Tool Time Part II

After weeks of hard work, refinishing cabinets, painting, replacing fixtures, cutting tile and baseboards, my Dad and Uncle John's rental property is very close to being complete. The house has received a very nice facelift. Here are some before and after pictures.

Kitchen and Breakfast Bar

BEFORE

AFTER

I love the neutral tile floor and countertops.

Dining Area

Living Room and Fireplace

BEFORE

AFTER

Hallway

BEFORE

AFTER

Hallway Bathroom

BEFORE

AFTER

Nice work guys, not bad for first timers.

Dad, Dave and Uncle John a.k.a House Flippers

48 Hours

Very early Saturday morning, Steve and I flew to San Jose with a plane full of UCLA and USC fans (both teams had big games against Cal and Stanford). My family picked us up from the airport, took us out to breakfast and then we spent the rest of the day in San Francisco. The weather was perfect. It actually felt like fall (a very nice change from the 90 degree heat in Orange County). We walked around the piers and parks, shopped and had lunch. We ended our city trip with dessert at Ghirardelli, sooo good.

On Sunday we went to my cousin Drew and his beautiful bride, Lisa's wedding reception. They had a small beachside ceremony in Carmel on Saturday.

Drew and I are very close in age, and we share the same birthday month. When we were little we would have our birthday parties together (our moms are sisters). Drew and Lisa have known each other for years. They dated in high school, went their separate ways and then found each other again years later, and now they are Mr. and Mrs. Dowler. These two are extremely talented. Lisa has the voice of an angel and Drew is a talented guitarist. Lisa and her Dad performed a duet together, a Father Daughter song and they had everyone in tears (I tried to post the video but I couldn't get it to work). Their reception was beautiful, full of family and friends, great food and dancing. Congratulations Lisa and Drew!

This morning Steve and I flew back home, drove straight to work and we are both pooped from the last 48 hours.

Breakfast at Eileen's

Yesterday morning a few of us girls met up at Eileen's house on Balboa for breakfast, girl talk and great company. It was a nice break for me. Away from fantasy leagues, college football, NFL football---you get the idea. We talked about our lives, our relationships, our jobs, shoes (apparently I am missing out on the "Shoe of the Month Club") and how us girls need to get together more often.

My weaknesses in a basket, but all sooo good

More yummy food

Fun friends

Eileen, Me, Nicole, Gidget, Caitie and Shannon

Utah Trip

Last week we went to Utah to visit family and to see my nephew Matt before he left for his 2 year mission. We arrived late Thursday night and my brother Mike picked us up at the airport. He came into town from Dallas for the weekend too.

Jenn had never been to Utah and one of the things she wanted to do was go on a hike. On Friday morning Jenn, Mike, Matt and I decided to hike Silver Lake. Matt was our experienced guide and lead the way. It was about a 6 mile roundtrip hike, through the canyon, up the mountain and across little streams.  About half way up we all started to feel the difference in altitude and needed to take a break, well several breaks--all of us except for Matt. Needless to say Matt was very patient with us. The air was clean and clear.  Although it was tiring at times, the view from the top made it all worth it.

Mike, Matt and I

Are we there yet?
Later that afternoon, Jenn and I along with Mike drove up to downtown Salt Lake City.  We toured the Temple grounds and drove around the downtown area. The last time I was in Utah was over 6 years ago and so much has changed. The weather could not have been better and the Temple grounds were very nice.

Salt Lake City Temple

Mike and I

Jenn and I in front of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building

That night we went to dinner with the Tenney family. We ate at a sushi place called Mikado, very good sushi rolls.

Matt, Kelley, Trent, J.J., David, Me and Jenn

On Saturday morning, Trent, Matt, Mike and played golf at Soldier Hollow.  The course was outstanding and we had a great time.  When we got back to Trent's house we watched college football for the remainder of the afternoon and evening.  Trent has a great set up downstairs in the basement.  He has a huge projector T.V. along with two plasmas on each side.  In addition to that, he has theatre recliners to sit and watch.  The guys--Trent, Matt, David, J.J., Mike and I watched college football, three games at one time for about 10 hours on Saturday afternoon.  It was sweet.  While we were watching games, my two sisters, Amy and Diana came into town as well. All of the girls left to eat at Cafe Rio and shop so there were no distractions. Jenn had a great time hanging out with my sisters.

In the Tenney "ESPN Zone"

Sunday was Matt's farewell.  He will be serving a mission in Honduras for the next two years. Trent and Kelley had a luncheon at their house that afternoon. A lot of friends and family were there. I was able to see some cousins that I hadn't seen in years and Jenn was able to meet a lot of them for the first time.

5 out of 7 Barlow siblings--Mike, Amy, Kelley, Diana and Me

J.J, Matt and David

Me, Jennifer (my cousin) and Mike

On Monday, Jenn and I drove down to Provo.  I showed her around the BYU campus and we went to lunch.  I never went to BYU but a lot of my old friends did so I used hang out there a lot. Later that night we had to fly back to Orange County so Kelley drove us to the airport and we said our goodbyes.

We saw deer and horses on the backroads to Provo

Provo Temple

We had a great time in Utah. Visitng the Tenney family was the best. I lived in Utah a long time a go when Matt, David and J.J. were little kids so to see them now all grown up was just awesome. They have all turned into fine young men and I know Matt will have a great mission and be a great missionary. We will definitely be up there in a couple of years when it is the twins turn to go on their missions. Jenn and I want to send a special "THANK YOU" out to Trent and Kelley for their hospitality and accomodating us. We love you.