San Francisco weekend!

Well we had quite a fun weekend!  I'll warn you in advance there are lots of pictures... I couldn't narrow it down!  Friday came and we were still unsure of where to go for the weekend.  With it being Memorial Day the flights were pretty full and we couldn’t decide!  Josh’s supervisor came to him and told him to go home and go catch a flight so we ended up leaving early and jumping on the first plane we could.  Turns out that meant San Francisco!  Our plane ended up delayed due to weather.  First an hour late boarding and then sitting for about an hour on the plane.  We were getting a little antsy but can’t complain if it’s free!

We were blessed to sit on the plane next to a really nice guy from San Francisco [who had also lived in Utah].  Turns out he was headed home to take the scouts on a hike and told us where to stay, where to avoid, and some cool places off the beaten path to visit.  We didn’t end up there until late which also turned out to be a blessing because we got our hotel for super cheap since they figured they weren’t getting anymore customers that night! 

Saturday we went everywhere!  We probably walked about 20 miles total – we just about died of tiredness by the end of the day.  First we found a hotel because we started to get a little nervous when many claimed they were sold out.  

Sometimes we like to add funny pictures where Josh forgot where the
camera was haha

This homeless man had a whistle and just decided randomly that he
was going to start directing traffic... best part was people listened hahah. 

Then we headed to the pier.  It was a beautiful day, T-shirt weather and not too hot!  We visited Ghirardelli square where Josh bought me chocolate one of my favorite things in this world!  We explored all along the marina, the different piers, the old ships, all the gift shops, fish markets, saw the bridges and Alcatraz.

Fisherman's warf!

Trolly time!

Josh felt like closing his eyes... just pretend they're open.

We headed to China town for lunch, which, Josh absolutely loved.  It reminded him so much of Korea I’m pretty sure he could have stayed there all day and been perfectly content.  The man on the plane told us where to go to see fortune cookies being made in a back shop and had some samples it was pretty crazy to watch them come off the press and be folded.

After China town we went through little Italy and to the famous Lombard crooked Street.  We had to hike up what felt like a mountain to get there, I swear it was at least a 45 degree angle hill.  After the monster hill, we climbed up all the stairs to the top of Lombard it was such a beautiful view of the city.

That night we had dinner on famous pier 39 and watched the bay bridge with its twinkling lights.  We walked all through the piers and downtown as well.  It was beautiful!

On our way home we found this awesome old school arcade and spent the rest of the night there.  It was a blast they had all the good old arcade games from the 90s!

Josh works out...

Sunday morning we made the trek to the famous Golden Gate Bridge.  Boy it was a long walk!  It was great though we got to walk along the beach most of the way there.  It was full of dogs, families, and Memorial Day barbeques.  We were so blessed in that our whole walk there we could see the bridge and get great pictures of it but as soon as we got there the fog rolled in and you literally would not have known it was there!  After the bridge we made our way to church and then to have some delicious crapes before heading to the airport.  We were able to jump on a plane home that was delayed and just about to take off instead of waiting for our later flight.  It was great!

This giant bird was just walking along the look out point!  After this picture was
taken a homeless man kept trying to pet him and eventually succeeded.  
I’ve come to the conclusion that that is definitely how the bird flu gets started. 

On Golden Gate Bridge gazing out over the fog.
I should be Josh's professional photographer..

Josh's artwork for me at the beach (:

By the time Monday morning rolled around we were exhausted!  But we woke up and headed to Lewisville Lake with a few other couples in the ward.  It was a blast the ward here is just so friendly and outgoing.  We had a BBQ and just enjoyed the time with each other.  Now we’re ready for a short week!

San Fran ✈

Well friends we officially made the flight! We will soon be on our way to San Francisco [i say soon because currently the plane is delayed due to weather. Oh boy. We are an hour behind schedule and I'm feeling a little clasreaphobic stuck on this plane... But that's okay we're off!] we are stoked! Flights this weekend due to Memorial Day have been crazy busy so we choose California and couldn't be more excited. Just wanted to let everyone know where we are headed and we'll keep ya posted! 

crafts, recipes & dates

Well it has been a fun week so far here in Dallas!  Josh has been working hard and loving having a real job instead of school!  I'm still attempting both but it has been great!  On Tuesday my friend Chelsea invited me to go to a spin class with her.  It kicked my butt! I am still sore! but it was a really fun workout and afterwords we were able to go on a few errands which was great for my car-less self.  It was a great morning and we love the new friends we have made here in Dallas!

Every Tuesday night Josh plays basketball with the ward [don't worry we make sure he keeps his competitive temper down (; ] while he is playing basketball I decided to craft.  I have seen this on pinterest a million times but after seeing them in my friends cute apartment I decided to give it a try myself.  I love them!

On wednesday I decided to plan a picnic date night.  There are wayyyy too many bugs in Dallas!  Everywhere you go!  So our picnic was fun but we sure didn't stay too long.  Not too mention there was a stray dog that kept coming over and then he would run off chasing a squirrel or some random creature.  He looked like he was having the time of his life ha.  But anyways I made some chicken salad sandwiches and decided that quick, easy, and delicious recipes are hard to come by [how they existed before Pinterest is a mystery] and I hate those nights where I have no idea what to cook [here you go mom!]  so I thought I would share mine when I found a good one.  So here is recipe number one:

Scrumptious Chicken Salad Sandwiches:

1/2 C. Mayo

2 tbs. lemon juice

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. Onion Powder

1/8 tsp. Garlic Powder

1/8 tsp. Dried Thyme

1/8 tsp. Pepper

2 1/2 C. Shredded Chicken 

[I just cooked some fresh right before]

1 1/2 C grapes cut in half

2/3 C celery chopped

Mix it all together and throw it on some crossants [I hear the Costco ones are best but good old Tom Thumb provided ours] and enjoy!  It's really easy and actually makes quite a bit!

Family, the Rangeres, & Honkey Tonks

Well we have had quite the week!  On Wednesday we had a tornado scare.  Josh and I were on our way to the temple when a hail storm warming came over the radio.  Apparently grapefruit sized hail was spotted.  Grapefruit!  I can't even imagine!  We went to the temple anyways and when we got out it was raining cats and dogs.  We thought the tornado was only in the southwest and headed to target before we went home when we start hearing all of the tornado warning sirens outside.  It was CRAZY!  Luckily our drive home had no problems and our neighborhood was safe.  It was actually fun to go to sleep listening to the pounding rain and seeing the lightning show flash across our room.  Not everyone in Texas was so lucky many were impacted by the tornado.  It caused thousands to be out of power and some deaths.  Keep them all in your prayers!

We had a really fun weekend.  Josh's dad was in town for work and extended his trip a day so he could hang out with us.  On friday we all went to the Rangers game.  It was a beautiful stadium and full of people!  We actually had great seats up high but with a perfect view.  The Rangers lost but then we had a nice surprise there were fireworks after the game!  I've been to the Bee's firework show a bunch and this show at the Rangers put that one to shame.  Their fireworks were awesome! They shot up form both sides of the stadium.

Saturday morning we woke up bright and early.  After showing Kevin downtown Dallas we headed to Cowboy's stadium.  You can spot that giant building from a mile away.  It is HUGE!  Apparently the field itself if 50ft below street level and if you were to set the Statue of Liberty on the 50 yard line the dome goes up so high that her torch would not even reach the top.  The place is massive.

We were able to tour the locker room and try on their gear.  We happened to be there the same day as the Dallas Cowboys cheerleader tryouts... that was interesting.  Really cool tour!

They smelled like Josh's hockey gear.  It was gross!

After the stadium we took him on a tour of the old stockyards one of our favorite places in Dallas making it just in time for the world's only cattle drive.  And touched a long horn!

After a delicious lunch [texas has THE best BBQ.] it was time fo goodbye and the airport ): time went by too quick but it sure was a lot of fun to be with some family!  

Saturday night we had a blast.  We went back to the stockyards after the airport.  We were going to the rodeo and then to see Tracy Lawrance in concert at Billy Bob's [our new favorite place].  We got there so early that when we ate [ it's the biggest honkey tonk in the word fyi] we ate next to the band! It was awesome.  Then off to the rodeo!  A real Texas rodeo.  Words can't even describe it, it was sweet.  Real country!

Billy Bob's hall of fame [there were a ton more] we just love Johnny Cash.  I rate their popularity by the number of crazy girls who have kissed their cement. 

Rodeo time!

Then off to the concert we went, one of my favorite concerts just from the atmosphere.  Turns out with your rodeo tickets you got in free so Josh went and sold ours since we had already bought tickets and had gotten into the rodeo for free.  Such a good little salesman.  The concert was packed!  Billy Bob's has a restaurant, a concert area, bats, pool places, gift shop and bull riding.  It is a really fun place to hang out and see some great live music.  We had a great view and afterwards danced too.  

Exploring Dallas

So bummer no trip this weekend.  American could not get Josh's information in the system in time so instead we decided to spend the weekend exploring Dallas a little bit more.  Helen and Bob have two bikes that we love to go riding around on which is what we did a good part of Friday.  Saturday was our adventure day.  First thing in the morning we went to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.  It was really cool.  They had a lot of hands on modules for you to play around with.  They had different experiments you could try and an actual cell lab!

My favorite part was next when we went to the Dallas World Aquarium.  We were debating between here and the zoo but heard this was superior and it sure was something else!  You walk up and down different floors of wild real animals amongst all the plants.  It is incredible.  So many plants my allergies started going haywire and I am still trying to recover.  And losing the battle!  But anyways it was incredible the way they set it up and Josh and I decided we like seeing real animals more than just the fossils, not that the fossils at the science museum weren't cool.

This creepy bird was right when you came into the aquarium.  He was HUGE! and
came right up next to the fence by you!

They had all different kinds of exotic birds from every color of the rainbow.  We even got to feed one.  When I fed him he took the blueberry right away but when Josh tried he kept biting his thumb!  They had the animals up close right next to you even a sloth outside of a cage just hanging above your head.  We saw all kinds of fish, monkeys, alligators and snakes!  We watched an anaconda while he was eating a giant ginny pig - gave me the creeps!  We saw this beautiful python right up on the glass next to us.  The aquarium was by far one of my favorite things to see in Dallas so far, a definite must!

The shark tunnel!

cutest little panther he was still a cub!

After the aquarium we went to our wards annual craw fish boil!  Apparently a few couples in our ward went to med school in New Orleans and have brought back craw fish every year to boil.  They were DELICIOUS!  Josh was the one to crack and peel them all I thought they were creepy with their beady little eyes looking at you it would have ruined my appetite so he did all the grunge work!  It was great.  Our ward is extremely friendly and outgoing it was fun to get to know more people at the dinner!  It is a really young ward we are among quite a few young couples who always reach out to us and introduce themselves.  Bob brought an entire pig to the dinner - like the gross kind you see on a skewer over the fire on TV.  An entire pig!  Apparently his friends from Lithuania brought it to him.  So delicious!  It was an awesome weekend but we can't wait until we get to start traveling!

New jobs!

It has been a busy first week for both Josh and I!  Josh is loving American Airlines.  He has started a new project he busily is working away on to improve the industry.  We are hoping he can get his flight benefits worked out ASAP so we can hit the airport for some fun weekends!

This week I traveled with Bob for three days each morning to Frisco Texas to the TMHRA - Texas Municipal Human Resources Association, the name alone sounds boring but it turned out to be alright! It was super tiring leaving for the show at 7am and not getting back until 6 pm but on the bright side they sure provided some delicious food along the way

It was a convention for the head HR people in many of the cities in Texas.  My job was to sell them our service awards recognition program from Eagle during their breaks from listening to speakers.  While they were in meetings I had to send about a billion emails and enter data.  It was fun to meet all these different people along with a few city managers.  I feel like we did excellent at the show and gained many prospective clients who have samples headed their way!  Each day I got to go to a catered luncheon, much better lunch then I probably would have had at home!  It was a lot of work and I am glad it is over but it was a fun adventure to be a part of.  I had never been a part of a sales team at a show before.  It reminded me of the Home & Garden show or the What a Women Wants Fair at the south town expo center except there were only about 10-15 booths.  Best part, I got a ton of free stuff from all the vendors and lots of surprises for Josh.

My very official name badge (:

We hope to fly to San Antonio this weekend to see the Alamo and River Walk keep ya posted!

the neighborhood.

So I took the dog [name might be scottie, still to be determined..]on a nice walk this morning before it got too hot up around the beautiful SMU campus.  It wasn't hard to tell who was walking who on this walk, he basically dragged me the whole way.  Then he'd slow down all of a sudden and I would be so pleased when suddenly he would bolt after a squirrel I had managed to overlook.  It was hilarious.  He would crouch down and walk as quietly as he could until he got close enough to bolt after the poor squirrel.  Never have a seen so many squirrels up close.  They are everywhere here!   Nor have a I have had my arm yanked so hard!  Thought I would share some pictures of the beautiful campus it really is something.  The picture in the top right is a really neat piece they have outside of the museum it is all made out of some sort of netting it's crazy how real it looks.  Josh and I will be going inside on Thursday to their new exhibit it should be fun! 

A day of firsts!

Big news!  Josh started work today at American Airlines and loved it!  He really enjoyed his day and loves the atmosphere there.  He has his own little cubicle but thank goodness he is not trapped there all day he would go crazy.  His day is full of emails, meetings, and brainstorming.   It is perfect for him and we are so excited to see what the future brings!  He fits right in there!

I started working for Bob today as well.  I spent a lot of time creating documents for his sales and making calls.  It should be a busy summer for the both of us!  Bob works in service awards so creating 5 year, 10 year, 15 year etc awards for companies it seems very interesting and I am sure I will learn a lot from him!  The best part is my commute is a short walk through the backyard with a quick hello to the dog!  Can't complain about that!

After work I went on a bike ride while I waited to cook dinner and for Josh to come home.  We live in such a beautiful area!  It is so green and clean and full of life.  I have never seen such gorgeous home as college campus as at SMU.  Pictures will come later!

For FHE after some church videos Josh and I decided to go for a run to our local CVS because I was dying for some chocolate!  Josh thought I was crazy but even he had fun and broke a sweat!  Half way there I remembered a lot of places in Dallas close early [seriously it is weird almost all of their museums are closed around 5 along with barnes and noble and other stores] and I was going to be so sad!  It was already like 9:30!  Much to our happiness, well my happiness it was open!  And there was the world's cutest golden retriever waiting outside.  Fun day (:

Okay I know it's silly but I made Josh take this picture like it was his first day
of school or something but it was a big day I wanted to remember!

This was the highlight of my work day...Watching Scotty stare down
the squirrels [they are literally making eye contact in this photo]
and then chase them.  I love dogs!

John F. Kennedy Memorial

Our first Saturday in Dallas has been a fun one!  The Asay's shared some delicious breakfast with us since they knew we had not been shopping yet and then off to the store we went.  After our long shopping trip we decided to explore a little downtown and visit the "Sixth Floor Museum" - the John F. Kennedy Memorial.  It was fantastic.

The museum takes you up to the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository where shots are speculated of being fired by Lee Harvey Oswald on November 22, 1963.  The tour begins with a history of Kennedy's presidency prior to the assassination.  It was really neat to learn about all he did and what was happening in America at the time.  Here are some fun facts I learned:

President Eisenhower was the oldest president in history when he handed the presidency to the youngest president in history JFK, 43, who was also the first catholic in office.

When JFK took the presidency over 50 percent of the US population was under the age of 25!

3 months after being in office JFK invaded Cuba (bay of pigs invasion) and failed.  He took responsibility and was very disappointed in the CIA firing many of the men in charge.

JFK created the Peace Corps, he wanted the young people of America to make a difference.  The Peace Corps now serves in over 139 countries.

JFK created the base for minimum wage, what now is medicare and fought to preserve natural resources.

Facing much opposition on both sides Kennedy supported civil rights and equality for all people in America.

John F Kennedy was loved and hated by many.  He planned a 5 city trip to Texas to try and gain supporters for the upcoming election when he landed at Love Field in dallas.  He stopped to shake hands with many before getting in his limosine and heading through downtown.  As he turned the corner of Elm street he was shot 3 times [so they think - some argue conspiracy and 4].  JFK was rushed to the hospital and died at 1 pm.  Johnson the vice president was immediately sworn in as president and flown back to DC.  He refused to go without Mrs. Kennedy who refused to go without her husband so Dallas made an exception and sent JFK's body to Washington with them before an autopsy was preformed.

Authorities later arrested Lee Harvery Oswald who had turned up missing when the Texas School Book Depository was asked to take role by the police [ he had just barely started working as a temp there a few months prior].  Lee denied involvement even though his rifle and finger prints were found on the sixth floor.  He had previously lived in the USSR and was a major supporter of communism.  He was on his way to being transferred to the jail [the press were allowed in to watch] when Jack Ruby stepped up infront of the crowd on live television and shot Lee, killing him.  There is continued questions of conspiracy but eventually the government ruled the Lee worked alone.

Seeing all of the artifacts from this time and photography was amazing!  If you come to Dallas the sixth floor museum must be on your to do list.

It is believed that under this freeway entrence sign is where the first shot was filed.
Some as you can see on the sidewalk firmly believe that Kennedy was actually
shot from the "Grassy null" not the sixth floor.
There are "X" s on the street marking the three spots JKF was shot at. 

Home sweet home.

After a very long drive we finally made it to Dallas!  The first day we [when I say we  I mean Josh. I was the designated book reader.  I now know more about the airline history than I ever dreamed possible.] drove almost 900 miles to a very lovely side of the road hotel in Amarillo Texas. We were not big fans of New Mexico so decided to drive the extra 5 hours last night.  Then today we drove the final 364 miles making it to our new home with the Asay's.  They are so kind and thier house is beautiful we feel so blessed to be here and for our safe drive!  Josh starts his Job on Monday and apparently so do I working for Bob!  I learned that on Wednesday I will be Bob's sidekick at a conference to hopefully sell to some potential customers.  Josh is the salesman here but wish me luck!  I'm all kinds of nervous to start but Josh is just the opposite, he cannot wait! We are so excited for him to begin at American he is going to do such a wonderful job we will keep you posted on how it goes!
Here is our home and the view from our upstairs porch! I wil have to get some better pictures later (: