A Few Snap shots of Hawaii

Hawaii

Where else can you find these beautiful Plumerias all over the place? We landed last night and already are having such a great time! I ran on the beach today, worked on my tan, had a plate lunch, and had a great time playing with my cousins and family out here. I miss this place. One day Kirk and I think we might move here, but all we could afford out here now is a cardboard box down in Waikiki, so we'll wait:) Stay tuned for more pics and fun adventures out here!

Happy Birthday to the Love of my Life!

So at dinner tonight with Joe and Brittany, I had one too many diet cokes and now I am having the hardest time sleeping! But it's ok because I wanted to write this post when Kirk wasn't around anyway to write all about why I am so madly in love with him. I'm super grateful for February 18th, because that is the day I get to spend extra time celebrating Kirk! First off, I want to say that my mom is awesome because she surprised Kirk with that cake for when we got back from our long weekend. My family loves Kirk to death and it's easy to see why. You might ask why the interesting choice on candles, but we couldn't find any birthday candles. Everyone knows that you have to blow out candles to get your wish, so we improvised:)
It's super cheesy, but I knew I was going to marry Kirk after only a few dates with him. From the second I remember seeing him, he was nothing but smiles and I was instantly attracted to him! I couldn't believe that someone as handsome, talented, smart, righteous, happy and fun could also be so down to earth! He is by far the greatest thing that has ever happened to me and I would be ungrateful for not letting him know that everyday.
I wanted to make a list about some of the reasons why Kirk is so amazing to me:

Numero uno: HE'S SMOKING FINE!!!!! I know he'll hate to see this picture I posted of him, but come on- my husband is so hot that I am entitled to some bragging rights;)
2. He is so positive and manages to stay happy even when he's worked a 12 hour day, or feels like crud, or is super hungry or just plain exhausted. I admire how hard he works and how he never complains. I have some serious learning to do from him.
3. Kirk has an infectious sense of humor and is always just so fun to be around. I know that when we are old and wrinkly we will still be busting up and having a blast at whatever we do.
4. He has a good heart and is such a good person! I look up to him in so many ways. He is strong, unwaivering, loyal and the best husband anyone could ask for.
5. So cliche I know, but he's my best friend. Whether it's traveling around the world or just playing cards at home in sweats, we do everything together! I love how active he is and how he can keep up with my energy!
6. Kirk is so driven and ambitious. He doesn't need me or anyone else to push him. He has an inner sense of obligation and knows that he is going to be something great (well he already is).
7. I'm amazed at how he is good at everything! People can be athlete, but come on! The boy can surf huge waves, kick trash at jiu jitsu, ride bikes, wake board, snowboard, and still be better at me in tennis and any other sport he just "picks up."
8. He's a great artist and doesn't even flaunt that talent.. unreal.
9. Kirk is such a generous and giving person. He does so much for others and really doesn't ever expect anything back in return. He likes seeing people happy and have a good time and to him that is what is important.
10. Kirk is sooo patient with me. Take Moo for example. He puts up with me wanting to cuddle and dress her and never complains even though for any guy, that must really bug. Aside from that, I can be a moody person and demanding at times and Kirk just listens and puts up with it and even goes the extra mile by telling me I'm wonderful and that he loves me.
11. Kirk loves kids and will be such a great dad one day. I already told him this, but our fourth date or so we went to the lake with all of his family and I fell in love with him there after seeing how he interacted his family. He was loving, helpful and so much fun! He was so great with all of his nieces and nephews and I knew that day that he was the one for me. I think he'd have a dozen kids if I'd let him!
12. I love Kirk's laugh and how he sings along to the radio. I love how he looks at me and always holds my hand. I love how his eyes look green when he's wearing green and how they look blue when he's wearing blue. I love the look on his face when he's really concentrating on something. I love how he'll take initiative to take out the trash or fix the sink without being asked. I love how he tells me I'm beautiful when I'm having the world's worst day. I love how he loves me and I love him forever for that.

Happy 29th birthday to the most awesomest man I know!!

Big Sur, San Luis Obispo and Fun with Friends..

Still trucking away on my awesome caffeine high, I post yet another wonderful blog to all you out there. For the long President's weekend, Kirk ralleyed the troups for a fun getaway up to Sunny San Luis Obispo. With surfboards in tow, we raced with other vacationers up North where we met up with Mitch, Lindsey and Micah Lundquist and Lindsey's sister, Kate as well as Derek and Brittany Simmons and their newest addition, little Jack. The boys were all excited to hit up the big swell, and the girls were excited to shop, hang out and just get away for a couple days. We had a great time touring the sites, eating out and visiting all manner of shops, museums, beaches and historical sites. All of us visited San Luis Obispo's Mission and explored the old mission that has since been turned into a full service church. In the courtyard there was this huge tree that had beautiful, large blossoms and I just had to take a picture because I felt like I was staring at a cherry tree in Japan or something. It was awesome. As a side note: I did my Mission project on San Luis Obispo when I was in the 5th grade, pretty fun, huh?

After spending a couple days in SLO (as the locals call it) we continued further north to Paso Robles which is a darling little winery community. We unloaded our stuff and decided to visit Hearst's Castle which is on your way to Big Sur. We marveled at this gigantic house that stood alone on this mountain. William Hearst purchased 256,000 acres of land in the San Simeon area many years ago, and his life's work was to complete this ostentacious and elaborate mansion. There are actually 5 tours that you would have to take to view all of his estate, so we were only able to see a fraction of the castle. There are over 60 bathrooms to give you an idea on the size of this place and each room is decorated to the nines. It's not really my style of design, but WRH had a pretty nice pad in his day.

Here is the Neptune pool that over looks the hillside and the beach and coastline below. Our tour guide informed us that it is available for renting if you want to have an epic pool party that your friends won't forget. They also host weddings and other parties there. I think the starting rate is something like $16,000 for just a few guests... Maybe in the future Kirk and I will renew our vows there- or not.
I'm not sure this pictures does the front of the building justice to how grand this place is. With rare artwork and imported wood, furniture, fabric, animals and plants, this castle is a feast for the eccletic eye.
After visiting the simple house Hearst created, we met up with Sami and Dave and little Bentley for a quick hike near Big Sur. This is almost the whole posse minus Layne and Kate. I do believe that Kate is somewhere behind me- sorry Kate!
We were so stoked that we were able to have fun with all of our friends and get to see the Halvorsens too for the day. Kirk did a good job carrying Bentley through the hike, and it was hard to not get baby fever after spending the weekend with such cute kids! Micah is the funniest kid ever and little Bentley and Jack are just so precious! We had such a great time and the best part was there was even good surf the guys! I always feel bad when we make a trip somewhere and the waves end up being junky. Yeah for family and friends!

Brittany's Shower and Sushi

So at La Siesta downtown San Clemente, you get really cheap tacos with the purchase of a beverage. I chose a diet coke (apparently too late in the evening) and now I can't sleep. So I thought i would use this time to catch up on some blogging that I have been meaning to do. Here is a fabulous picture of Britt who is seriously one of the cutest pregnant girls I have ever seen. She had a couple of really fun baby showers and I was able to go to both, yeah! It blows me away at all the fun stuff you get when you are expecting and her little boy is going to have to do some serious outings to use all of the cute clothes he got!

After the shower, Tim and Niccole, Britt, and our new friends Luke and Chrissy went down to Takao and enjoyed some yummy sushi. Little Naomi is such a doll and I stole her away from Chrissy for most of the night- thanks guys!

Kirk with the boys, and apparently he'd like to think he was part Japanese.

Britt's beautiful cake! It was almost too pretty looking to eat. I say almost, but it was super tasty and her girlfriends Leslie and Jessica threw an awesome shower. Way to go girls!

I've been tagged

So, fabulous Julie has tagged me and now I have to come up with 6 things about me that no one knows, and it's hard! I am not a very private person and probably volunteer too much information about myself as it is, but here goes! :)

1. I LOVE fishing! I know this would make my dad very happy to hear since he's been fishing and taking us fishing since we knew how to hold a rod! If it wasn't for the fact that I get so seasick, I would love to live on the ocean! I love the thrill of hooking something and reeling it in; I love getting sweaty and tired fighting huge Marlin, tuna or Sailfish; I love eating what I catch and am obsessed with sushi!

2. I am deathly afraid of heights! I have even gone skydiving to help alleviate this this phobia, but it didn't really help. I hate jumping off of cliffs and always feel like a baby when I say I don't wanna go! I even panic watching other people jump , like Kirk below! I wish there was something I could do about that, but I just hate heights! 3. I love love LOVE fruit! It's my favorite and especially in the summer it's sometimes all I want to eat. More specifically, I'm in love with pineappple. It's my favorite and I could (and sometimes have) eat it all day long. Perfect days in college in Hawaii were finishing class, going to the beach and playing all day in the sand and water and then grabbing cold, fresh cut pineapple from the vendors on the side of the street.. ah, the good life!

4. I HATE birds. I don't care if they are sweet parrots that talk or darling lovebirds with beautiful colors on them. They all seem really nasty and dirty to me. I worry that I might get a bird flu or some other disease from them if they get too close. I really really hate seagulls. Going to San Clemente High School growing up you could sit at lunch and watch at least a hand full of people get pooped on, it was awful! Especially if it happened to you in the middle of break when you were talking to your crush.. like that happened! ...okay, it did, and I ran to the bathroom and wanted to cry:(
5. I can sign language and know the whole signs for "Build Me up Buttercup." Have me do it sometime, it helps me not forget;)
6. I like to people watch and feel kinda bad sometimes when I get caught doing it! Not that I am trying to be a brat or anything, it's just fun to see how different people dress, walk, even their mannerisms- is that weird? I really like looking at people's teeth too, and I might sometimes stare at your teeth or smile. Maybe I should have been a dentist- eh, too much school, maybe not!

So there you have it! Some things about me that some of you might have already known. I was grasping for the last couple. Have a good day or night everyone!
I forgot! I'm supposed to tag people now too, right? Ok. I tag Nicole T, Katie, KB, Britt A, Niccole J, Chrissy, Leslie, Emily, Kim, Theresa, Mel, Taryn, and everyone last one of you that might be reading this right now!!!!!!

Back to School

As many of you might know, Chelsea hasn't necessarily been working full time since we moved back to California. I do not intend to speak in the third person for this blog, I just wanted to clarify from the beginning it was Chelsea not working, as opposed to Kirk who has been working his tail off so much I was starting to feel extremely guilty (even though I was making him breakfast and lunch and providing him with all the "good wife" benefits).
Don't get me wrong. I actually enjoy working and have found fulfillment in having different jobs since I was 15. Let's see... my first job was working for a local theater that had just opened commonly known now as the Krikorian, then it was Rubio's, then a surf shop, then a multitude of retail and random positions.
I joke about it, but am kinda serious when I say that since I have been back in San Clemente, I have made a full time job of looking for a job. I am tired of looking for a job. Fact is, the job I "wanted" might not even exist. Is it asking too much to work close to home, work short hours, make oodles of cash, and have a fun position with not a lot of experience? Apparently it is. I searched high and low; I searched inland and coastal; I applied, interviewed, networked and attended job fairs where all that came of that was getting asked out- no joke, and he was super ugly and old, gag.
I have come to the inspired solution to go back to teaching. This may seem obvious seeing how I have my degree in teaching, but it was a real struggle for me in deciding what to do. There happens to be another problem facing teachers right now, and that is that the economy basically sucks right now. They are putting a "freeze" on hiring new teachers and laying off most of the ones that haven't been teaching for very long. It's kinda scary getting my hopes up.
So... I substitute. It doesn't pay all that well, but it sure is fun. After a day like today where I taught a sweet class of 20 first graders, I realized that making the big bucks really doesn't matter. Now I look forward to going to work and hanging out with kids that make me smile, want to give me hugs (though they barely know me) and just genuinely make me happy. They make you laugh, the days are short and we all get recess- life is good. So that's life according to Chelsea. Love what you're doing, and I am:)