July 2012 Updates...

July started out in California for us. We found out that Drew was going to be in Orange Country and decided it was time for a West Coast Family Reunion. It was a really short trip because I still had Orientation going on for work, so no dice on taking weekdays off.

We managed to pack a lot of things in for that trip, including a trip to the Farmer's Market, a stint down to San Diego for burritos, UCSD, sandals/shoes, and the beach, chowing down on yummy things like the Boiling Crab, The Hat chili fries, dim sum, boba, and donuts!

Mmmm, great first meal upon landing!

Farmer's Market- gosh, we were spoiled and I took that for granted!

Tasting all the hummus out!

So many options!

Avocado/Orange Man (Jennifer knows his name, but I know him as the very knowledgeable and friendly avocado man!)

So many options!

Adam and Drew holding our avocados!

Love the Irvine Farmer's Market!

Pitstop at the Rainbows Outlet for me to get new flippy floppies!

Roberto's Burrito Time! Adam was happy!

A stopover in Clairemont Mesa resulted in all of us getting pairs of shoes!

Drew and Jennifer were baffled by the UCSD campus and the Stuart Collection :)

I heart the library (not sure if I felt that way in undergrad)

Smiles with Dr. Seuss and the Cat in the Hat

Sun God!

Tasting honeysuckle

Del Mar beaching it!

Makes me miss California (not that I would surf, but that people can!)

Burrito Round 2

Mmm, love the boiling crab! So full!

Betty came down the next morning and we grabbed ourselves coffee and buttermilk bars!

Drew with the shorties

Where's Betty?

Dim Sum time!

Drew the Giant getting bahn mi sandwiches

Rite Aid ice cream time!

Boba time with Richie (and chit chatting about his upcoming wedding! Got to see the beautiful invite!)

July was also the month of more orientations, the Shakespeare Festival, and Adam and my 7 year wedding anniversary!

Happy Anniversary!

My first attempt at water colors- not great but yay for a first attempt!

Brunching it in beautiful Boulder

Shakespeare Festival

UCSD Alumni group!

Getting ready for the show! We were there early so it wasn't packed yet

July was also filled with some weekend hikes and just enjoying the outdoors with some trips to RMNP. :) Good month in Colorado!

June 2012 updates...

From May 30th-June 4th, Sarah and Jeff were in town. We had a blast going to a baseball game, hanging out around CU, using coupons (for ice cream, cookies, and bowling!), visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, checking out a few brewery tours in Ft. Collins, going to Hammond's Candies, and touring the Denver Mint. It was a jam-packed several days, but super duper fun!

Colorado Rockies game

Rainbow slushy!

For some reason, I think this might be the only picture of Sarah and I!

Yay, buffalo!

Coupons and groupons!

Super tasty ice cream- and the kid cones were HUGE!

Hanging out at the RV!

We got a Groupon for a bakery in Ft. Collins- bought lots of cookies!

New Belgium Brewery, writing our postcards

On the tour- Sarah and Jeff were really worried that our tour guide would be super cheesy but he was awesome! It was a great tour- super informative and interesting

Sampling

Lots of interesting details, including these beer bottle light fixtures

More sampling!

They have a charging station for any employees who drive electric vehicles- pretty neat. 

Bottling line

More cool decor using their beer cans

I like that motto- super positive!

After New Belgium Brewery, we headed around the corner to Odell- definitely no comparison in terms of the tour (I can't speak for beer since I don't drink). New Belgium does a great job with making people feel welcome, but Odell hasn't quite figure it out yet.

The sampler

Lots of barrels!

After the tours, we headed to the bowling alley- Jeff wasn't super excited about it but Sarah and I were jazzed (plus, again we had a Groupon!)

"No bowling!"

We give bowling a thumbs up!

But thumbs down for Jeff being crotchety, haha!

Picnicking at Rocky Mountain (i.e. we stopped at the grocery store outside the park and grabbed chicken tenders from the deli!)

Loving the fresh air!

Such awesome friends!

So many elk everywhere!

Just before Sarah started to get altitude sickness- they made it up to almost 12,000 feet!

No photos allowed in the Denver Mint, but I did get one just outside. I also exchanged a dollar bill for newly minted quarters...only to probably spend them on laundry! I'll have to go back!

Random roster restaurant we ate at while waiting for our time slot at Hammond's Candies

Local candy producer- Adam and I actually came across their chocolates in Carlsbad, CA in December!

Jeff's goodies!

The rest of the month of June was "Orientation" time- two sets of orientation groups each week, so work was keeping me busy. We did have a few casual visitors come through, including one of my old Orientation Leader friends who I hadn't seen in 8 years!

Picked up some buffalo, elk, and beef jerky

Pat wanted to check out some breweries, so we took him to Upslope, Oskar Blues, and Avery (we took him to one or two others, but I can't remember)

At Avery- Pat had a beer and I had a root beer (or what Juan calls "menthol soda")

All my Orientation students for June- and yes, I am positive it was super awkward for them because they didn't know each other or me yet, but I'm hoping that I get a chance to share these with the students at the end of the year...we'll see how committed I am to sending out 250 emails! I've met and recognize most of these students, but there are a few that I don't recognize and probably haven't seen since Orientation.