Bad News. . . . NO CAMERA

I apologize up front, our camera is missing ( i hope, and not gone forever!). Just a quick update and I will try to look harder to see if I can find it, so I can post some pics
* John is keeping busy at school, as a second year he is spending more time in the lab!
* I spent the day with my friend Briste going out to Rochester for some shopping and PF Changs.
* Having fun with John's new B-day gifts. A portable external hard drive and a garmin navigation system.
* Cleaning the house and organzing/cleaning the basement.
* Having Girls night tonight! A BBQ with friends!
All is well here in Buffalo! We miss our friends and family!

In honor of my Lovely Husband John

It is John's special day. His day to do as he pleases and for me to step back. Today he is the big 2-6! I can't believe I have known John for more than 3 1/2 years. Ever since I first met him he had something special about him that made me want more and I am still attracted to him in so many ways. I learn more about him each day I am with him. The more I learn, the more I want to be with him. The more I serve him, the more I see who he truly is. The more I sacrifice for him, the more I want to be like him. The more I listen to how I feel, the more I realize that I am the luckiest girl to have such a wonderful husband!
I love you John. Happy Birthday!

Last weekend before REAL school!!

So last week John had a nice easy week, being orientation and all. Having free BBQ's, socials, and getting to catch up with friends he had not seen over the summer. This next week is a different story. He starts classes. His schedule is packed, taking 32 credits this next semester, he will be crazy busy. So this weekend we took advantage of our time together. Friday we went to a nice school catered lunch, an ice cream social and then we joined our ward for the annual ward campout. John and I just went for the night. We enjoyed some nice tin foil dinners, and spending time with friends in the ward. We watched the ward talent show out in the woods, unfortunately I could not talk John into doing a talent.
A nice bonfire that not only cooked us dinner, but lighted the stage for the talent show and kept us warm.
John and I at the ward campout. It was like 20 minutes away, so very convenient.
Saturday morning John and I had fun playing volleyball with friends at the church. I miss playing volleyball, so it was tons of fun to get out there again! Saturday night was the big party! Yes, the big 26 for John is on the 22nd, so us and several of our friends gathered at the local Chuck E Cheese's and had a great night. Everyone had fun playing games, eating pizza, and just hanging out! The birthday boy had a blast, mostly playing games with friends!
The big birthday boy! Doesn't he look cute next to Chuck E Cheese!
John and Me at his birthday!
The boys playing a game at the party!
Me with the birthday boy! What a place to celebrate, where the 26 year old can act like a kid!
The weather has been really nice lately. It is actually starting to cool off. Which I know to those of you in AZ seems impossible. But it is almost September so fall weather is beginning here, with temps in the 60-70's! I don't know how I feel about this weather, it feels so perfect out now, but I know this means winter is going to be coming sooner than I want! It brings back memories!
Last October.

2 vacations for the price of none!

I know this is a much needed update, so here it goes. I must first warn you, I did not make one of those slide show things, so you will just have to scroll through all the pics.
So for the last 2 weeks of summer John has been out of town and for the past week I was able to join him as we met up with my family in San Diego! Can I just say it was one of the best vacations ever. It was beautiful weather, wonderfully company, great food, relaxation and the beach. What more do you need.
John and I enjoying a walk and watching the sun go down in Beautiful San Diego!
We set up a blanket and relaxed on the beach while the sun went down.
Prior to our time in California John enjoyed his time in Arizona spending time with his family and a few of his friends. Soaking up the sun, and not worrying about school or studying.
In AZ John got to spend time with his brother and sister!!
John drove out with my parents and I flew in along with my sister and her husband and 2 boys. We stayed in a nice condo right in Mission beach, out in front was the beach and behind us was the bay! Each day was filled with so much fun! A few highlights of the trip included:
>John scuba diving with his friend from AZ who was in Cali too. He did this
before I came up, otherwise I would have joined him.
The scuba divers. John saw a huge manta ray!

>Surfing and boogie boarding in the cool ocean water! Definately better at
boogie boarding but surfing is so cool, I wish I was better at it!
John in the process of catching a wave. John is the pro surfer. It is tons of fun and can be frustrating too!
John and I in front of our boards. Excited to hang ten!! Yeah right, I was lucky to catch a wave and ride it in!

>Sand castle building, volleyball playing and walking along the beach!

>Going to the World famous San Diego Zoo. It was so amazing. Our favorites
were the polar bears and the arangatangs.
John is happy to be entering the Zoo for a whole day of fun with the animals!

Caden and myself posing on the silver polar bear!


>A session in the San Diego Temple with my sister and brother in law, while my
parents babysat. It was awesome to be inside my favorite, most beautiful
temple!
John and I at the beautiful temple!
The whole gang in front of the temple!

>Watching fireworks from our balcony each night. (Sea world set them off each
night)
Aunt Sarah and nephew Jackson while watching the firework show!

>Playing games and watching movies after a long day at the beach.

>Our 15 mile bike ride around mission bay and down the boardwalk. Talk about a
sore bum the next day!
John flying off a little cliff, look at the air he caught!
John even put on a show. After flying off the cliff, he went straight into the water, all the way under and rode back out. It was hilarious!!
The Hunter family: Nick, Jessika, Caden, and Jackson!

>Shopping at the outlet mall and getting great deals!

>Enjoying a few roller coasters at Belmont Park!
My mom, sister, John and me on the Big Dipper, the classic wooden roller coaster at Belmont Park at Mission Beach! It was tons of fun.


>Boys Golf day! John still tries to impress my dad.
The boys early morning golf session near the ocean!

>Eating and eating so much great food!

It was a great vacation and great to spend time with my family since it does not happen too often since we are far away in Buffalo. Thanks Mom and Dad for the great trip! The reason we got two vacations for the price of none is: not only did we enjoy San Diego with my family, but John on his way to Arizona, and on his way back from San Diego(we took separate flights) had stayed behind and caught a later flight and recieved vouchers. . . so now we have over $800 in southwest money to buy us another vacation! I am thinking Mexico, Hawaii, or to Florida for a cruise! (ha ha)

Enjoy some more pics!!

Cute little Caden doing the monkey bars!
My brother in law Nick during our cathing-the-grape-in-your-mouth-contest! John and I won!


John hanging out with the ladies.


John inside a hole he dug, he actually made it much deeper so you could sit inside and no one could see you and then he would pop up and scare people!

Thought this was cute. My mom (grandma) and Caden sitting on their boards watching the waves.
Yeah! Our reunion since our week being apart and John's first time seeing my short hair!

10 inches of WHAT!!

A few fun things to do when John takes advantage of summer and goes home for the week!

*Girls dinner at Kristen and Aaron's house- yummy pork tenderloin, rolls, mushroom risotto, fruit salad, cumcumber & tomato salad- It is always fun to get together with friends and enjoy some food! It always helps not miss my hubby so much! I also brought a dessert peach kuchen, i had never made it before but it was delicious,(check out the recipe on our recipe blog at sweetteeth.blogspot.com)
(And by the way I still don't know how to do the link thing, maybe I can get some help)

*Another girls night on Monday night at Red Robin! Who can resist those all you can eat french fries! It was so fun. People look at us like we are weird because we are always a group of a ton of young looking girls, with at least one baby per girl! (except me). It is kinda funny, out west in Arizona or Utah we would fit right in, but out on the East its very odd!


*So why the title 10 inches. I finally got brave enough, for a little trim! Well, let's just say there is 10 inches less hair on my head! Yes, that is right! I chopped my hair! And sorry for you, I have no pictures. John has the camera in AZ, and I will post pics when I get the camera. But I love it. I think it is pretty cute, and takes about a fourth of the time to do!!


*Now it is time to get all ready for the fun vacation coming up to California. Packing, cleaning, doing laundry etc. Just two more days of work then I'm off on Saturday to San Diego to spend some time with John and my family relaxing on the beach!
Yes, that will be me next week! I can't wait!