Coming Home

This past week we came home for my Birthday and for Ashley's wedding.

This year all I wanted for my birthday is my two front teeth and a Root Canal.

On my 25th birthday I spent the day getting a root canal.

Josh came back with me, I thought to hold my hand, but ended up taking numerous pictures of me in my finest moments.

To recap why I spent my birthday at the dentist:

For the last 6 months we have been living in California and I have been without my dentist.
The only dentist in my area that covered our insurance worked out of a garage in China Town.

I was not going to trust my teeth with him.

I conquered a Root Canal on my Birthday!

Now its time to go get ready for my Birthday Party!

I out tricked the trick candles.

The Hosts of the Party! Thanks Mom and Dad and Josh!

We invited family and friends and catered in Oliver Garden!

This is for you "Jack", our silly faces!

The newlyweds-to-be

Mingling

We miss you guys! It was so good to see our bestest friends!

Lisa, we wish you were there!

Attacking the birthday girl

Friday:

Bachelorette Party for Ash at Olive Garden. Yes I ate Olive Garden the night before and had Oliver Garden for Lunch and then Dinner.

The Bridesmaids!

Sisters!

"Rain rain go away, not on Ashleys wedding day!"

Luncheon and my parents!

Bridesmaids gifts

In between the wedding and the reception, Josh and I ran to Walmart and BARELY missed

Al Jefferson by about 30 seconds. Josh was so so so bummed, he still has not stopped talking about it.

The beautiful Bride and her maids

The photographer said, "Look at eachother and pretend like your laughing"

This is what she got.

Two Days in Tahoe

Every week Josh and I get two days off of work together. This past week we decided to drive to Lake Tahoe. On the way there we decided to make a pit stop at the capital buiding in Sacramento. When we got there we walked around and checked it out for a bit. Our favorite part was going into Arnold's office. This is a picture hanging in his office and I thought it was amazing.

In front of Arnold's office. Does anyone still get a kick out of Arnold being the governor? Cause I sure do!

While touring the capital building we suckered into getting a lung test done on us for COPD week. We had to take a test in which we blew all the air out of our lungs until we felt like we were going to pass out and then suck it back in really fast. We had to do this on a machine. Her instructions were, "Blow into this tube until your face turns purple".... I was a little nervous.

Test Results:

Josh- Best reading she has had all day, cannot believe the strength of his lungs! Seriously could not stop talking about it.

Melissa- Lungs were functioning well, average numbers... ( She was so not impressed)

A classic, "in front of the capital making a hand-gesture" tourist photo.

Stopping for a picture among the pines

Lake Tahoe!

Having somewhat of a picnic in the parking lot.

Going Green

Emerald Bay.

Beautiful, Beautiful!

I have been searching for any sign of fall for the last month. I finally found it. Now it feels like October!

We came during "fish spawning" time at the Lake. This also happens to be the best time to see a bear. We decided to wait with the "bear people" to see if we could witness a bear coming down to catch a fish.

I am going to set up the picture below:

BEAR LADY ( Lady with camera)- Been here since 8 AM trying to get the perfect shot of a bear. At this point it is 4:40 PM and still no sighting.

LOG LADY( Lady on log)- Crossed the river into "bear territory" to take some pictures of the fish in the river. Has no idea that she has just destroyed someones hopes and dreams.

Josh- Innocent Bystander

Camera Lady is furious that the log lady crosses the river into bear territory. She starts walky-talky-ing (walky talky shown in picture below on right hip) her friend from across the river just bashing the log lady. Literally cannot believe it, you would have thought the world was coming to an end.

I am telling you, those "bear people" are a weired crowd of people.

We bear hunted for about 1 1/2 hours and then decided that the bear was not coming. We were not going to tell the Bear lady this. She would be crushed!

Driving home and always being the navigator, the DJ, and answering phone calls.

This is where our GPS took us. Diverted us out of traffic in Sacramento on a main highway and onto a Kansas looking road where civilization does not exist. We continued to drive home on this road for about 35 miles. Oh the memories!