Malibu

Chris and I skipped over to Malibu to check out the area. Neither of us had been there so we thought we would check out the beaches. We came across a surf competition that we watched for most of the time we were there. It was a long boarding comp so it was more of being able to 'hang ten' than dropping huge waves. The beach we were at was a surfing only beach - no swimming, kayaks, boats allowed. Maybe we'll have to take up a new sport. This looks like something we could do.

California Dreamin'

So, we finally made it to California. Our apartment is pretty nice. We have a pool so I think we should be okay since the weather since we have been here is a toasty 100-plus degrees but feels closer to being within the suns atmosphere. I can literally feel the asphalt melting my leg hairs when I walk across the parking lot. Like most of you, you would think California would be the ideal place to go biking, I too was fooled. Chris and I are still in the search for a bike ride with these requirements: Lightly trafficked, wide shoulder (or any shoulder at all), and no stop signs or signals every block. The population is so dense here it's hard to find any sort of biking haven. Plus, unless we go at 6 am I think our tires would melt.

We're working on adjusting to California life. We have already had a couple of visitors in the short time we have been here. My dad was in LA for a conference the first weekend we were here so we had dinner with him. Alex's wife Marty had a college reunion so we toured her old college and had yogurt with her. We are looking forward to many more visitors in the next year.

Chris is super excited to finally be learning what he is passionate about. It will be great for him to work in what he enjoys. I am trying to get settled and have a few projects of my own that I am working on. I'm still not sure if I am going to get a job and if I do what kind of job it will be. It would just be nice to have someplace I need to be. I have a hard time being at home most of the time so to prevent craziness I just might have to buckle down and be responsible.

In the meantime, we made the most of our visitors and went to Universal Studios with Mom and Jan.

Oscar

The Jim Bell family comes to Utah

Chris' oldest brother Jim brought his family, Tracey, Stoughton, Chamberlain, and Julian, for a short and packed 3 days. They stayed with us at my parents horse property. To sum things up, there was a lot of 4-wheeling, pollywog catching, jumping on the trampoline, feeding the goats, horse riding, more jumping in the trampoline, good food, and a day of Park City. Somehow we only have pictures of the horses so you'll just have to believe me about the rest.

Lake Powell

Although my parents swore of Lake Powell before July, they picked a week in late June just so Chris and I could go. We had so much fun with our family, the Fullmers, Austins and Tensmeyers - the same crew since I can remember




. We took the long boat ride to Rainbow Bridge which we hadn't seen in years. Such an amazing and beautiful natural arch.

Bear Lake on the 4th

An unusually cold 4th of July at Bear Lake. It seemed more like Memorial Day weather. Nonetheless we had a fabulous time with the family and were glad that we could have one last hurrah before heading to California.