Tahiti and Our Tenth Anniversary

Dave and I got married on October 14, 2000. We went to Tahiti for our honeymoon, staying in hotels in Papeete, Moorea, and Bora Bora. So 10 years later we decided there was no better place to celebrate than in Tahiti, again. We decided on a cruise this time (which was way less expensive) and would give us a chance to see more of the islands. Besides, nothing could top the first visit, so why try? Chris and Jessica Brough watched the girls for us. They are the best! Thank you Broughs!!! We flew to Papeete from LA and landed around 10 pm. We had a day in Papeete before the boat sailed, so we rented a car and re-visited the places we loved the most: the Lagoonarium, the waterfall and the blowhole. We had to search hard for the Lagoonarium this time. The roads had changed a lot in Papeete since we were there 10 years ago. So here's a picture of us 10 years later - in Jaws' mouth! Here we are at one of the island stops. The boat is in the background. Our itinerary included Papeete, Raiatea, Huahine, Rangiroa, Bora Bora, and Moorea. We saw Noni plants in Raiatea, and had a picnic in the water on Huahine. It was absolutely beautiful everywhere we went. Remind you of the Titanic steps? It did to me. Us on the Tahitian Princess during formal night. Our dinnermates were 3 couples: one English couple in their seventies, one couple in their early-fifties from LA, and one couple from Germany in their eighties. They were all spry and interesting. We learned the guy from LA was retired LAPD, and the German couple had been missionaries almost their whole lives and were sent on the cruise by their children for their 60th wedding anniversary. Both couples from Europe had lived through the second world war. Fascinating people! On October 13th our boat landed in Bora Bora - our most highly-anticipated destination. We rented a private outrigger boat charter for a trip around the island and got to see all the changes 10 years can make. Several resorts had closed - too much hurricane damage from one storm or another - and other nice resorts had opened. Our Sofitel Motu overwater bungalows looked a little worn down. Apparently the storms quickly tear down buildings around here. I guess that's why the islanders live under blue tarps. No reason to rebuild when the weather keeps knocking things down. We snorkled near our honeymoon hotel and then drove out to feed stingrays and sharks. The sharks came really close to us and I got a little freaked out. Next our boat driver took us to the deep part of the lagoon where the huge stingrays swim. We didn't see any 10 years ago when we went scuba diving so we weren't too optimistic BUT... our driver had us put on our masks and snorkels and hang on the outrigger blade. He slowly drove through the water and BAM! Huge stingrays jumped out of the water 20 yeards from us! We watched underwater as they swam towards us swooping up and down in the water. One kept coming closer and closer to us, swimming upwards. I freaked out and launched my whole body onto the outrigger blade, closed my eyes and held on for dear life. Dave watched and said it came up to 5 feet beneath me and then swam down again. It was amazingly exciting!!! I couldn't help but feel like this was a gift to us - and that's why we didn't see any 10 years ago. God withholds some good things so we can experience them later and appreciate them even more. After snorkeling, our driver dropped us at the St. Regis Bora Bora where we had just booked one night's stay from Dave's laptop on the cruise ship the day before. Technology is cool! St. Regis is where they filmed 'Couples Retreat' - one of our favorite movies (if you've seen it, you'll recognize some of the shots below). The view on the walk to our room. We had an amazing room with windows in the bathroom and living room floors. A group of eagle rays liked to coast in the currents just under our bungalow - amazing! The one night we were there the hotel had a Polynesian dinner buffet with dancers. Since Dave used to DJ with a Polynesian dance group in high school, he knew all the moves. They were impressed. Pictures of the beach area where we went kayaking. Here I am doing yoga on the same platform they used in the movie - with Otemanu in the background. "Regard me!" Us just outside the spa area. Our lunch at the bar before we checked out and took the hotel water taxi back to the boat. We did SO much over our 2 day visit. We explored our bungalow (it was bigger than I thought it would be!), watched "Couples Retreat" which was looping on one of the tv channels, went to the Polynesian dinner buffet, snorkeled around our bungalow, enjoyed the breakfast buffet, kayaked on the lagoon, swam in the pool, snorkeled in the lagoonarium and saw puffers and sea snakes, checked out the spa, stretched on the yoga platform, shopped in the hotel store (expensive snacks!!!), relaxed in the awesome huge tub in the room, swam in the second pool with divided couples areas, and enjoyed every second of the amazing views. It was an incredible 2 days. Here we are back on the boat saying good bye to Moorea. Our trip was amazing. Happy Ten Years! Here's to the next ten!

September 2010

Madison started her last year of preschool at Canyon Creek. I got her moved into Ms. Lindsay and Ms. Kirstin's class and she loves them. Ms. Lindsay is goofy just like Madison. Madison started dance class with all her little friends - 8 girls from church this year! Mackenzie is playing soccer at soccer zone and enjoying it (at least better than on CC United teams that play in Milburn Park). I studied my guts out for my Probability exam (my second actuary exam) to take it on the 21st. The night before my test, I got a migraine and felt like the flu was coming on. I was super stressed out and had to go to bed when I needed to be cramming. The material did not come easily to me - I had never taken a probability course, ever. I did not pass. I was devastated but somehow the world kept turning. I called Michael Muth at Rudd & Wisdom and informed him I didn't pass and he said they would still let me be an intern (apparently I am not the first person to ever fail an actuarial exam - imagine that). We kept Ezra Brough the 23rd - 27th while Jessica and Chris went to her friend's wedding in California. He is awesome and we love having him. Here's a picture from outside Rudy's - the kids love that place. Then again, who doesn't?

Mackenzie's First Day of 2nd Grade

Here is Mackenzie waiting for the bus for her first day of second grade. Madison wanted to come with us and watch the big kids get on the bus. Next year it will be her turn! Mackenzie got Ms. McDaniel and Meredith is in her class, too. Her teacher is really nice and we are hoping for a great school year.

The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent Was a Summer in San Francisco

Our lovely and talented babysitter of forever, Jill Robinson, just happened to be in town from college when Dave just happened to need to go to San Francisco. So she watched the girls and I just happened to go along with him. We got engaged there 10 years ago. It was over 100 degrees in Austin and in the 50's in SF. Brrrrrrr. I remember this from living there but it still hits you like a brick. It's 70-something at the airport and drops 20 degrees as you cab it into the city. We saw 'Wicked' just down from the St Francis in Union Square where we stayed. Dave had a massive headache when we arrived. I hate that he has headaches everyday. He powers through them and I am amazed. We drove over to where we got engaged across the bridge and took some pictures with the Golden Gate in the background.

Madison learns to swim

Madison is 4 years old. She likes to be in the pool and I like to make sure I watch her in the pool because drowning is bad. However, this summer Madison has decided to paddle and thrash and work and almost, but not quite, drown in order to learn how to swim. She tells me to go away (which I don't) and has this steely determination to figure it out. I love watching her! She struggled and splashed but finally taught herself how to stay above water and get around the pool. She is a little fish now! It was scary to watch at first, but now I see her paddle across the pool and I am amazed. And proud!

Visit to Grandma Tinkerbell's

School is fast approaching so we, of course, took off for Grandma Tinkerbell's. The girls love the catfish farm and restaurant, Dori's - so we took Dave to show him the place. They have a petting zoo of sorts with horses, donkeys, goats, deer, turtles, and some of the biggest catfish I've ever seen.

Mackenzie was a little scared to feed the goats at first, so Grandma showed her how.

This is us on the bridge where you can feed the catfish. They are huge! Don't let your kids fall in this water, that's for sure!

And of course, we had to stop in to see Camille and the babies on our way home. SO cute!!!

Get a Job

After I passed my exam in May I went to lunch with Khiem Ngo from Rudd & Wisdom (the consulting firm I want to work at). We talked exams and studying. I wasn't really ready to put my resume in for consideration yet but apparently Khiem did it for me because in July I got a call for an interview. I met with Michael Muth and Mitchell Bilbe and it went well. In August I got a call that they would like me to intern for them!!! Yeah! I asked if they could wait until October since I had some previous commitments I need to resolve (like our 10th anniversary trip to Tahiti which I kept to myself) and they agreed. I am so excited. All that work paid off!!!