Fremont, California: Tourist Day (Updated)

Aaron and I headed out to California the first weekend of September for a wedding.  Raymond...He was the best man at our wedding so Aaron knew that this was something that he couldn't miss.

Ray at Aaron's wedding (to me!) in 2009 by my Daddy

 I wasn't planning on going because I knew that it would be my second week back at work and I didn't want to ask for a day off so early in the semester.  I mean...that would have been pretty lame right?  I would be missing TWO DAYS my second week back and one of them is a Friday...my longest day at work.

Well, since my co-worker got hit by a car, and I worked two weeks in my summer to cover for them, I figured that it was at least worth asking about.  And my bosses said that it would be fine.

So.......her getting hit by a car....kind of worth it?  I guess it was for me.  But I bought my plane ticket about two weeks before the wedding and so I knew that Aaron and I wouldn't be able to sit by each other.

We got to the airport and Aaron and I sat down to wait to board our plane.  And then Ray comes over....turns out that he was on our flight, and he says, "Wow....what are you guys doing here?"

What do you think we are doing here Ray?  Waiting to board a plane to Oakland Airport....the same weekend as your wedding....what could we be doing?

What a silly.  

His future wife comes over and it was fun getting to know her.  She was lovely and before the plane boarded we all got to sit and chat.

We went to get on the plane and guess what kind of weirdos I had to sit next to on the plane?

Ray and Ashley.

Isn't it wonderful how life works out sometimes?  Stuff like this seems to happen to me all the time.  I don't know whether it is because Heavenly Father loves me and orchestras awesome things for me or if I make up a bigger deal of these things than they are.  I think it is because Heavenly Father loves me.

Well, we did get to California with an extra day to play and since Aaron's parents LIVE in Fremont, we had an extra reason to come a little early.  Aaron's dad took the day off of work so that we could all go sight seeing in an area that I had never been before.

We headed to Monterey Bay to visit Fisherman's Wharf and see what we could see.

Can I just say how nice it is to have people who understand when I'm taking FOREVER to move on to another spot because I'm busy taking pictures.  Aaron's family is so good to me.

They even let me stand and take pictures of a seal fight.  Apparently not every seal is allowed on this platform.  It is a very exclusive seal club....clubbing seals?

The wildlife on the pier was pretty diverse but I guess I'm greedy.  I wanted to see more animals AND there were whale watching tours being advertised.

We all decided that it would be fun to go for a little whale watching trip so we boarded the Princess Monterey.

There was a lot to look at even when we were leaving the harbor.  I almost didn't know what to take a picture of first....and I still have tons of pictures that I haven't edited that I think are quite good.  I also didn't know what camera to use first.  I wanted to post Instagram photos...to add to my photo map but I also wanted pictures that I could edit with some quality.  And Aaron had our point and shoot so that there would be some pictures of me.  Yeah...that's right...we had three cameras going....I don't see the problem.

Here are some photos from my phone.

And here is a picture of me by Aaron with the point and shoot.  Not the most flattering picture of me but still pretty epic.

What did we get to see out there?  Tons of humpback whale action!  A real whale!  In real life!  In the real ocean!  It blew my mind.

Three hours of photo work and this is the best photo that I got.  I don't know if I would be a very patient wildlife photographer.  I've heard a National Geographic photographer say that if he could get a decent photo ever 6 months he is satisfied.  His standards are probably a lot higher than mine.

Anyway, we also saw a couple HUNDRED dolphins moving as a giant pod passed our boat.  I didn't get any pictures that I liked of that but it was INCREDIBLE to experience.  INCREDIBLE.  Seeing that many wild animals basically stampeding was a once in a lifetime experience...at least for me.  

UPDATE: I still hold that I didn't get any pictures of the dolphins that I liked or that captured the amazing scene that we had in front of us, but I did get some pictures to prove that we saw them.

It was like a parade of wildlife.  There were the hundreds of dolphins and their were pelicans and seagulls flying overhead looking for fish that were getting away from the dolphins.  And then in the group of dolphins were a could random seals that got caught in the group and were going with the flow, I guess.  Or they were after fish that the dolphins were chasing?  I have no idea.  But look at this guy go!

End of Update:

Back on the pier, we got to get a snack....of clam chowder.  The classic Fisherman's Wharf food.

Aaron ended up eating most of the actually soup but I got a good portion of the bread....the yummy delicious sour dough bread.  I love me some good sour dough.

And that was the end of our day....

NOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTT!!!!!

What?  Do we look like some tourist pansies?  Aaron and I know how to TOURIST.  We are hardcore tourists.  We can make a day of being anywhere.

Next we drove around the coast enjoying the beautiful views of the water and the different districts in the area.  There was a lot of beautiful ocean/fisherman related graffiti that I wish I could have gotten out and photographed as we drove but that would have taken hours and so it was time to just sit back and enjoy the moment.

We drove until we got to Pacific Grove which is apparently known for its Monarch Butterflies....apparently it is one of their destination locations a month a year.

It also had a quilt shop that Barb wanted to go and check out....so while she did that....

We headed to a museum.  In the Pacific Grove Museum of Nature History (which is free to go to) they had a lot of butterfly related stations and activities.

Let me tell you about this picture:

When I visit Aaron's family, one of my goals, is to see how many times I can get Aaron's dad, Mike, to laugh.  It is a pretty hard game actually.  He might smile....but a laugh...that is something you have to work for.

So, I got into this cocoon chair, and I yelled out, "Mike, Mike!  Look at me, Mike!"

When I was sure he was looking, I turned the chair slowly around and emerged from my cocoon!  To the laughs of Mike.  I WON THE GAME!

Look at how graceful I am getting out of the cocoon!  I'm such a majestic creature....you can't even believe.

Outside of the museum is the "Spirit Nest".  Would you believe that Mike and Aaron wouldn't get in it with me?  Every party needs a pooper.....

Aaron wouldn't get in the "Spirit Nest" with me but he would make out with me under these plants....go figure.  My kisses are pretty awesome...so I can't blame him.

We continued our drive along the coast and we even got out to walk around and see if we could see any sea otters...they had been very elusive that day.  We had only seen a couple while we were on the Monterey Princess.

No luck....but we were close.  Someone had just finished dinner.  We just don't know who but we know that they like fish.

We ended the day by looking at the outside of an old Spanish mission in the area. Unfortunately we got there a little too late and it was closed but we got to enjoy the outside of it.

UPDATE:
 The outside was quite beautiful and I can see why people still like to have their weddings here.  I walked around the grounds and looked at the statues in the garden.  I wish that I could have gotten a tour of the museum part and see the interior of the mission building.

It was a wonderful full day of touristing.  

  

Getting Comfy

Aaron is....really nice.

Almost to a fault.

He is especially nice to the dogs...which is sometimes a problem. 

Mostly at night time when he asks me to "scoot over a bit" and I'm on the edge of the bed.  I look over and Pippen or Bambi is right up against him on the opposite side taking up about 50% of the bed.

Aaron just doesn't know how to say, "Ummm...this isn't cool."

That is dog butt in his face. Does he ask her to move? No.

Don't worry.  After I took the picture, I told her to get off of him.  Luckily he doesn't let everybody do this.  Just dogs.

Aaron's 29th Birthday!! UPDATED

I'm really regretting not writing these when they happened...because seriously...I'm going to feel really dumb looking for the post on his birthday and it is inside of November...when his birthday is in AUGUST....COME ON....lame.

Anyway, Aaron had a pretty good 29th birthday on the 28th of August.  You might remember that last year was his "Golden Birthday" when he turned 28 on the 28th...but now he is just old and sad.

KIDDING!

Like most of Aaron's birthdays, he says, "I don't want anything" but what he means is, "I'm going to buy myself some Legos and stuff later...so you can get me whatever."

I got him a card that recorded my voice with some birthday greetings and some original artwork by me.  I also got him so night time moisturizing socks and foot cream.  You might not know this about Aaron...but he is OBSESSED with having soft feet.  He says that it is because he hates it when he feels dry skin catching on the blankets in our bed...but I know that he just likes feeling pampered.

I got him some other little things too and some balloons to enjoy.  He loves Angry Birds so I HAD to get him a balloon to punch and throw birds at.

Then I made him some cupcakes!

We went out to Applebee's since...I didn't feel like cooking dinner and I figured that we both needed a night out to eat.

They even sang to him and brought him a free dessert...which he shared with me because he is a sweet heart.  

I hope that he lives for 80 more years so that I can be with him for 80 more birthdays. I love him so much and I know that in a year when he turns 30...I'll try my hardest to keep loving such an old man.

Updated:  At church on the 2nd of September, they sang to Aaron in Primary.  I love being in the Primary.

Brigham City Temple Open House

MORMON TEMPLE SECRET:
Some people say that the LDS Church doesn't want everyone to see inside our temples and know our "secrets"....but guess what....

We actually want EVERY SINGLE PERSON to go to the temple and learn our "secrets".  We would actually REALLY REALLY love that.

But...you have to believe in the Gospel and live its teachings.

But here is a quick surprise for you...  YOU MIGHT ALREADY BE LIVING MOST OF ITS TEACHINGS.

We actually don't expect crazy things from people....like sacrificing babies...or pledging your soul to someone named Mormon.

Are you a good person who tries to help other people?  Do you try to be honest?  Do you already love Jesus Christ and want to be more like him?

....Yeah...us too.

But are you not perfect?

....Yeah...us too.

Just something for you to think about while you read.....ABOUT TEMPLES....

When the LDS Church builds temples, they have a space of time set aside for people to walk through the whole thing.  ANYONE can go inside.

When the temple is in operation, it is closed to the general public unless they have a temple recommend.

Since temples are used for....temple work...people who aren't LDS don't really have a reason to go inside, except for curiosities sake.  So if you are curious, go to a temple open house or look at information that the LDS Church provides on temples.

What does the inside of a Mormon temple look like?

What do they do inside?

Head to this website with your questions and I'm sure you will learn something.  Warning...it is an LDS website so it is likely to be 100% accurate and not very salacious.  But I'm sure if you Google it enough you will find something freaky.  I don't encourage Googling since you will probably end up not learning a lot but get really confused or concerned.

The Brigham City Temple was having its open house for almost a month and so Aaron and I decided to go on August 24th.

This open house was a wonderful time for us to walk around a brand new temple.  For those of you who don't know, all of the basic elements of temples are the same.  They all have sealing rooms for weddings, celestial rooms that represent being in Heaven closer to our Heavenly Father and baptismal fonts for doing work for the dead.  BUT all temples have different details.

The Brigham City temple had peach flowers everywhere.  Not actually flowers but carvings in the wood and tiles with peach flowers because peaches are important to the people in this area.  I even found some outside.

Other temples will have hand painted murals or other unique materials to the area that they will try to incorporate.  Sandstone or granite or marble or woods.

I love going to open houses to see what makes that temple different.  This one was also special because it will be the closest temple to our home for the time being (since they are redoing the Ogden Temple).

Other families love open houses because they provide an opportunity to take friends who aren't LDS or young children who have never been inside a temple, to see what the temple is really like.

I wish that some of my friends were closer to me so that I could have shown them the inside of a temple.  There are always new temples being built and so I will keep my eyes and ears opening for finding temple open houses near my friends.

I include this picture just because I think that I look good in it.  The front of the temple says,

 "Holiness to the Lord

The House of the Lord"

because we believe that our temples are literally the House of the Lord.

This is the back end of the temple.  I took this with my phone while we were driving away.

It was a beautiful experience and the temple is lovely inside. I want to say that I believe that the work that is being done in temples is for the good of the whole world. I believe that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can and do dwell there and you can feel Their spirits when you are in the temple. I'm so grateful for temples on the earth because I was able to use the sealing power of the Priesthood to marry my wonderful husband for Time and All Eternity. Temples are not secret. They are sacred places of personal worship filled with the love of our Heavenly Father who wishes for all to enter. If you have any questions about the temple, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ask.

Best Laid Plans of Crazy

I had a plan for August.  I was going to finish up all of my summer projects.  I was going to edit pictures.  I was going to paint the basement.   I was going to write a million and one blog posts to finish up writing about all the stuff that we got up to in July.

(The one wall that got painted fully...minus the trim.)

I was in the middle of painting my second wall in the basement when I got a phone call.  One of my bosses at work had been hit by a car.  My summer vacation was over.  I needed to go back to work the next day.

Not how I would have planned the end of my summer vacation.

As a result, I've gotten NOTHING done in the way of finishing my summer goals and it has been nearly a month since I wrote a blog post.  You guys are about to get bombarded.

I now have three days break to get all of this stuff up here before school starts.  Get EXCITED.

My Dearest Aunt Elizabeth & Going to Cameron's Wedding

While I was in Moab this summer, I got a message from my Aunt Elizabeth on Facebook.  Cameron Gygi was getting married and she wondered if she could crash with us the week of the wedding.

First of all...Cameron Gygi was getting married?  I had heard nothing of this.  He was getting married in a month?  I had heard nothing of this.  My Aunt Elizabeth wanted to stay with me?  YES PLEASE!

Let me tell you about my Aunt Elizabeth.

Living thousands and thousands of miles away from your biological family makes it hard to get together for holidays and special occasions in each others lives.  My family figured out that the best way to combat these feelings of missing family was to simply...pick and choose some new family members.

We picked Elizabeth to be our Aunt. She was hilarious to have around!  She told the best stories and seemed to enjoy adventures as much as we did.  She traveled all over the world and for awhile, I got to have her as a Sunday School teacher at Church....at a time when I needed someone nice to be at Church.

She came to family holidays like Thanksgiving.  We went to Hong Kong on a temple trip together once and I got to be baptized for one of her relatives which was a GIANT spiritual deal to me.  She came to my graduation.  She came to my bridal shower.  She was my Aunt.

We LOVE her.

The only problem is that now that I live back in the States....my Aunt Elizabeth lives thousands and thousands of miles away.  So a chance to see her for a week?  A chance to introduce her to my husband?

YES PLEASE.

A couple weeks later, Cameron announced that he was indeed planning on getting married.  August 17th.

August 15th was my last day of work for the Summer.  Thank goodness because it was the day that my Aunt Elizabeth was getting into town and I didn't want to miss a single moment of being able to hang out with her.

After work, we drove to Salt Lake to pick up my Aunt.  Well...to drop me off to pick up my Aunt.  I wish that I took a picture of the sign that I was holding up for her when she got to baggage claim.  I was so excited to see her!  It had been 3 long years without her!

We got her bags and got her retail car all figured out.  Then we headed to City Creek to meet up with Aaron for dinner.  That was when my Aunt Elizabeth got to meet Aaron for the first time!  Luckily she approved...I don't know what I would have done if she didn't.  I can't really throw him back at this point, can I?

We ate at Cheesecake Factory...which was a new experience for me.  The food was amazing...but unfortunately that was when I started feeling a cold coming on.  NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

The next day I tried to relax at home with my Aunt and get over my cold.  We hung out and talked which is my favorite.  She was so mothering to me.  She would have me go and take a nap and when I would wake up, she had cleaned the kitchen.  If I was going to be sick, it was nice to have the next best thing to my mother around...in fact...it was probably a little better than my mother since my mother isn't the most compassionate.  LOVE YOU MOM!

At 4 o'clock we headed down to Sister Nielson's home for a "bridal/bachelor party" in Mapleton.  It is a 2 hour drive down but it was worth it   (I had to pee at a little restaurant attached to the Harley Davidson on the ride down since I was drinking A LOT and we got stuck in some traffic...it was pretty funny).

Elizabeth got to meet Cameron's soon-to-be wife Ansley and we all got to know her a little better.  It was funny because they had only been dating for 3 months and so none of her friends really knew Cameron and none of Cameron's friends really knew Ansley so it was good to get everyone in one room together to meet.

Sister Nielson set me up with some essential oils to try and get me feeling better faster.  Dang kids at preschool coughing into my mouth making me sick.  On the way back home, I did start feeling better.  I started to be able to smell the stuff she put on me...which was a major miracle.

Friday was the wedding!  It was a beautiful day for a wedding.  The Mount Timpanogos Temple was undergoing some cleaning on the outside so it wasn't the best view in spots but you work with what you've got.

Unfortunately my cold was still going pretty strong so I didn't really feel like taking a lot of pictures...which is still kind of feel bad about but I'm sure that his sister-in-laws got some good pictures.

Cameron's step sister!

Cameron's father and older brother.

The happy couple coming out of the temple!  Love it!

More gorgeous Rachel.  At her wedding earlier this year Cameron was talking about how he wishes that he could meet someone soon and get married.  I told him that he had plenty of time.  About 5 months later and I end up at his wedding.

Cameron's step brothers.

Cameron's family (including his Aunt Elizabeth...it's okay...I guess that I can share.)

Rachel and her sister.  Rachel is always so attractive.

My Aunt Elizabeth in her gorgeous dress from Pakistan (I told you she loves to travel!)

Rachel and her husband looking distant....weird.

After the wedding, we drove down to Provo to chill at Clarise and Geoff's place for awhile.  I wanted them to meet my Aunt and hear her stories and see how awesome she was.

Then when it was time for the reception in Orem, we headed off.

By this time, I wasn't feeling so great....so I didn't take a lot of pictures.  I just sat and talked and gossiped with everyone at our table.  The Nielson girls kept us entertained.

It was a very pretty wedding.  They really knew how to decorate a backyard.  It almost looked like Pinterest exploded in that yard.

The next day I got to go through the temple for the first time with my Aunt Elizabeth.  She wants to go to all of the temples in the world.  I think that that is a pretty good goal.  We decided to hit up the Bountiful Temple since the Ogden Temple is still being rebuilt.

We had a beautiful time...even though I scared everyone by forgetting my temple recommend!  Luckily the Church has me on record so that they can look online and see that I have a current temple recommend.

Before we left, we decided to walk around the gardens since they are always kept so nice.  And we found a little bunny living there!  What a wonderful home for a rabbit!  I guarantee that no one on the temple grounds is going to try to shot and kill you little guy.

My aunt stayed for a couple more days and so we got to keep visiting with each other. I love it when people come to other peoples weddings. Because then I get to see the person visiting A TON and the person who is having the wedding only gets to wave at them and talk for 15 minutes. I remember all of these people who came out for my wedding and I wished that I was able to spend more time with them so it is GREAT when people come for someone elses wedding.

Elizabeth pampered me all week long trying to keep us full of food and making sure that I took plenty of naps.  When I was awake she kept me laughing and feeling great.

I sure do miss her now that she is gone.  But I will just have to wait a couple more years when I'm sure I will either go to see her or she will come to see me.