Halloween - Bachmann Bash 2009

AJ and I decided we were not going to have a Halloween party this year like we did last year because we had been traveling 3 out of the 4 weeks in October! But alas,... we had a bunch of friends encourage us to come, by saying "they're coming." So AJ and I in 48 hours pulled together a menu, costumes, and decorations to throw a 20 person Halloween party this year.

We were GI Joe and GI Jane (without a shaved head...). This is probably the last Halloween party we'll have because Lord willing, we'll be pregnant during that time next year! Woohoo!

Last Minute Trip to Beverly Hills, 90210

Oh yea! AJ got offered an opportunity at work to go to an "executive negotiation" training at our Northrop Grumman Corporate Headqurters in Centruy City, LA. He flew down Monday for training on Tuesday, Wednesday and thursday and I joined him after work on Wednesday night.

We stayed in the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, a few blocks away from Rodeo Drive and 2 blocks down from Century City Headquarters. It was ao amazing! We felt uncomfortable being in sweat pants in the lobby just walking to the hotel gym! I felt like I needed high heels just to be in the lobby! The pool was so nice with a HUGE projector system that showed old time movies at night above the pool and had an outdoor returant on the patio deck as well and huge sectional lounges that you could lay on at night and watch the movie and be brought your food and drinks! What a life!

We of course we went down to Rodeo Drive to say we've been where "Pretty Woman" had her make over! We saw a few red carpet events and ate at some very fancy resturants too!

But the highlight I think was not only having Frank DiLeo (Michael Jackson's manager since 1984 and actor/producer) buy me lunch and spend the afternoon chatting me up at the pool AND inviting us to his exclusive birthday party the following night, but we got to rent a BMW Z4 convertable for the day to take to Rodondo Beach! We went to go visit our space systems branch there and went down to walk on the long famous bike trail that runs along the water. Here are some shots from the 5 day trip!

Invitation only, Cartier, red carpet event going on behind us.

At McCormiks & Schimdits for Happy Hour!

AJ did a case Study on De Beers Diamonds last year so we had the security guard take our picture on Rodeo Drive!

This is the driveway of our hotel. We saw so many bentlies and mercedes... seriously, having a BMW for a day was slumming it!

AJ insisted on getting his picture taken by at least one of them at our hotel...

Thank you, Honey for a great last minute trip! It was amazing!

Fall is Here, but We're Headed to the Beach!

My Mom and Dad were generous enough to rent a huge 8 bedroom semi-ocean front beach house in Waves, NC (Outter Banks). He reserved it for 2 weeks and any of my siblings was welcome to come down and join them and stay as short or as long as they wanted. THANK YOU DAD!

AJ and I were blessed enough in our school and work schedules to be able to go down for an entire week! We got to do it all, which of course makes it the best vacation for us! AJ was in the ocean as often as possible and had our niece Mary Claire to keep him company most of the time!


We even got to do a little ocean kayaking which we'd never tried before. It's a little rough to get beyond the breakers but after that it was the coolest thing ever!

We're so bless to have a great family we can both enjoy vacationing with and provide a place for us all to relax! Thank you Lord for our amazing blessings and ability to enjoy such a time together!

Sisters making lunch with Mom!
These are the mornings while reading stories to the girls.
All the kids on the beach before our first beach Bon Fire!

Jen, is actually 3 months pregnant here... can you tell?

This is how AJ spent most of our days at the beach,... with the girls in the water. It was his favorite part about the trip! Who is ready for kids???!!

My brother, Bennett and my Dad trying out the kayak.

AJ making me try out the kayak...

AJ's week long "beyond the brakers" partner, our brave neice, Mary Claire.

Here we are visiting Cape Hatteras!

I have no idea why I pose like this...

THANK YOU Wise family for a great vacation! We look forward to next years trip!

Anniversary Day in July!

I know it's been forever since I updated this but I do have pictures from the last 4 months to share with everyone. So I'll try to be brief!

On the same day that we got up early to dress as cows for a free meal at Chick-Fil-A, AJ and I went to Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis to go kayaking! It was so beautiful to be on the water in the morning! So calm and peaceful. We each got our own boat because being the competitive couple, racing was a guarenteed event!

It was so much fun, we both marveled at how nice it would be to wake up to the view on the water every day! Maybe some day! ;o)