Big Update

Wow! I can't believe it has been so long since I last posted on my blog. There is so much that has happened in the last year or so since my last post. Here is an update:

February 2013 - 5th Anniversary Trip to Hawaii! We decided to spend a few days of our Anniversary trip in Oahu and then a few days in Maui. We went hiking, snorkeling, surfing, ate at great restaurants, and just relaxed. It was a great trip and we can't wait to go back!

March 2013 - We celebrated my grandparents 50th Wedding Anniversary with a black tie party at the Center Club. It was so much fun to get dressed up and celebrate 50 years of love.

I attended a few concerts in 2013 - Kesha/ Pitbull concert with my Bestie at the Hollywood Bowl. It was more fun that I thought it would be. One Direction concert at the Staples Center with my little sister, Chloe and her best friend Britney. This was my sister's first concert and she had a great time. Taylor Swift concert at the Staples Center with Chloe, Britney and Aly.

Jared and I spent the day in Venice Beach where Jared was able to pick up his Google Glasses. It was fun walking along the beach, riding bikes on the beach, seeing the street performers, and playing games on the pier.

July 2013 - We got to go to England with my family for almost 2 weeks. It was such a fun trip! We were able to see the Tower of London, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, Piccadilly Circus, Windsor Castle, The Crown Jewels, Stonehenge, and The Roman Baths. We rode the Underground everywhere, saw Les Miserables, ate yummy English food, walked around a lot, rode the London Eye, met up with a friend of my brothers that was living there for school, and lots of shopping. We had a lot of fun exploring this city and I really want to plan another trip there to see so much more!

October 2013 - Jared and I bought a house! After searching for about 2 years, we finally found the house for us. It is a cute 3 bedroom home in Placentia, CA and we love it! We are still working on getting everything put together and making it our own but things are coming together great! Once I am done with more of it I will do another post with pictures.

Another fun thing that happened in October, I went to Mickey's Halloween Time for the first time with my Bestie Friend, Andrea. It was so much fun to walk around Disneyland collecting tons of candy, seeing all the fun costumes and riding the fun rides.

November 2013 - We made a huge announcement... We are expecting a baby June 17, 2014. We are so excited! We have been waiting for this moment for a long time and I still can't believe that we are going to be parents!

December 2013 - Jared and I made the announcement to our family and friends, through a cake, that we are expecting a baby girl!!!! Her name will be Caitlyn Marie and we can't wait to meet her!

March 2014 - Jared and I decided to take a Babymoon to San Diego. We stayed at the Paradise Point Resort and Spa. Our room looked right out at Mission Bay. There were fire pits all around the property so we had bonfires a few times while we were there. We went to the beach, kayaked around Mission Bay, went the Old Town San Diego, went to the San Diego Zoo, went to the San Diego Temple, ate yummy food, got massages, and just relaxed. It was a great vacation before baby girl comes.

Newport Vacation: Jared's Birthday

For Jared's birthday we decided to take a small trip. I was having a hard time trying to figure out where to go and came across The Newport Coast Villas. These are amazing two bedroom mini apartments across from Crystal Cove. Why did we want a second room when it was just the two of us?? Well, we asked our good friends Mike, Katie and their 2 year-old son Cayden to join us for one of the nights.



 

 Our living room, kitchen and on the left is the second bedroom.

 Our bedroom :)

 

On Jared's actual birthday we decided to head over to Balboa and rent some kayaks. We had so much fun paddling around Balboa Island looking at all of the homes and the gorgeous boats. While we were paddling there was a fish that jumped out of the water right in front of me. We loved every minute of it and next time I think we are going to try the paddle boarding. After the kayaking we walked around the Balboa Fun Zone and got some ice cream. For some reason whenever we go on vacation we find a local candy store and buy a ton of candy. I don't know why but that is slowly becoming a family tradition. We then went back to the hotel and got ready for dinner. I found us a nice little steak restaurant in Corona del Mar and we had a nice dinner together to celebrate Jared's birthday.

 

The next day Mike, Katie and Cayden came to the hotel. We spent the day riding a group bike around Balboa and then spending time at the hotel pool. The pool was a great way to cool off after a super hot day. We got ready for dinner and had a yummy dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Ruby's. After dinner we walked around the beach that Jared and I took our engagement pictures at. It is this little secluded beach in Laguna. Unfortunately, it was really dark by the time we got there and the tide was really high, so we didn't stay too long. Our night ended with more laughs, games and having a great time with friends.

 Jared and Cayden hanging out on the couch.

 All of us on the bike about to ride around Balboa.

 Happy Birthday to the best husband in the world!

This trip was so much fun and we are hoping to make it an annual trip with the Byers Family. Thanks for coming and spending the weekend with us and celebrating Jared's birthday.

Anniversary Trip

For our 4th anniversary, Jared and I spent a long weekend in San Diego. We stayed at a beautiful hotel in the marina. We spent our weekend at Sea World, visiting the San Diego temple, going to the movies, having yummy dinners and taking an amazing hot air balloon ride.

Anniversary - Surprise

For our anniversary Jared gave me a big surprise... he took me on a private hot air balloon ride! It was so amazing!!! I have never done something like this before and it was so much fun. When we were driving to meet up with our group I still didn't know what we were doing. We met our group in a grocery store parking lot so when we arrived I was really confused. Then he FINALLY told me what we were doing. I was so excited!!! He was going to do this to propose to me but decided to take me to the beach instead. Actually, it was a good thing he didn't propose because Jared is a little afraid of heights. Our pilot was great and landed us in the correct spot. When we landed our basket tipped over so that was a little scary, but still a great time. Below are some pictures from our adventure.

Waiting for our balloon.

Beautiful view of San Diego

Another beautiful view.

Anniversary - Sea World

As part of our anniversary weekend, we spent one of our days at Sea World. I love Sea World! It has been so long since I had been there. We got to see so many things from penguins to whales to sea turtles. I can't wait to go back again!!

Cute Penguins!
Shamu!!

Gorgeous Sea Turtles!

What you lookin' at??

Rays... I really don't like those things.

Palm Springs Trip

A few weeks ago, Jared and I went to Palm Springs for the weekend. We went to visit my brother for his birthday. We were only able to see him on Sunday, so on Saturday we decided to take the Aerial Tram up the mountain. It was such a beautiful view and sooo much cooler. We did a nice little nature walk and just had a great time.

The main point of the trip was to visit my little brother. I love him so much and I am so proud of him for all that he is doing to better his life. It was so good to see him after a little over a month and it was great to see such a big difference in him, not just physical. I love him so much and I can't wait until he comes back home.

Puerto Vallarta: Canopy Tour

Micah
Jared

Jared

Amanda

Amanda

Sean

Jared

Amanda

Amanda & Jared

Jared

Amanda

The Whole Group!

Rummler Mexico Cruise

At the end of July, Jared and I went on a Mexico cruise with the Rummlers. It was a lot of fun going on a cruise (I love them!). Sadly, I was really bad with taking pictures so I don't have that many. Below are a few of the pictures that I did take.

First day on the ship Jared and I each got massages. OMG! It was one of the best massages I have ever had. I got the Seaweed wrap. This is where they put this seaweed paste on your body then wrap you up to let it sink into your pours, you wash it off, then they wrap you again to sweat all the toxins out of your body, then you get a full body massage. I have had these before and I loved them, however, this time I added the floatation bed. It felt like I was lying on a table then I was submerged and was floating on this water bed. If you ever get the chance to do this and are not claustrophobic, then defiately do this!

Since there are issues in Mazatlan, we staying in Cabo San Lucas for two days. It was a blast! We had originally signed up to do a snorkel tour but they had a ton of jelly fish, so we all voted to just take a water taxi to another beach and relax. Both days we just layed on the beach and played in the water. I wish the water in California was a nice as the water in Cabo. If it was, I would actually go in it.

Jared and his little brother Micah on the water taxi.
Kelsea and Jake had a lot of fun jumping in the waves with Jared.

Relaxing under the canopy. The second day I was really sunburnt so I spent a lot of time under here.

After Cabo San Lucas, we were in Puerto Vallarta. Jared, Sean, Micah and I went on a Canopy Tour, while Dad, Mom, Kelsea and Jake went on a Pirate Ship Adventure. (Pictures from our Canopy tour in a seperate post.) The Canopy Tour was a lot of fun. However, the day after I had over 80 mosquito bites on my legs. I looked like I had the chicken pox. They itched so bad, so for the rest of the trip (2 days) I was miserable. Thankfully, Jared's mom had Vicks Vapor Rub and that was AMAZING!!!! It stopped the itching and felt so good.

Micah, Sean & Jared

Jared & I

Waiting to leave the ship.

This was such a wonderful vacation. I wish I had taken more pictures, oh well... next time.