Ocean City, MD - Labor Day Weekend

For the holiday weekend Shawn and I drove over to Ocean City, MD to enjoy the last (but our first) real beach weekend of the summer.  Surprisingly it was our first beach vacation together (in three years).  I generally don't love the beach but we had so much fun I definitely look forward to going again.  

We walked on the boardwalk (a lot), relaxed on the beach reading and napping all day, ate delicious seafood, went dancing, and slept in!  Shawn said it was the most stress free and relaxing vacation he's ever had.  I would say that it was a success!

first day - walking on the boardwalk

inner fat kids were out - pizza and ice cream on the boardwalk

laying on the beach at night (Shawn is sporting his stocking from surgery)

trying to study on the beach

dancing at Seacrets

two days at the beach makes for a great vacation

dinner at Hooked

Family Visits DC

Deeann and family were in the area doing the DC thing.  So Shawn and I took the day off and metroed into DC to have lunch with everyone.  We had yummy burgers at the Shake Shack and talked for a few hours.  It is always great to see family! Especially on the East Coast.

Me, Deeann, Rachel, and Ryleigh

(Joe and Shawn were taking the picture...convenient)

Shawn's Latest Surgery

Shawn had knee surgery yesterday and all went well.  Hopefully this will help with the pain he has been having from our accident last September.

We napped, cleaned out the DVR, and ate so much food while Shawn was recovering for the first 48 hours.  We even had some friends stop by to participate in our first Chicken Off (eating copious amounts of fried chicken from various locations to see which is the best) and watch some Harry Potter.

Walter was concerned about his daddy

Chuy and I were also helping Shawn snuggle up and rest

Happy Anniversary

Since Shawn was scheduled to have surgery on our actual anniversary we celebrated the night before in DC.  We met King out for dinner at Las Placitas and then walked over to the National's Ball Park.  A coworker was nice enough to give us his amazing seats (front row, cushioned, right where all the balls are hit).  It is a beautiful stadium and we had a great time.

Shawn and I have spent three great years together.  He is my best friend and my soulmate (corny I know).  Plus he's cute!

Happy 3rd Anniversary

view from our seats

Bro Bro Visits Maryland

Zachary was in Virginia for work, so close but so far away.  He had one day off during the 12 days he was here.  On his day off I decided to drive down there to pick him up so Shawn and I could spend some time with him.  I loved every second of it!  I wish we could see him more often (and of course Adri).  

Our friend Dina was having her Sharknado 2 party.  Zac came with us to enjoy some bbq, backyard movies, and fun games.  It was a great night.

Our other friends invited us on their boat the next day.  We headed out to the Chesapeake Bay to go tubing and enjoy the water and seafood.  Zachary had his first Maryland crabs and loved 'em!  

We had a great time bro bro - miss and love you!

hard to take a picture without a flash

these two...

Zac's tubing

me and my little bro bro

Room with a View

I was working locally this time and had the opportunity to visit a beautiful building with an amazing view!

Washington Monument

Lincoln Memorial

Janna's Birthday

We celebrated Janna's birthday in Annapolis with Mexican food and margaritas!  We had a great time and was glad to get out for the night.

his hat was messing up my hair

birthday girl!

cheese face

Late Arrival and Celebration

Shawn arrived from Alabama later than he expected.  We lounged around all day watching movies and went to R&R for Mexican food.  The boys were more than happy to lay around with us all day.

We also had a belated birthday celebration.  Shawn made me sit on the couch and relax while he made a German Chocolate cake from scratch and smoked ribs.  Everything turned out extremely delicious.  I think he felt bad for not being able to be with me on my actual birthday.

 the boys and I helped Shawn recover after 2.5 weeks in Alabama

Isn't he the cutest?!

relaxing while Shawn made me a cake and ribs

belated birthday celebration

Bath, Maine

I was in Bath, ME for a quick trip.  I was able to enjoy a lobster dinner (my first) and tried to see the water but the fog was not cooperating.  Maine was so beautiful and peacefully quiet.  I am dying to go back for a vacation.  Hopefully one day.

Dock by restaurant

When I was younger we were in Maine visiting Uncle Richie...we went to a lobster farm where I happily picked out a lobster.  When we got home I realized what they were going to do with him.  I cried so much I passed out and when I woke up dinner was over!  I have never had a lobster dinner until now.  IT WAS DELICIOUS!

28th Birthday

Shawn was unable to come home for my birthday so I went to work...

BUT I did get together with many of my great friends and went out for dinner!  We had amazing Thai food and two ice cream cakes.  I enjoyed great food and company.  Thank you Jay, Billy, Joey, Janna, Ken, Jasmine, and Zach!!!!

Ice cream cake miscommunication...I'm not mad

Enjoying the cake too much

Zach's Birthday

Zach celebrates his birthday two days before me.  We have birthday celebrations all week!  For his birthday we did presents at the house, walked around the mall, and then went into Baltimore for a fancy dinner...the crab cakes were delicious!  Happy Birthday to a great friend!

Zach wishes Walter was his present.

We hung out at the mall like tweens and Zach got stuck in BBB!

No birthday is complete without a Blizzard from DQ.

Wine Tasting in Lodi, CA

Work sent me to the Sacramento, CA area a day early (on accident) so I was able to get some wine tasting done in Lodi, CA.  Luckily for me my co-worker is very knowledgable when it comes to wine.  I had so much fun and learned a lot...and drank a lot!

An old fermentation tank turned into a wine tasting room in the 60s. Held about 50,000 gallons of wine. Wish Shawn could have seen it.

My new favorite wine - Michael David's Petite Petit

A margarita for National Margarita Day!

All the DELICIOUS California food I could get

I had a very bad flying experience to get home...many hours, delays, missed connections, etc.

Decided to just relax in Denver and enjoy some food and beer.

Farewell

Shawn left me for a little over two weeks to go to Alabama and redo a bathroom for his mama.  He knew how sad I was and decided to take me out for a goodbye dinner of sushi and sashimi (my favorite).  We tried a few different things that we haven't had, mackerel and tuna tacos.  They were delicious.

Shawn was suppose to return after 12 days but it has been a little longer than expected...maybe he owes me another sushi date!

4th of July

This year we went out to the farm and enjoyed the 4th with friends, bbq ribs, and karaoke.  We had too much of everything.  I made potato salad, Greek wheat salad, apple pie, and apple crisp!  Like I said, too much of everything.

Sparklers

Smile normal, worse than a kid

This guy (that hat)...

Sherman the donkey

I love mornings on the farm!

Garden 2014

This year we planted our normal flowers (petunias, dahlias, lilies, celosias, and many more I can't remember the names).  But we also decided to expand our vegetable garden.  We planted our usual (sage, cilantro, parsley, dill, basil, rosemary, lavender) AND we planted some new fun ones (red, yellow, and green bell peppers, poblano peppers, and tomatoes (cherry, plum, and heirloom)).  We did pretty good.  I need more room!  City life isn't very spacious sometimes.

Summer Fun

Or should I say summer food!

Sometimes it is just too hot to have a picnic outside.  We decided to have a fried chicken picnic inside to stay cool and help wind down from a long week.  (It was Shawn's night to cook) :)

perfect little picnic

We also met up with Brent and Katie for Abbey Burger in Baltimore.  It was quite the experience (small bar, big soccer game).  We just wanted to eat burgers.  After finally being seated we ordered some amazing waffle fry nachos and I had a yummy turkey burger.  Shawn had a kangaroo burger; I tried it and it wasn't too bad.  I should have been more adventurous and tried the meat of the month which was New Zealand Red Deer (lesson learned).