Walnut Creek Baby Shower

Last weekend we had the opportunity for a short little trip up to Merced for a couple of days and then to Walnut Creek, our old stomping grounds!  It was awesome to be home (real home) and "home" (what feels like home to Ben & I as a couple).  Ben had a Day-On-the-Job with a company he is interested in working for, so that's what took us up there, and all my girlfriends from our old ward hosted a baby shower for me while we were there!  It was a delight and so fun to see everyone.  It was also really special to celebrate with the women who surrounded me during our journey to this pregnancy.  I could tell that everyone was genuinely so happy for me and I felt so loved!  Shelley hosted the shower at her home, and I totally did not expect any decor at all with the shower being so soon after the Christmas holidays, but of course she went above and beyond!  Many, many thanks to hostesses Shelley, Aubrey, & Kaylee.

Entryway - 

Refreshment table sans refreshments - 

Mantle - 

Shelley made this and it was part of my gift from her . . I adore it and it's now displayed in our living room.

So many women came.  It was just so nice of them to make the effort to be there and it was a special, special night for me!  I honestly couldn't believe that it was for me.

Some ladies I used to work with even came.

And of course we had to take a picture as a "Relief Society Presidency."  I know that we will be friends forever.

So much love in that house and my heart is so, so grateful!

~ ~ ~

Of course, when in Walnut Creek, we had to eat at our most favorite places!  Love me some Zachary's Chicago Pizza and The Olde San Francisco Creamery!  ;)

presidency

One of the biggest blessings I received in Walnut Creek was being a part of the Relief Society presidency with these special ladies.  They are my favorite, and I am positive that we will be friends forever!

We often held our presidency meetings at Tender Greens, so we had to return one last time together before I move.  :)

week of all weeks

This last month in the WC is proving to be a whirlwind - the past week in particular.  I've been calling it "the week of all weeks!" 

Ben & I have been listening to a book on Audible.com and it talks about being "maybe, which actually means no" kind of people versus "hell yes!" kind of people.  We tend to be of the "maybe" sort (and we don't mind that), but this week we kind of experienced what it's like to be "hell yes!" people.  Let me tell you - it is exhausting!!

Friday - Our final temple trip with the Oakland temple being "our temple."  It has been so special for "our temple - the temple in which we were married" to be "our temple - according to where we live."

The beauty of the Oakland Temple never fails to inspire me!

Also, a post-temple date to The Creamery.  We will be so sad to bid adieu to The Olde San Francisco Creamery.  If you're ever in the neighborhood, our very favorite is Toasted Almond in waffle bowls.  Ben likes his with caramel sauce and I like mine with whipped cream and extra almonds.  Seriously.  So.  Good.

Saturday - An eye exam for Ben and new glasses for the first time in 7 years!

Sunday - We actually had people over for dinner!

Monday - I BARTed into the City for dinner and dessert with Kameron, an old friend from college.  So fun! 

Tuesday - The Exploratorium (new location and totes fantastic) with my family.

Then Giant's game #1.

Wednesday - Giant's game #2.

Dad, Ben, & I took one of those bike buggies from our parking lot to the stadium.  It was hilarious.

My whole family and possibly our collective #1 love - the Giant's!

On Wednesday night, I got to go out for dinner and ice cream with Natalie, my best friend from high school!  She happened to be in the area and we had to take advantage.  So, so great to see her.

Thursday - We went out to dinner at The Cheeseboard, a vegetarian, organic pizza place in Berkeley - does that surprise you?  They only serve one kind of pizza each day and Thursday's had local peaches, mozzarella, Danish blue cheese, and arugula in a lemon vinaigrette on top.  Ben loved it, but it wasn't really my thing.

Then we saw Sara Bareilles in concert at the UC Berkeley Greek Theater.  She was awesome and I loved every minute!  Ahh!!  We had lawn seats and the grassy hill was sooo steep.  We kept sliding down the hill!  It was a great concert, but not necessarily the most comfortable.  Ha!

The fog rolls in.

Friday was ward temple night, but by then we were running on fumes, so we decided that we needed a night in with dinner in front of the TV and an early bedtime.  Hooray for that.

On Saturday, Ben helped a family move while I went down to the fertility clinic.  Then, we went back-to-school shopping for Ben at the Livermore outlets.  And then, we had a neighborhood pool party and BBQ!  What a day!  (You see what I mean about having a "hell yes!" kind of week??)

We spent the majority of Sunday with the Dorffs down at Stanford.  It's been awesome living within an hour of them and I am really sad to lose that.  Of course, the adults didn't take any pictures, but this is their adorable son.

And now, 2 weeks til move-out!  It's starting to sink in that we are leaving Walnut Creek and it hurts my heart just a little bit.  I love it here!

sunnyvale avenue

Moving day is in less than one month, so before I started packing everything up, I wanted to get some pictures of our apartment.  We have loved Sunnyvale Avenue.

Living Room

 Gallery Wall Detail

Office Space

I bought and added this fabric onto our curtains to make them long enough.

Kitchen

Entry Way

Bedroom

karin's quarter-century

I turned twenty-five last week.  The big 2-5.  The quarter century.  And I am totally having mixed emotions.  I don't feel like I'm in my "young twenties" any more, but I don't feel mature; and with my next birthday, am I considered in my "late twenties"??  Mostly I am just feeling like a failure for not having borne a child yet.

But, my birthday will always be my favorite day of the year!  I vow that it will never be "just another day" for me!  

I went to work on my birthday this year, which is against everything I believe in . . but it did allow for a beautiful flower delivery from Ben.  His birthday-treatment this year really proved how well he knows me: a bouquet of flowers and a gift card to ColdStone!

After work, Ben took me out to dinner at one of my very favorite restaurants, Tender Greens.  Ben doesn't care for Tender Greens all that much, but he's taken me there on my last 2 birthdays as a treat for me.  I always think I'll try something new . . but I love what I get and how could I stray?  Fried chicken, mashed Yukon Gold potatoes, a baby arugula salad, and a crostini, plus their amazing mint lemonade.  That's what I'm talking about.

We bought an ice cream cake from our fave - The Olde San Francisco Creamery - to bring home, and we're still enjoying it 5 days later.  It's the gift that keeps on giving and it is soooo good.

On Friday, I took the day off of work and Mom came up to Walnut Creek to spend the day together.  We shopped til we dropped and talked until seriously we just couldn't any more.  It was the best day.

No, we did not buy a Tesla.

Days later, my flowers are still going strong and they have opened up beautifully.  I can't get enough of them!

Happy birthday to me!  ;)

Tri For Fun 2014

Tri For Fun!  This was Ben's very first triathlon last summer and it was so fun for him to do it again . . and totally kill it!  He came in 6th place overall!

The swim is 400 meter and Ben did it in 6:25.

Transition #1 - 1:26.3

The bike is 11 miles and Ben did it in 27:45 (the third fastest bike time all day!).

Transition #2 - 1:09.7

The run is a 5k and Ben did it 22:03.2

Ben's total time was 58:50.2.  Under an hour!  And sixth place!

Our friend Ross took first place!!