More visitors and More trips

Aaaaaand we're back! It's been a great three months since we wrote our last blog post.  The end of summer and beginning of fall has been full of visitors, trips, and good memories with each other and friends.  At the end of Jul my sister's came to visit for a few days to both celebrate their graduations with advanced degrees! Juli is now officially an RN and Dori just finished her master's degree in marriage and family counseling. I'm super proud of both of them and we had an awesome time exploring southern California while they were out here. Below are a few pictures to highlight some of the activities we did during their visit.

 

Heading to Hollywood for a celebrity homes tour.

Dori posing next to Meryl Streep's handprints

Juli posing on the "set" for the movie "Psycho" at the Hollywood wax museum

Isn't this little guy cute? A baby goat at the Orange County fair we attended.

Beautiful flamingos at the San Diego Safari Park.


In late August my brother and his wife, Susanna, came out for a long weekend to visit. We enjoyed a leisurely visit with a few meals at home catching up with each other, watching movies, and doing a little sightseeing. It was great to see them. I just wish we lived closer and could see each more often. We always have a blast when we're together and I miss them. 

Pretty Susanna posing at a restaurant in Laguna Beach where we also attended an art festival and did some shopping.

Not a favorite picture for either of us..but the only one we took.  Posing at Manhattan Beach.

FREE professional volleyball tournament we attended at Manhattan Beach.  Aaron really enjoyed this.

My brother, Aaron, and his wife, Susanna watching volleyball.
 

Besides hosting visitors, Mike and I have also been keeping busy exploring California more on our own. We went hiking one weekend up in Pasadena at a pretty park called Eaton Canyon which took us up to a waterfall.  On the hike back Mike nearly stepped on a rattlesnake!! For as unaware of his surroundings as Mike typically is it really was a miracle that he didn't step on it. Luckily he missed and no one was hurt :) 

The slightly unimpressive (but pretty!) waterfall we hiked to in Eaton Canyon.

See the stealthy little guy slithering up the rocks?!

Our good friends, Jon and Sarah, were married in Wisconsin over Labor day weekend.  They were married at the Whistling Straits golf course surrounded by Lake Michigan in the background. It was GORGEOUS! The setting was beautiful, the wedding was beautiful, the bride was beautiful...everything was perfect and we had a wonderful time celebrating their marriage with them and with other close friends. They have just recently moved to Houston, TX and we wish them the best in their new city as they start their lives together as husband and wife. 

The groom, Jon, and Mike, who was a groomsman. Don't they sort of look like brothers?

Posing with my friend, Laura, at the wedding. She kept me company while Mike was sitting at the head table.

This is a picture from the rehearsal dinner which was also at a restaurant near Lake Michigan. It was lovely.

The future Mr. and Mrs. Gibson.

Sarah and her dad walking her down the aisle. :)

Congratulations, Jon and Sarah!!

We enjoyed a beach bonfire with some of our friends from church at the beginning of September.  We had the bonfire at Huntington Beach and enjoyed hot dogs, s'more, a game of Bocce ball, and good conversation- as well as a perfect Summer evening. You really can't beat southern California weather.

Our friends, Aubrey and her husband, Josiah are on the left and Eric and Mike are on the right.

Donny and Stacy roasting hot dogs.

Aubrey and I posing at sunset.

Enjoying an AWESOME s'more made with a gigantic marshmallow and a Reese's PB cup!

First game of Bocce Ball for Mike. The consensus is that it's fun.