Anniversary Hornblower Cruise

Silly Nate planned a dinner cruise around the Bay for our Anniversary. It was supposed to be a surprise but he is really bad at surprises and consequently was so excited he told me the day before the event. I guess it helps with dress codes though :)

Our lovely Cruise ship

Happy Anniversary to us! It was so cold in the city that night... I needed my Northface!

We got the 'special occasion' package which came with Champagne... in our case sparkling cider... chocolates and fluted glasses.

Nate made faces at me all night... so it serves him right to have this picture posted.

It was such a fun little cruise... unfortunately it got really foggy so we couldn't see the sights all that well but the food was delicious, the music was nice, the dancing was fun, and the company was excellent.

2 Years Baby!

Yes... the 24th was our 2 year anniversary! And what a fun two years. I love my man so much and we just have to much fun. Someone not too long ago described the two of us as "young at heart " (as if our age isn't young enough by itself) but I love that about us. I hope we stay young at heart the rest of our lives and never stop laughing with each other.

(Our Groom's dinner)

We've been on our own now for a total of 9 months and it is so nice to take care of each other. I in my ways and Nate in his. When we were going through our AWESOME engagement I remember my dad talking to us one night and telling Nate that I was a 'winner' and that I needed to marry someone with 'W's' by their name (yeah it was one of THOSE Mike talks) but I definitely got a big winner with lots of W's by his name. I think I take for granted what a great guy I got. At this point I think it's normal for him to be #1 in everything but really I know it's NOT. He is an incredibly hard worker and takes GREAT care of us and I know he always will. He is tender and sweet and I love our life. I can't wait till the end of the day so we can hang out. I'm told that if I still want to hang out after two years, it's a good sign I picked the right man. Well here's to two!

(This was the first time Nate met my family, thanks for capturing the moment Kennan)

Santa CRUZ!

So we've been meaning and meaning to drive down to Santa Cruz to see some beach and boardwalk action... and finally Saturday around 4 pm we decided on Santa Cruz vs. the 49ers game(I'm not ready for football yet).

I have such fond memories of all these bay area destinations due primarily to my brother Brad. For my 14th (maybe 13th?) birthday Brad took me to the radiohead concert at Shoreline. Of course I lived in Utah so we flew out and he showed me around like an expert tour guide and let me hang out with him and his buddies. It was such a fun trip for me... I felt so OLD and I was absolutely ecstatic about anything radiohead at the time. Well, I couldn't wait to rediscover Santa Cruz with Nate!

It was warm in San Ramon when we left.... but so COLD in Santa Cruz!
I know.... Northern California beaches are sooo pretty:(
Neptune's Kingdom!

On a side note... when I was here with Brad we had made 5 year predictions. It's so interesting contemplating what you think will happen and what does happen in life. I mean it's not like my life has just happened without me... I've made the decisions the whole way and am responsible for where I am, but looking back 7 years ago at what I was and what I wanted to become and what I am today is such a difference. I was younger, hopeful, hungry for everything, and trying to be 5 years older. I would say today I am young, less hopeful, and less hungry, but still trying to be 5 years older. Ha... here's to another 5 Santa Cruz!

SF Giants

Saturday we decided to take BART in to the city and go to the Giants Dodgers

game. It was so nice to go into the city... its been a couple weeks since we've made the trek but it reminds me of things I love about living in Cali and SF is definitely one of those. We are so tempted to just pack up and move to the city :)

It was a really great view but Nate wouldn't cooperate and get in the proper lighting so it turned out bad :(

I love the view from this stadium....

We always opt for less expensive tickets so we can get LOTS of treats! Yeah you can see where my priorities are.... but seriously the food was delicious. It was way cold at the game but we still
couldn't resist the Ghirardelli sundaes they were selling. Our Saturday night bomb.

Super Diamond

So I've been a little depressed this past month being in California and trying to adjust to my new life (ie working). And because we are settled we haven't been doing as much outside of our house. So this past weekend we decided to get out of the house. The plaza I work in has this summer concert series they do every couple Saturdays and this week was Super Diamond. They are a Neil Diamond cover band (who doesn't love Neil Diamond?)

So after work I went and picked up Nate and we made our way to the plaza. We picked up some yummy dinner from Draeger's and found a spot to picnic and listen.

The view from our spot... we didn't get there super early cause I had work till six so we wound up sitting behind the stage.

The totally hot lead guitarist.... ah I love Neil Diamond

Day Three: Snowbasin and Lagoon

We took the tram up to the lodge at Snowbasin to do lunch for Jannie's birthday... it was gorgeous.

8 of us plus baby and stroller all got in one gondola... it was a little scary seeing as the weight limit was 1400 lbs and three of us were Clark boys!

This was our view and could have been our plummet

Oh beautiful mountains....

The top of the mountain

So Nate's Mom's play car is her 1990 Nissan ZX... it is in excellent condition and only has about 100,000 miles and it is still a treat for Nate to drive... it's so funny cause its not super nice anymore but we have a blast driving it... so here's my man Sixteen Candles style.

LAGOON

A&Z's annual company party is always at Lagoon and that is why the Clark gathering occurs at this time of year... cause we all go to LAGOON. Of course we don't usually go until 5 or so in time for the dinner but it's just enough time. Last year we couldn't stay for Lagoon day cause of stupid summer sales so this year we hit up Wicked first.

I know terrible picture but it's one of the few I actually took... Wicked was fun but I'm sure I'll sing a different tune after we hit up Cedar Point in Michigan

We also went on a little skycoaster... which is REALLY fun but as Nate and I were being pulled up we both were thinking we were crazy seeing as our life together hasn't been very long.... So maybe we'll wait till our kids grow up and we've had a long life then we can sky dive and bungee jump :)

Annual Clark Reunion

Day one of the reunion is always the Lake day.

The Clark's always rent a boat, two jet skis, bring A LOT of floating toys, 3 dozen sandwiches, and lots of snacks for the day. It was a lot of fun this year I just failed to take picture at the actual lake. Anyway... after the lake we all went back to the pool for a surprise birthday part for Coleen.

Surprise!!

It was a lovely catered affair that Jon and Greg put together and I think Coleen was almost surprised :)

Of course most of the boys had to get in the pool for flies up (if you can see, Nate isn't in the pic cause he won and was throwing)

And us girls ate Jannie's beautiful cake and watched Coleen open gifts!

Day One definitely a success!!

Fourth of July Weekend

Living away from my family for two summers now has made me positive of one thing... Holiday's are not the same without the whole fam. We decided not to go home for the fourth since my sisters were coming out the following week and we'd be back in Utah the first week in August. That left our weekend open. Greg and Carie were nice enough to invite us up to their amazing lake house in Groveland for the weekend. It was a VERY nice alternative even if our dogs were cramping out style... THANK YOU Carie for letting our dogs come too!!

Nate giving the water a try.

Nate and Greg in the lake... although from Nate's body language you would think the water was freezing it was actually quite warm and a very fun swimming area.

Nate and Greg soaking in the rays... Greg didn't last very long in the water once his floatation device popped...ha ha

While I was soaking the rays I spotted this gem... I recall very clearly having an identical floaty suit in red when I was little and floating down the Narrows in Zion suited in it. I think Brooke's might have been yellow... anyway I'm thrilled they're still making these or some people are still keeping the heirlooms usable.

That night they had a fabulous firework show on the lake... So Greg took us out on his boat for a prime location.

Cute,crazy Jayden

My cute boy

mmhmm... just evidence I was present

This was the view directly above our head

I love fireworks

County Fair

When the Alameda County Fair came (IN JUNE) we had a lot of friends and family attending so we thought we'd check it out on 2$ Tuesday...

One great thing about Nate is that he LOVES games... going to fairs/amusement parks/etc where there are games I always get very large prizes!



The winning shot...

I actually quite liked the small animals... This bunny was HUGE though... reminded me of my bunny Skippy from long ago (minus the cannibalism part Brooke) I wanted to buy her but settled with a picture instead

Oh my... the food was AMAZING at the fair and I can never say no to funnel cake.

McKay's Birthday

Okay... Okay... There is a way for me to blog with out my computer I just haven't wanted to... but I am. So we'll start where I left off... June 28th at McKay's first birthday:)

Happy Birthday McKay!!!

Carrie threw a fabulous and extravagant birthday party for McKay with beaucoup de people and beaucoup de fun.

The official throne...

The famous "Carie" cake... mm it was delicious.

The Family (I am not very aggressive about taking pics so generally people aren't looking at my camera...sorry)

Among other activities... there was a bounce house. Nate was the only adult who participated (he claims he was helping to get something down) I love picturing his giant body bouncing in the bounce house though :)

Carie, her sisters, her mom, and baby McKay!