecula.  i have gone in napa many times with my family and have wanted to go in temecula since i've lived here.  i was still sick from the boat so i could barely enjoy any wine.  even though i couldn't taste very many wines, it was still a beautiful day exploring the vineyards out there and a great weekend with family.


last weekend was my birthday. the big 23. i wasn't very excited about this age because all i can ever think about is that stupid blink 182 song that says "nobody likes you when you're 23" and probably because i don't like odd numbers.  anyways, i had a great weekend!  nick spoiled me with a spa day at vasseur day spa down town in this super cute old victorian home.  i had a massage and an incredible facial.  it was so amazing i got sucked in and bought all their products and am now obsessed with them.  besides that, we just did all of my favorite things i wanted to do.  i got to watch 'a little princess' which brought me right back to my childhood.  we got frozen yogurt. nick bought me a keychain from tiffanys. i got a sweet card from him, the "happy birthday to my wife" card that i was so excited about being able to get now being married.. it's actually my second married birthday.  married birthdays are so much better.


my parents and some of their friends took off to europe last week.  they are depressed that they are officially empty nesters and this is how they deal with their pain.  i do not feel sorry for them one bit.  they are in greece and italy for about three weeks. yep, no sympathy coming from me.


busy last couple months? yes. scatter brain? yes. 
but i am caught up and can breathe deep!
after having such a fun and busy summer i am thankful for this season to come and things to start slowing down around our home :)