Gimmie a "G"

Give me a "G", give me a "R", give me a "A"....... You know the rest!

Yippee, guess who turned THREE!

A cheerleading outfit from Gaynea Patsy and Poppa John.



She now has this cute head tilt for pictures....or when she wants to see if you are mad at her.



Where in the world would a three year old want to spend their B-day? Build-A-Bear!


This was her original choice.

She settled on a yellow Birthday Bear. We recorded our voices for it saying, "Happy Birthday Grace, we love you"

Grace standing on the pedal. She thought the noise was extremely loud. Although she thinks that a lot of things are loud.... She is constantly telling me to turn my music down. Can't wait till she is sixteen and I get to reciprocate that one!

She was just in love with this Bear. She named it Gina.

Avery got an I-Carly Bear, and Jake got a Star Wars outfit for his existing bear. This place seriously has some amazing marketing skills.

After your bear is stuffed and sewed up, there is a washing station. Grace was so serious about cleaning her new bear off.

Outside the store with their bear boxes.

A token family shot. Hill and Kiran, curly or straight?

Then Sunday celebrating with my Mom and Dad.

Gaynea and Grace.

Gifts. Isn't that polka dot paper the cutest?

Out on my parents porch eating an otter pop, after brownies. The view!!

Gaynea reading to the girls. The kids later got to "check out" a book from their library. But seriously they do almost have as many books as a real library.

Grace I love you! Happy Birthday.

The Official Reason

The official reason we went down to Cali was to see my cousin Kevin get married. Can't explain how fun it was to be there with family. Maybe the fun was just because it wasn't my wedding....and I had absolutely no stress besides hoping my hair turned out good.

The setting: Dana Pointe

This picture was on one side of the reception area.

And this was on the other. What a beautiful Marina. You know Brian took this shot.

Just arriving. Some of my favorite girls in the world.....Minus Hill.

Kiran, Me, Uncle Greg, Cousin Jordan, and Cousin Blair.

Aunt Les, and her girls. Can you say gorgeous?

The Bride and Groom and Groom's parents.

The ring bearer, Leland John. This kid is the best. I've never met a kid like him.

Kir and Reeser Piecer...

Again, Stunning!

Jordan was a flower girl in our wedding.....she's now in college. I am old.

This kid just makes me laugh!

My Aunt Terri, her son Jared, and his wife Sara.

Aunt Kris, Mom, and Leland.

This was all of our side of the family that was there at the wedding. Sadly, this is the only picture of Brian and I together at the wedding. I am so not a photographer....

My sister and I with the Bride.

The first official photo of Maggie and I. I had never met my brother's wife!! I love her, knew I would....because my sisters love her. All I can say is that she is just such a trooper. Drove to Cali for this wedding while she is 7 1/2 mos pregnant. Bless her heart. I wouldn't have.

Aunt Les, Uncle Wayne and Maggie and Will (THE UNLV LAW STUDENT!!!!!!!!!!!)

Chase, she is so photogenic, like her mother.

The kids were passing the sparkling cider around drinking straight from the bottle.... with kids they didn't know too. All I did was laugh... because, hey, they're not my kids.

Sisters, smart, horseback riding champions, kind, funny, talkative, and BEAUTIFUL.

Me and John

One more for the road.

A picture of Dad outside the Crab Cooker. We headed there after the reception. Will and Maggie hate seafood. I assured them there would be something else on the menu to eat.....there wasn't.

Last night in Cali at California Pizza kitchen. Brian will not be pleased with this angle. But hey, it was taken by a 5 year old.

I love being down in California for so many reasons. We grew up going down there ever Summer to visit our Gram. I have so many fond memories of this place, well fond doesn't begin to describe them. I love the smell of the flowers and the heat, if you can smell it. I remember swimming in Aunt Kris's pool, going to Trader Joes around the corner from Gram's house and getting frozen mangos. I remember her 'rag mags' on the coffee table in the front room. I remember playing in Gram's backyard on the swing set, in the tree house and on the antique car. I really felt like they made such an effort for us to have fun when we were there. Maybe I appreciate this more now that I know the amount of energy it takes to entertain small kids. I wonder if Gram was ever irritated..... like I am often. If she ever got tired of us. She always let us have her room and sleep on her big bed and she slept on the couch. We could use her make up and play dress up with her (petite) clothes. She would take us shopping ( Hill do you remember her yelling across the store, "here are the underwear!"). There was always an unlimited supply of ice cream bars in the outside freezer and chocolate pudding in the metal containers in the pantry.

I just smile, then I want to cry, then I smile again.

Happy Mother's Day

Written by Avery:


This warmed my heart and thought it appropriate for Mother's Day. Never did I dream of how hard Motherhood would be. We really deserve more than just one day a year.

Daily I am greatful for the Mother who raised me. I did not realize her sacrifice, her patience, her endurance and love until I became one.

Happy Mother's Day to all who help to make children into productive, responsible, happy adults.

Laguna 13 years later...

On our first day in California we went back to the place we were married almost 13 years ago. We got married at the Heisler Park Gazebo in Laguna Beach.

Surprising how sentimental it was. We both have such great memories of that day.

This compass rose was in the center of the floor of the Gazebo.

Bri and I:

Such a view.

The coast line of Laguna

This is underneath the gazebo on the beach:

Do not be fooled....this water is still freezing.

More Coastline.

The Surf and Sand Hotel. Hard to tell by the photo, but this Hotel is AMAZING, right on the water. We had our reception there. I actually looked into staying at the Hotel for this trip, but it was 350$ a night..... So I said what the heck, and we stayed for a week..... just kidding.

On the way out of town we stopped at our photographers office. First I was just surprised that she was still working in Laguna 13 years later.....guess I shouldn't be that surprised, as her photography was just incredible.

We walked in and told her that she had taken our wedding photos 13 years ago. Her first response, " your still married?" We laughed.... then she said, " well obviously, you are hear together, it's just that no one stays married here." Kind of comical.

She then offered to get us all of our wedding negatives. I guess we earned them! What a treasure .

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.