Seal Beach

Coast Line north of Seal Beach at Sunset.

Leland and John playing at the park near the sand.

Brian and I were the only ones in shorts and shirts.....totally tourist! Everyone else had on sweatshirts. We were just so grateful for blue skies and sunshine.

Seal Beach Police Department. Brian's dream job.

Surfers.

Brian, Dad, and Danny.

Where I was last weekend

California Baby!!! How fun.

More photos to follow of the beach, Laguna, and the wedding. Blogger is not being super friendly and is taking FOREVER to download my pics.

They like each other sometimes

Just proof that they do in fact like each other sometimes. They were 'marking their Bibles' together last night and fell asleep. Brian caught the picture on his blackberry.

What's your favorite room?

This is mine!

The crib is finally gone, and is replaced by my latest Craigslist find. This little vanity 30$. I just recovered the stool with the polka dot fabric today.

The big girls bunkbed.

Their little picture wall.

Fabrics that will be used for the duvet covers. I am such a sucker for polka dots!

Not too soon before I finished recovering the stool, Avery's dress got caught on the top rail and she fell off the ladder. I really thought it could have been broken. No swelling and little pain, so I'm crossing my fingers.

Quick Change

Amazing what a little blue dye can do....

Before :

After:

I took off the green buttons and just used a white fabric flower pin in its place. The green thread didn't change color, probably because it is polyester. But I think it makes it a little more interesting.

Easter Best

Happy Easter!

Outside Brian's parents Church Service.

Easter Baskets in the morning, we will call this the BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS.... and that is how they acted for the rest of the day. "Champions" as in crazy children with more energy than the Tasmanian devil. Just kidding. All things (meaning all the candy) considered, they were amazing.

At the Easter Egg hunt with Gaynea.

Inspecting our findings.....

This is my all time favorite Easter Dress. Avery wore this years ago, and hopefully Auri will wear it next year. I love the simplicity of it, with the little Easter Bunny on the front.

After church and Brunch at John and Patsy's house, we headed into Portland to visit with Aunt Sandra. Two of Sandra's daughters were there with their families. It was such great visit.

I thought Patsy and John looked like a very handsome couple.

My favorite pictures of the day. Sandra and Patsy with their Annual Easter hats. They put them on at the end of the day and broke into song and dance. Their laughter reminded me of me and my sisters. Their love and happiness is so apparent.

What a Young Spirit!!

Lastly, one of my baking highlights, Meringue Bunnies. Huge hit....to be repeated next year.

Jake's 8!

Thought I would start out this blog post with a picture of what Jake (who is 8) likes to do most. You can always find this kid running, jumping, shooting a ball, and playing with guns. I joke that this kid has enough energy and needs so little sleep that one day he will be an ER surgeon.



Jake turned 8 this last week. And yes, 8 is GREAT. Why wouldn't it be great, you get 3 parties, get to see Grandparents, Cousins, friends, get to go to Enchanted Forrest, and get tickets to a Blazer Game.

He did all of this while on Spring Break....I swear he probably thinks this break from school was designed just for his celebration. And what a great way to think.



A token picture of the Family when the Gaunt Grandparents came over to celebrate.

I love Grace's look on her face. And to be truthful, this is where she is most of the day....on my side. Brian refers to her as "my shadow".



Cupcakes with Easter Eggs on them.

Indiana Jones book from Gaynea Patsy. He also got new Blazer shirt and shorts.

Gaynea Patsy and the Girls.

The Present from his Mom and Dad. Blazer Tickets! Blazers vs Mavericks. (Blazers Won)

On to party #2

We celebrated Jake and Cousin Auri's B-day up at my Parents.

The dirt bike cake Gaynea Shirli made:

Poppa and Max (with his new hair cut)

Grace and Poppa. I love Grace's pom-pom hair accessories.

Jake is eating his four layer piece of cake. Thankfully it was NOT all finished!

Warren wrote Jake a letter telling him he was the best Cousin ever. I thought it was touching.

Jake cleaned up with new Star Wars guys!

Counting his one dollar bills from Poppa. Poppa told him about six months ago that he would match all the money that Jake saved. Jake has seriously not spent one dime since that was said. I think he has almost 70$ saved up now.

The girls playing on Auri's new kitchen set.

Birthday #3 Enchanted Forrest with friends.

Jake and Zach on the log ride.

Kelvin and Jake:

Finally, The Blazer game......

And not surprising, the camera battery was low and this is the only picture taken :(

I love this Boy. I can't believe he has been under my care for 8 years.

He is fast, he is smart, he is caring, he is sensitive, he is sarcastic, he is a good dancer, he is learning to play the piano, he likes to make people laugh, he likes to listen to my music loud in the car.

I am starting to see glimmers of what he will look like as a young man. And it excites me and pains me at the same time.

Mom picking up Jake at the last day of Camp.

Happy Birthday Jake!!!