The thing about living in Nevada in the winter time is that it gets cold & it snows.
I have never lived in snow before & so I am a little skeptical about being here.
If you don't know this already, I am a MAJOR sun person, I LOVE warm weather!
It isn't that I hate snow, per se. Let's just say that I have a LOVE/HATE relationship with snow.
LOVE: It's pretty, you get to drink as much hot chocolate as you want, cool winter clothes... (if you can't tell, all my "love" items doesn't really have me IN snow)
HATE: two words... cold & wet (shudders)
SO, to think positively, I am reminiscing of our summer adventure earlier this year.
A couple of camping trips to Jenkinson's Lake.
first trip was with Christine, Gail, Kevin, Eric, Trevor, CJ & I
second trip was with Eric, Carl, CJ & I
Both were within a couple weeks from each other. Both were fun & relaxing.
As I am writing and reminiscing, I am also looking FORWARD to next summer.
Plank it! Plank it goood.
Morning trail hike/run. Nothing like being able to walk around the lake when no one's around.
So peaceful!
Made CJ a necklace. He loved it!
I took a nap in the ever-so-comfortable truck.
CJ put up a hammock
It was comfy!
Where the REAL fun begins!! Jenkinsons Lake!
CJ coming back in from his nice relaxing time in the kayak
Us in our matching life jackets. A smart purchase for us!
Relaxing back at camp
The boys were cutting up some wood for our fire
Eric & CJ are trying to catch fish, If you look closely, you can see Carl in the kayak hiding behind the little grassy area!
We found a turtle and named him TIMMY!
A shot of CJ on the kayak. He's so handsomely rugged. =)
Below is a video of us canoe-dling on the lake.
ENJOY!
I have never canoe-dled before, but CJ is my favorite person to canoe-dle with. He made a wonderful lunch "picnic" and we ate it on the water.
Fun story: Jason & Nicole (one of my favorite married couples of all time) invited CJ and I to go to the Tech Museum with them.
CJ never knew about it and I've only ever heard of the place but it was a legit good time.
The museum is in San Jose and since Nicole & Jason were going to Monterey afterwards to visit her sister, we drove separately. At this time I was in a HUGE Dave & Busters hype so we went there after the museum for dinner. The Snow Cone drink is AMAZING.
In the lab making our petri dishes. Goggled up!
This is my glowing petri dish. Yup, I got an A in Microbiology.
Enjoying the museum! I would love to go back & spend an entire day there.
My snow cone and CJ with his "drink" (It's 0% alcohol).
Overall, great company at a great museum with great food & drinks afterward
If anyone knows me, prior to 2007 I did not really do outdoorsy stuff. I went camping with my family every year, but we took our entire house practically so it wasn't "real" camping.
CJ is the opposite. He is Mr. Outdoorsy.
When we first began dating he was planning a "couples hike" to Point Reyes.
Point Reyes has great hiking trails, the one we took was to the coast.
As a novice hiker I had no idea what I was in for. It was well worth it in the end.
When you get to the coast you can climb down the mountain to the beach
& it is just wonderful.
We are up on the mountain. You can climb down to the beach though.
Jokingly holding him from jumping. I guess I drove him crazy from the start.
So our first hike together ended up being our first time at the beach together, too!
Although Northern California beaches are not as warm as Southern California beaches, I love NorCal. Born & raised!
Here's a video of CJ trying to throw me into the water. NOT cool!
My favorite picture of the hike.
**backstory: we had been following the trail for what seemed like forever and I kept asking CJ if we were there yet (to our destination: the beach). He kept saying, "Just around the bend... Just around the bend" but alas, we were not there after that bend, or the next, or the next. I asked one more time and he said, "Just around the bend" and I replied, "Pinky swear?" He did and he was right!
This year my younger cousin Lauryn graduated high school and she chose to go to
Arizona State University.
I am so proud of what a beautiful young lady she has become.
so purrrty.
**back story: CJ and I JUST returned that morning from a camping trip. We got to his house, I left immediately so I can shower at home and get ready & then he picked me up again.
& I swear I'm not a fatty, I was starving because we hadn't eaten.
There is a street in Vacaville, CA where each holiday season every house on the street puts lights & decorations up. I love the festive-ness of Vacaville.
It is one of the many reasons why I love Vacaville so very much.
It's called Candy Cane lane, and the street next to it joins along to be called "Lollipop Lane."
CJ and I try to go to Candy Cane lane every year and I'm sad that this year I won't be able to see it. I love the holiday season, not because of the presents or the food (ok, maybe the food) but mostly because I get to spend it with the people I love the most in life.
This year I will be in Nevada. I'm going to try to bring the festive-ness here, even though I have to work on Christmas eve and Christmas day.
This was the first time we ever went. It was in 2008.
I look at this picture and remember everything that I love about Candy Cane Lane and the holiday season. So even though I'm in Nevada, I will carry the holiday spirit with me through the season.
He was in the beautiful city of San Francisco for a few days and asked CJ and I to see the sights around the city. We both had a day off fortunately so we jumped to the opportunity to spend an entire day in my favorite city.
Lombard Street-- the crookedest street in the world!
Walking to Lombard from parking
The view of Coit Tower from the top of Lombard Street
Us in front of the crowd
I love the view of San Francisco, especially the TransAmerica building (Triangular building)
The Palace of Fine Arts
The boys being silly about taking a picture
They dared me to go try to jump on this swan, but as I was approaching it,
the thing looked at me with a death stare SO scary I nearly peed my pants
I just walked away & I think the swan was debating whether to chase after me
We thought it would be incredibly crafty to take touristy jumping pictures.
Up next is a collection of our jumping photos. Hope you like...
Sorta sad the Golden Gate was covered in fog
There was so much more to this adventure than just the photos I've posted.
It was an overall wonderful day, just like every day that I spend in San Francisco!
ALSO, if you are not from the area, GO TO GHIRARDELLI SQUARE. You will not be sorry.
I got a pumpkin spice hot chocolate and it was like heaven in a cup!
& here is the last picture and my favorite.
I am very lucky to have such a handsome significant other.
