"I'll be there for you"

Post 1 of 3

I'm going to try to make these short & sweet

So awhile ago I got this grand idea to have a party be entirely around one of my favorite TV shows...Friends

I actually have a couple of friends that love the show too

So I thought it would be a great way to spend a Saturday night

We had the Joey special which is 2 pizzas

We had hot chocolate in our giant mugs

We watch a couple of episodes and played "Friends" Scene It

Boys Vs Girls and you will have to scroll down to see who won

the Gellar Cup.

That's right, there was even a Gellar Cup that went to the winners

For those who don't what that is, there is a great picture of it

It was a great night filled with laughter and friends

Thanks for all who came, it was a blast

Donning my "Friends" t-shirt and giant mug

The boys won!!
Tyson, Ryan, Brian, Dave and Jakeb
This is them holding the Gellar Cup

The Gellar Cup is a troll doll "nailed" to a 2x4

Watching the best show ever!

Yours Truly, Mern and Lexie

Even the Gillman's came
Everyone loved Ollie

These are the die hard fans - minus Nicole. She already left
Natalie, Jen, Ryan, Brian, Yours Truly and Dave

Gratitude Rocks!!!
- lunch, the creators of "Friends", Arizona winters, a clean car, utensils

Puerto Penasco

Post 2 of 3

My friend Troy had some amazing connections for a cheap place in Rocky Point

So I went through the whole process of getting a passport card

so I could go with all my friends.

And after a lot of easing my mom that things were going to be ok

we were off to Mexico.

We stayed at a resort on the beach in a huge condo.

I should have gotten pictures of the inside cause it was gorgeous

We went shopping in downtown,

ate some delicious authentic food,

hung out on the beach,

some went skinny dipping

(at night and I was not one of them),

and had some great conversations.

Super fun trip but I was glad to be back in my home country.

You can definitely tell the difference.

Shopping in downtown

Dave and I

The gang
Ashley, Mern, Troy, Kristen, Yours Truly, Dave and Lexie

Lexie and I weren't looking where everyone else was

Mariachi band
The guy in the middle was so gorgeous
I couldn't stop staring

Our resort

Beautiful sunset

Our last picture before heading home

Dave made this collage for us

Thanks Troy for hooking us up with a great weekend!

Gratitude Rocks!!
- USA, sand, ocean, chips and salsa, having connections, a friend willing to help me out

Vegas. Again!

Post 3 of 3

Las Vegas again was on the agenda.

This time around it was a lot more fun

All it consisted of was delicious food and a show

My kind of trip, especially to a place that I really could care less about.

We were there celebrating Dave's birthday.

He had never seen Lion King and since it was closing this year,

he wanted to see it before it left Vegas.

The show was amazing, as it always is.

However, they did leave out some scenes and cut my favorite short.

Oh well, everyone else that hadn't seen it loved it and it brought back memories of my first time seeing it. So much fun!

Tori, Dave, Yours Truly and Brian
We are in the garden at the Bellagio
We had just arrived

Our desserts from the Buffet @ the Bellagio

Dave captured how we felt after eating
Crazy full but completely satisfied

We met up with Brian's friend Steve-O

Captured perfectly

Clearly I didn't get the black and white memo
Also in my opinion...Dave went a bit too far

Dapper Men

We stopped at the dam on the way home

Tori, Yours Truly and Brian

Happy Birthday Dave!

I hope you enjoyed every day that we celebrated your birth

We also did a movie, dinner (twice) and a huge big breakfast

Love you Bud!

Gratitude Rocks!!

- Green mix burros, cute old ladies that I wish I could take home with me, toilets, hot chocolate, being all caught up with my adventures (holla)

My Mountain

Ahg, only two more days till Thanksgiving and I still need to do 3 more posts after this.

I just might do all 3 tomorrow since I am working and I know it will be slow.

So look forward to a lot of goodness.

Back in the end of September Dave wanted to escape the heat and do something that he has never done since he has been in AZ.

I came up with the idea to visit Safford, hike Mt. Graham and do a temple session.

He was all over that since his little goal was to do a session in the temples of AZ.

So we pack up the car for a weekend of happiness.

We did invite others but one by one they all backed out.

So it was just he and I.

Luckily we can be with each other and not feel we have to entertain the other person.

We first stopped in Miami to partake of Burger House.

He thought it was ok.

Clearly he has issues.

We get to Safford and we stay with my Grandparents.

While there he found a picture of me in our huge family photo that was taken forever ago.

The day that I was sick and throwing up between each shot.

Family will know what picture I am talking about.

Anyways, he takes a picture of it (without my knowledge)

and sends it to all my friends.

Thanks Dave!

Yes, I was in my awkward stage back then and have yet to grow out it.

Head to the temple for a session

Such a gorgeous temple.

Afterwards we change to go hiking.

Dad was such a help and told us what would be the best hike that I could do without dying.

The weather was beautiful and the drive up Mt. Graham just brought back so many memories.

I was so happy to be back home.

The hike wasn't too bad, the only thing that was a little sad was the burnt trees from the fire.

Still there is something pretty about burnt trees in the midst of a blue sky and green brush.

He hiked to the towers (also more memories flood back)

and just sat enjoying the view and talked.

I love spending time with that boy.

Too bad he is leaving next month.

The trip was fun and relaxing.

Glad I got be home, see family and be a part of nature.

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for letting us stay at your house.

Thank you Dad for lending us your map and for suggesting a beautiful hike.

Everyone else missed out.

Looking down on the valley

I think that is pretty

Taking a little break

Even sitting that boy is posing

Where we hiked to

Our only picture together

Gorgeous

We need a picture with map.
That map was so old and I almost had to "get in map"

Gila Valley Temple

Gratitude Rocks!!

- Howard Keel's voice (yum), missionaries, memories, pictures, Thursday's feast, vacations, Kara's heart leaping for joy

"We're off to the see the world"

I am still playing catch up.

I hope to be all done with this before Thanksgiving.

That is my ultimate goal.

Well maybe not the ultimate.

I do have bigger goals in my life that have far more importance.

Ever been up in a hot air balloon?

I have and it was thrilling!

My dear friend Brian, Dave's brother, celebrated a birthday and this is what we did.

We got a great deal from groupon and jumped on the band wagon.

We started our event with style viewing the classic cartoon

"The Chipmunk Adventure"

My post title is from a song from the movie :)

I'm happy to have friends that enjoy the same cheesy crap that I do.

The next morning we met with the crew and other passengers.

Watching the balloon get blown up is pretty cool.

It does take awhile and so we all just either took pictures or watched in awe.

Finally we got up in the balloon and off we went.

It was so peaceful and serene

I could have been up there forever.

However I did get vertigo.

I am not afraid of heights and love to do crazy things.

I went sky diving for heavens sake!

So because I got vertigo, I had to sit in the bottom of the basket.

Sad that I missed about 15 min of the ride

but better that than pass out completely.

Landing was a bit fun and wasn't scary out all.

We did freak out though, cause a neighboring balloon had a pretty rough landing.

They fed us breakfast and gave us a traditional Irish toast.

So I definitely recommend going up in a hot air balloon.

And a little tip, don't look straight down too much.

Look at the horizon and you won't get vertigo :)

Yours Truly, Brian and Dave in front of the van that would take us to the take-off area

In front of our balloon

Such a cool sight

Trying to recuperate from vertigo

Charly, Brian, Katie, Yours Truly and Dave
The woman on the side tried to get out the picture but all we got were her boobs
haha. She was a nice lady & celebrating her bday

Getting Brian's free dozen at Krispy Kreme

Celebrating Brian's birthday wasn't over.

We went to Wet 'N Wild for a couple of hours, dinner at Cheesecake Factory that night and to a huge dance at an airport hangar.

This day was filled with 2 wonderful men and met some really great people.

Thank you Brian for letting me crash out your house and for inviting me to celebrate the day of your birth. It was so much fun!!



Birthday Boy

Gratitude Rocks!!
- reassurance that my lesson was good, the fact that my AC is off, wedding receptions (I know, strange), hot chocolate, playing new games, dollar theater movies, FHE