Cider and Christmas Lights

On Friday night we met up with Kristen, her boyfriend Corey, his best friend Ryan, his wife Amanda and their boys 2 and 1/2 and 1 month. I met Corey and his friend and wife for the first time. They were all so nice. Corey made a Christmas mix of songs on his iPhone and bought mini portable speakers so we could listen to music as we walked around looking at the lights. He also brought cider, berries, cinnamon sticks. I thought that was so thoughtful of him! We had a great time walking around looking at all the beautiful homes with gorgeous Christmas lights. I think it should be become a tradition! :)

My love

Corey and Kristen with Ayden, too cute!

It's Santa Claus!

Pretty lights along the water

Great Friends, Food, and Football

Tonight we had our good friends over for our first Christmas dinner in the new home. Jason, Becca, Kevin, and Kristin came over. Brad and I had appetizers, drinks, and we made lasagna, salad and bread for dinner. Brad's Dad made us a homemade cheesecake! So yummy!

At 7pm, the Servite vs. Edison PAC-5 Southern Section Championship game was on TV (being played at Angels Stadium in the POURING rain). Brad and I of course were sporting our Servite gear (all his old football gear). Well, Kristin went to Edison and was on tall flags so in the middle of the game her and Kevin go out to their car and come running back into the house with all her Edison gear on yelling "Go Edison!!!!" It was hilarious so we had to take a picture!

Servite won! But overall it was a fun, relaxing night with good friends :)

Brad and I before our guests arrived

A few Christmas decorations

A simple table setting :)

My favorite "Positively No Peeking!" sign

Disneyland Christmas!

Last night Brad, myself, and our good friends Jason and Becca went to Disneyland. Disneyland is always amazing during this time of year! We first went to California Adventure for dinner (clam chowder bread bowls! yumm!) After dinner we went on the rollercoaster, California Screaming. We headed over to Disneyland to see when the Candlelight event would be starting. We found out it started at 8pm so we had a few hours to spare. We tried to go on It's a Small World but the line was over an hour so we walked around and by that then it was time to head to Main Street for the event.

The event started with all of the lights off on Main Street and a 650 choir walked down Main Street each person holding a candle. They had a huge grandstand set up by the train station on Main Street for the choir plus a complete orchestra with trumpets on the very top of the train station. Jon Voight narrated the story from the Bible of Jesus' birth. And between each verse the orchestra would perform a Christmas song. I was pretty surprised Disneyland would put on such an event. Disneyland is pretty secular. I really enjoyed it and definitely intend on being a part of it next year too!

Golden Gate Bridge in California Adventure

Seating for the Candlelight event

Sleeping Beauty's Castle

The castle up close!

It's A Small World all lit up!

Disneyland's Christmas tree

Jon Voight!

Jon Voight and the choir/orchestra

Amazing

Santa Claus Mickey!

Off to Havasu!

After Thanksgiving dinner, Brad and I packed up and hit the road for Lake Havasu City, Arizona. We had an 8 hour drive ahead of us (yes with a full tummy and starting the drive at 6pm at night, didn't seem like the smartest idea). I feel so safe with Brad driving, he is so alert and I'm sure taking a defensive driving course and driving the fire engine around helps a little. :) Brad loves to drive, and will never let me drive (which may be a good thing! haha). I'm not a huge fan of being in a car for long distances but I really enjoy seeing new places; and that to me is well worth it. We made one stop, about halfway through our drive. We ended up making it to Lake Havasu in just over 6 hours (mapquest is always waaaay slower!) We fell right to sleep sometime after midnight and woke up at 6am the next morning to get ready for a off-roading poker ride in Parker, AZ (about 25 miles from Brad's parents lake house in Havasu).

Brad's parents joined us for the ride. His parents were in his dad's off-roading vehicle. Brad and I and our two friends Kevin and Kristin rode in the back of Brad's Polaris Ranger. The ride was 35 miles in the desert. We were completely filthy dirty! So much fun! Well fun until Brad broke a rim on his Ranger 25 miles into the ride and somehow the tire stayed inflated for the last 10 miles. When we got back to the trailer park where the ride started Brad noticed the entire rear end of his Ranger was blown up. So that was the end of our desert riding for the weekend. Thank goodness for extended warranty or else just for parts to fix the Ranger would have been $1600. Yikes!

Overall we had a great weekend. His parents left Sunday evening and Brad and I enjoyed our time together. We went out shooting in the middle of the desert Monday. I finally shot a 9mm handgun! I hate hate hate guns. I'm seriously afraid of them and I conquered my fear and shot one. (Before that I only shot the 22mm rifle, which feels like a BB gun pretty much!) Makes me realize even more how powerful they are but it also makes me realize how many safety latches are on guns and how safe they are when they are handled correctly.

That night we went down to the Turtle Bar at the Nautical Hotel and watched Monday Night Football with some retired OCFA firefighters who now live full time in Lake Havasu, and another one of Brad's co-workers who lives full time in Lake Havasu and commutes to Orange County. We woke up at 5am Tuesday morning and drove back home. It was definitely right back to reality because as soon as we got home I had to go straight to class. Ugh, only 2 more weeks and I'm officially done!!! :)

Brad's Dad's Arctic Cat

Brad's Polaris Ranger

The guys checking out Brad's broken rim

Kev showing off his dirty face

The dirty Ranger

He definitely won for being the dirtiest! This picture doesn't do justice

This is where his Ranger blew up. The crack on the steel part and a hole in the middle. Something from the inside blew out and created a bullet hole. Crazy!

So much to be thankful for...

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving Brad and I headed up north to my aunt and uncle's house in Santa Maria (about an hour north of Santa Barbara). We arrived just in time for an infamous Santa Maria tri tip dinner made by my aunt and uncle. My cousin, Kyle, his wife, Chelsy, and my cousin Blaine were all home. Kyle and Chelsy live in Fresno and Blaine goes to college in Georgia and flew home for the week. It was so nice to spend the evening with them. I don't get to see them enough. It was Brad's first trip to my aunt and uncle's house and he finally was able to see himself why I talk so highly of their home and surroundings. It's absolutely beautiful and I really love the drive up there and spending time there.

Breathtaking Santa Barbara sunset--we hit Santa

Barbara right as the sun was setting.

The next day was Thanksgiving and my Grandparents drove up and arrived at my aunt and uncle's house around 11am. My mom, dad, sister, and brother drove up and arrived around noon. We hung outside (beautiful 78 degree weather) and caught up on each other's lives until the feast was ready!

My Aunt and Uncle's backyard. (with strawberry

fields directly behind, and rolling hillside behind the strawberry fields).

Brad and I

Me, Brett (brother), Kyle (cousin), Blaine (cousin), Mallory (sister)

My lovely 82 years YOUNG Grandparents

Uncle Scott, Brewski, and Blaine hanging in the garage (man cave)

Cousins and Brother

The men of the family

Chelsy, Kyle, Blaine, Aunt Maureen, Uncle Scott

Chelsy, Mallory, Me, Grandma

Sis and I