August trip to California...

We had a great time in California in August... it was mostly about wedding stuff, but we managed to have a little fun too! We went to the pool, went out on the boat, hung out with family,went to dinner with Michelle and Rob, etc. etc. As always we were very sad to leave... the boat trip, on a rather windy rough morning...

What would a trip to California be without a visit to "Cars and Coffee" for Troy...

And a little more California... Cars & Coffee

Since we've been back...

OK... I am VERY behind in our blog updates! So, I thought I'd better pop in and tell everyone that we are doing good. :)

Troy decided to take two more classes to boost his GPA up, so that we could keep the grad school, law school, etc options open. So... I am still dating a college student, but at least its only 6 credit hours! Haha! Much easier to manage!!

You would think with all the extra time off from work I'd actually have time to clean my house, put away all the Christmas decor, etc but I seem to be just as busy as ever. Haha! I have been working on the annual fundraiser for the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, looking for a job, and doing lots of consulting to earn some extra cash. I must say, however, that I love sleeping in everyday! It's awesome! :) I will miss it terribly when I have a job again.

Troy and I have been having lots of fun the last few weeks. We went to a symphony, to a wedding, to an opera, to the auto show (see photos below), hung out with the Burgoynes while they were in town, had a family BDay dinner for Sherri, etc etc. We've been enjoying spending LOTS more time together... seemed like we really hadn't had much time together since school started in May so it has been heaven. :)

Of course we also celebrated Troy's BDay.... since we go out so often to the theater, etc we generally like to stay home when its a special occasion. Haha! So... for Troy's birthday we just goofed off during the afternoon and then went to the store to get supplies for the birthday dinner, and to rent a movie. I tried out a new recipe and we snuggled up on the couch to eat dinner and watch a movie. It was a great evening! :)
And thanks to everyone for all the great BDay wishes... Elli, we loved the 'cake' you made and Mom/Dad, thanks for the card - Troy loved it!

Other random photos from the Cali trip...

Unfortunately Troy came down with a very nasty cold while we were in Cali, and being the mean girlfriend that I am, I dragged him off to the beach. :( Here he is trying to nap on the picnic table at Crystal Cove.... sorry my love! I should have made you stay home to rest. :( My Dad recently got his 62' Porsche back from being restore. It's just gorgeous! Troy couldn't wait to see it when we arrived. The weather wasn't very good the first few days, so it took us a while to take it out for a drive. Finally one sunny, but rather cool afternoon, Troy, my Dad and I decided to take the old cars and head to the Shake Shack. Unfortunately the MG wasn't cooperating, but we still went.... Troy and I took the Porsche and my Dad followed in the X5. Aside from stalling the car a few times we had a lovely drive... And the shakes were YUMMY! :) While at the Shake Shack, this gorgeous Lambo (a few photos down) came up the road... The Christmas Tree at Fashion Island is the "tallest in the US" or something silly like that... either way, its always a fun outing to go see it. :)

Reminiscing...

Wow… never thought I would care about rain sensing wipers and a back up camera, but they just happened to be on the car that was in the color I wanted so… we have them! Have been using them lots in the last 2 days, and boy are they awesome features! :) Love them!

Anyway… I was reminiscing last night about the adventures we have had in the Volvo and I thought of one story that most of you have probably not heard… Troy tells it better than I do but here goes anyway…

Just a couple months after Troy and I met and had started dating (in April of 2006), I was going camping in Virgin, Utah with a bunch of friends for the weekend. Troy really doesn’t like camping and wasn’t planning to come… but I begged and pleaded and said it wouldn’t be nearly as fun for me if he wasn’t there. He was still hesitant but said he would think about it. It wouldn’t be easy for him - he had the girls that weekend, his car wasn’t running very well, he had no sleeping bag, wasn’t sure he could get off work, etc. I said I would pack an extra sleeping bag and extra food just in case, and I left the keys to my car so that he could drive it down if he decided to come. I even printed out the directions to our super secret camp site and headed off…. With the hope that he would come join us the next day.

We sent texts back and forth while Erica, Ethan and I were driving down there, and the next day when the whole group headed off to Sardine Canyon (There is very limited cell service at the campsite). We talked a few times and it was sounding like he wasn’t going to make it. I was very sad and when we got back to the campsite that afternoon I was totally bummed as he and I had gotten cut off on the phone when I went into a dead zone.

Our friend Buck was talking with me when I got back to the campsite and was helping me carry stuff back to the tent. He was rambling (or so I thought) trying to distract me from how sad I was, and mentioned something about hippopotamuses… I didn’t blink and eye and started telling the story Shelly had told me about the Rhino’s in Africa hanging out in the shade of the tents. I bend down to put my things in the tent and than stand back up. Then I paused because I realized that I had seen a large pair of shoes sitting on my sleeping bag, and they were obviously not mine… I lift up the tent door to see Troy in the tent. I screamed and literally dove into the tent to hug and kiss him. I was so very excited! And he said that my reaction made the torture of camping well worth it! :) Haha!

Little did I know that Hippopotamus was the “code word” Buck was using to tell Troy we were on our way to the tent…. And I hadn’t even noticed my car sitting off in the trees just a little ways down… Haha!! It was the BEST surprise! :) I couldn’t stop smiling the rest of the day… Possibly the rest of the trip! (Thank you Colleen for encouraging him to come! And for watching the dogs!)

And here is Troy with his "super" side kick Buck.... the silly things we do while camping.... Haha! P.S.
Yikes... someone told me today that Christmas is 6 weeks away.... I had better get busy with my shopping!!

Good-bye Volvo...

Troy and I both were both very sad as we said good-bye to the Volvo last night..... Despite the many repairs, I really did LOVE that car! And over the 8 1/2 years that I had it... it had kept me safe and sound on many a snowy day. We will miss it very much..... I actually teared up at one point... silly I know... but 8 1/2 years is a long time....
We are very excited to welcome the newest member of our family though...Come visit... we'll go for a ride. :)

OK.... I THINK this is the winner....

but things may still change.... haha! The color is called Truffle Mica and it looks a little grey in some light but has a nice brown tint to it, especially in the sun. :) The interior is a light tan color with brown wood. Very pretty. I think it will serve us well. :)

Our new dream car...

Wow... what an adventure the test drive of this car was!! We have a very good friend who works for Porsche and may be able to get us a Cayenne for less than a Toyota or a Lexus... haha! How would that be?!?! Haha! I think the Lexus is still probably what we will end up with, but the Cayenne sure would be fun! And the Macadamia color is just my dream.... it is so gorgeous! (the picture above does NOT do it justice! It's a gorgeous dark metallic brown.)

Bryan took us on one wild test drive!! We tested out the stability on some hair pin turns at very high speeds, we tested out the brakes from a rather high speed to a stop, all in about 10 feet... AMAZING! We tested out the traction with a little off-roading and went over some wild bumps..... so much fun! And we were both car sick at the end! Haha! But we felt VERY GOOD about the safety of that car!

Maybe someday.....

How about a Nissan?

I looked at the Toyotas but the Forerunner (sp?) is a little too large and missing some of the features I really want, and the Rav4 is closer to the size I want, but missing several of the features. Which led us to Nissan... Here is one of the cars in the running.... the Nissan Murano. Depending on availability, pricing, etc.... but I really like these. Unfortunately Troy isn't really a fan, but I am working on that part. :) I can even get a double panel sunroof.... but that may be too pricey... but I LOVE them!

Then there is a Buick Enclave... more expensive but a very nice car. Troy hates these too... haha! But look at that gorgeous color! :)
Another car we are considering is the Acura MDX - but I am really not happy with the color choices they have so that is holding me up a bit. But its a great car with lots of the features I like but still quite affordable so... we'll see.... Thoughts??

The question of the day...

Do I pay $5000 to repair my car (needs a new transmission... ouch!) or trade it in and get something newer??? I think the poor thing is only worth 6 or 7k so it seems a little silly to put 5 more into it but, car payments are just so icky.....

Maybe Santa will leave a new car under my Christmas tree....


P.S. Just to lighten my mood....


(Thanks Paulette! I needed that... )