San Diego Trip

*I recognize that this may be of zero interest to those not involved, but this is my thorough documentation of my trip.

After leaving our children behind with our friend Natalie, arriving at the airport, we sat and waited for 2 hours for our plane (malfunctions). I love people watching. Michael and I chatted, while watching scores of people walk through the airport. I made a comment, one which Michael said if we had a quote book, it'd go in there. "I wish that I could interview each person that walked by" and ask them questions. What makes them happy, what makes them sad, where are you from, why are you who you are? It's actually quite frustrating to me to notice interesting people and not get to have a conversation with them. I love meeting new people.

Michael and I flew in late Thursday night and stayed at a place that offered a free shuttle from the airport and had a car rental place inside, so it worked out as a great deal for us. Out of the 3 nights, we figured we'd stay at a "less nice" hotel one night, a "nicer" hotel the 2nd night, and with our friends the third night. It turns out the "less nice" hotel had free shuttle and free continental breakfast whereas our "nice" hotel had a $21 per person breakfast buffet and paid parking. Weird how that works. On Friday morning we got up, had our breakfast of bagels and muffins and went to get our car. The front desk of the hotel was not overly friendly when asked about the car rental place in the corner of the hotel lobby. We soon came to find out why. Our "reservation" for a car was one of 2 options....an older car that someone has smoked in the night before, or a newer car with transmission problems. When we decided both were unacceptable, the car rental guy at least offered to drive us to another location/company to rent a car. We got online to make a new reservation (which ended up costing double the original one) and he drove us back to the airport to rent (in a fairly ghetto car to be a rental). Back to Square One. We thought the location was at the airport, but instead found how we needed to take a shuttle to their "airport" location. Luckily, it was all quick to get the car and we were on the road 2 hours later than anticipated: 11am.

After calling my friend Debra to checkup on my kids, (I found they were having a blast and were surviving just fine without me) we drove to Coronado Island. This was the recommendation from nearly everyone we talked to that had been to San Diego. We pretty much just walked along the beach, visited the historic hotel, read up on the history, and ate lunch at a little sandwich shop recommended by a local. By 3pm we were checking in at our nice hotel. My friend Tamiel hooked me up with her sisters' Friends and Family rate and we stayed at the Harbor Marriott in downtown San Diego on the 22nd floor. It was a huge contrast to our previous nights stay and I'm just not used to such luxury and swankiness.

After getting settled, we drove north about 35 miles to Oceanside to meet up with my friend Jessica's family. We got there early, so Michael and I ate at a little place on the water near a fake lighthouse. I spotted kids t-shirts 3 for $9 and I got them for our kids. At 6pm we walked to the water and met up with Jess' family--all 16 of them. I love taking beach pictures, so it was a lot of fun. Also fun to meet my friends family and chat with them.


To see more family pictures, click here.

That night, back at our hotel, we got some yummy desserts via room service.

Saturday morning I found the exchange of my children from Debra to my brother Russell went successfully. The kids were having a blast with Russy and Kimmie--learning to eat onions. Back at the hotel, I was excited about the breakfast buffet, no matter the cost. I was going to tank up, knowing we had a long day ahead of us and unsure when we'd be able to stop for lunch. Michael decided not to eat go, but wanted to stop at a grocery store for a bagel on the way. So that meant I went alone. My frugal husband....I don't mind eating alone, I got all the yummy bacon, belgian waffles, fruit, danishes that I desired. When I had a few leftover, I asked my waiter if I was able to take them with me and he got me a box. When the box wasn't full, he said, "Go get some more, fill it up" so I did. That was Michael's breakfast.

We got to the temple at 9:30 for a 10am sealing. It is always so wondeful to participate in the sealing of a couple and remember the day I was sealed/married to Michael. I love that each time I go, I listen to the advice/instruction/sermon from someone with authority from God and apply the instruction to myself. Find ways to better myself, my marriage, my family. The spirit is so strong in the temple, I am filled with joy and light. One thing in particular that the sealer talked about that Michael and I discussed later is comparing this life's journey to climbing a mountain. He said, "What do you do when you get to the top of a mountain after a long journey?" The Groom said, "I look around" He expounded upon looking around and seeing all those buildings that once seemed so tall, are now quite small in comparison. You can see the "bigger picture" and the grandeur is beautiful. As you climb to the top of the mountain, it is like your journey to the temple. It is a journey in and of itself, but once you reach the top and look around, the significance of the world seems so much smaller. You can see things that you didn't see before. You have a better perspective because you can see further. It was so wonderful watching my friend...knowing her struggles, her joys, her pains, and see her journey with her new spouse just beginning.

As the photographer for the day, we got out quickly, found out that Tamara (one of 20 brides that morning at the temple) would exit out of the back door. After weaving our way along the small path outside the temple through the crowds of family and friends for other brides, we found the back door....and waited. Michael was my amazing assistant, carrying my big camera bag and my other camera/lense. I'd switch when needed. I chatted with another local photographer (as she, too waited for her bride) to find that its always this crazy at this temple.
I saw another photog and loved his crazy getup I had to take a pictures.

Michael called it his bullet proof vest, but I guess this is a way to get out of carrying around a bag...all his lense cases attached TO him. His bride had fun red shoes and her bridesmaids had the cutest combo in a yellow dress/red shoes, that I found myself daydreaming about them all day long, wanting to redo everything about my wedding to add the fashion element of one color dress and an accent color shoes. But what colors would I choose? Red really isn't MY color but I do love it on others.....back to reality, I'm not redoing my wedding, but THIS is the shot that I will forever love.


I wish I would have gotten that photogs info so I could have viewed his work from that day. I have even emailed a few other local photogs and searched a few websites in SD to see if I can identify him. Haven't found him yet:(

Tamara and Jack eventually came out and snap snap snap away. It was warm, there were crowds, it was bright, the grounds aren't very big, AND I'd never been there before to scope out perfect spots. All these elements seemed to work against my favor. After group shots and bridal party shots, I got the bride and groom alone for a bit, but they were anxious to go. I did convince them to go to the front of the temple for a few more shots, knowing they'd be grateful we did. I'm also happy we did.


To see more of their shots, click here.

Michael took these of me......


My trusty assistant....

They took off, and Michael and I had previously planned to go back into the temple for an Endowment Session, so we did. We didn't get to our car until 3pm and guess what??? Still no lunch. But guess who was still completely satisfied with breakfast and who was quite hungry? We drove about 30 minutes away from the coast to the mountains of Alpine...stopping off at Carl's Jr. where I had chili fries and Michael had a burger.

Around 4:30 we drove up to the home of one my oldest friends, Travis. Since I've been married, we haven't kept in all that close of contact because well, he's a boy and I'm a girl. Our parents have been friends for over 20 years, and growing up we lived in different states, but our families would vacation to each other. In high school, we moved back closer to them and along with my older brother and friend Natalie, we were a great foursome for a while. I did have a long distance crush on him from 2nd-7th grade, but throughout high school and college, he was just one of my best friends, like my brother.

Here are some of us back in the day:

My brother Ryan, me, Trav, and Natalie. The 4 of us would hang out in high school.

We went on a trip to Boston before my Junior year of college. Ryan and Alayna on right were married, Chris and Alison on left were dating, but Trav and I were just having fun:)
Although we hadn't directly talked for 5 years (I saw he and his wife in Utah when Tyler was 1, they were engaged) it was just like old times, easy as can be. It was fun getting to know his wife and seeing how happy they are. And their little one, Cora, immediately took a liking to Michael, as children usually do. After an hour of catching up, we left our stuff and had to head to the reception in the neighboring town, El Cajon.

I am so glad we got to go to El Cajon. Since rooming with Tamara in college, she is the only one I've known from SD, so when I met someone from there or who had been there, my reference was always, "I have a friend from the El Cajon area" so I'm glad I actually got to go there. Their reception wasn't your typical LDS reception on the basketball court...they covered the court with drapes and draps of white fabric and lights, and it felt like we were inside of a tent. Treats were all lemony and it was fun to chat with her friends and bridesmaids and learn of all the other people that loved her. There was even a girl that looked very familiar to me and when I told her that, she said I also looked familiar to her. After racking our brains throughout the course of the night, we realized where it was that we knew each other--Jerusalem Studay Abroad, Summer of 1999. There were 4 classes, and we mostly stuck with our own class on outings. She was in another class than I was, but we still would run into each other there. That was fun for me. Michael says I can find someone I know everywhere we go. Here is when Tam and I were roommates:

Here are a few of Tam and I that Michael took of us.




When the happy couple left at 9, we went back to Travis house. We watched Michael Phelps win his 8th gold medal, and chatted until 11pm. After taking a few picts of Trav and fam in their yard, we went to church in the morning, then took off, back to the city.


Our plan was to go to a church history spot, The Mormon Battalion visitors center. However, it was closed:( But the little old town it was in was fun and we had lunch at the Livingroom Cafe, a french deli (you can see Michael to the left of the trellis/menu).


Dropped off our car, checked into the airport, and flew home...reading my magazines all the way while Michael slept. I did find a cool thing at the Dallas airport...a smoothie machine. You pick out a flavor, and its frozen, put it in the blender and voila--a smoothie!

Michael, my most helpful packmule...at this point, I had nothing in my hands but my smoothie. I usually carried my purse (its on top--heavy camera bag in the middle).
Arriving just after midnight, crashing into bed when we got home.

Here are a few shots that Natalie gave me from their time with the kids: