San Diego roommate reunion

I've just returned from some wonderful travels! I'm going to try and blog about them all in the next few days or so.

It all started when I flew to San Diego for a great reunion with some of my roommates from BYU. We weren't all there, however. Angela and Becca, we missed you guys lots!

I flew in Monday, and Amy and Christy picked me up at the airport. Every time I go to California, I always think the same thing: why don't I live here? The weather is perfect all the time, why go anywhere else?

Well, anyway, over the course of the next few days, we did lots of fun things including going to the San Diego Zoo (my first time), eating pizza on the beach at sunset (why don't I live in California again?), going to Disneyland (and eating lunch at the Blue Bayou!), and going to Sea World (also my first time). Here are some pictures.

Me and the flamingos at the San Diego Zoo. Part of my usual series of pictures that Amy calls "Elizabeth in Front of Something Interesting." I guess it's true, I do take a lot of pictures like that. Ha!

Amy, Auburn (plus Maren), and me at the beach. It was really bright. I cheated and kept my sunglasses on.

Seth was pretty much Christy's best friend during the trip. It was cute and funny. (He never wanted to ride the rides with anyone else!) Here they are on the Bug's Life caterpillar ride at Disneyland (California Adventure? I don't really know). I think this picture is super cute.

Amy and I on the Buzz Lightyear ride (my first time on that ride/game). I was just shooting randomly, I have no idea how I got any points.

We celebrated Amy's birthday by going to brunch at this delightful little outdoor cafe overlooking the beach. (I think it was in La Jolla?) And Seth is pretty much one of the cutest kids ever.

Brunch.

Also went to Sea World. I thought the turtles were really cool. (Again, "Elizabeth in Front of Something Interesting." :) )

Christy, Amy, Auburn, and Maren in the walk-through shark display. Cool.

Me, Auburn (and Maren), and Amy hanging out. The lighting wasn't the best for pictures in there.

We even saw Shamu. (I wish I had taken pictures at the dolphin show. The theatrics cannot be described in words. Haha!)

The next morning I managed to wake up early enough to go to the temple before flying out. (Auburn told me she was sure she'd come out the next morning and find me still asleep. Yes, clearly she has been my roommate. :) I even surprised myself in this instance.)


It's been far too long since I've seen these great friends of mine, so I'm happy that we were able to reunion this year. As Amy said, you know you're good friends when you can not see each other for eight years (as was the case with Amy and me) and your conversations start right back up as if you'd never been apart. I'm so lucky to have been roommates and friends with such great girls! Let's hope it's not so long between the next time we get together! :) Thanks again for the great time!!

Congratulations Will and Kami!

On Friday my good friend Kami got married to my good friend (and roommate's brother) Will. Michelle was the maid of honor, and I was a bridesmaid, along with our other good friend Shaleen. The official festivities began Thursday with a dinner in San Antonio at a Mexican restaurant on the Riverwalk. We spent the night in San Antonio, as they were married the next day in the San Antonio temple with the reception in Austin. Here's some pictures from the dinner.

Shaleen, me, and Michelle:

Kami and Will. Aw...

Michelle, Shaleen, and I with the bride-to-be.

We stayed that night at a hotel very near the temple. We spent a good chunk of the evening getting ready for the next day, doing nails and hair, and what not. Both Michelle and Shaleen were going to rag their hair (i.e., make it curly by tying it up in rags). We couldn't remember exactly how to do it (and the internet in our room wasn't working...pfft!), and based on Shaleen's memory, I came up with something involving twisting the hair in the rag around a pen, tying it, then pulling the pen out. I was then on ragging duty, tying up both Shaleen and Michelle's hair. My hands were covered with ink from the pen by the end!

I also came up with a pretty hairdo for Shannon, Michelle's sister (another bridesmaid). She seemed pretty happy with it. This is the back of her head the next day:


I also braided Michelle's hair to pull the sides back.

We had a "hair train" going on that morning, Michelle doing her sister Laura's hair, and me doing Michelle's hair.

The morning of the wedding we got up about 6:30 and had breakfast. The waffles in the hotel were in the shape of Texas.

Here's Kami emerging from her hotel room, all done up for the day! And here's Will behind her, carrying the suitcases. But he sure looks happy doing it!

Shaleen looking hot as we arrived at the temple.

And Shaleen taking over the job of making sure all the pictures listed in the notebook were taken.

We first took pictures at the temple, then had lunch at the Saltgrass. Don't mess with a woman and her meat.

Michelle even made a speech.

I liked my shoes...

...but was glad to take them off when I could.

Me, Michelle, and Shaleen.

The wedding party.

Exiting the temple after the wedding. They look pretty happy to be married now.

Kami was so happy, she smashed cake in Will's face at the reception. At least he was wearing that apron.

It was a busy weekend, but a good time. Congratulations Will and Kami!