John Got Married!!??

I can hardly believe that my cousin John is now a married man. He and his new wife Stephanie had a beautiful ceremony and reception in gorgeous Santa Barbara and the Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel. It was flawless.

The ceremony site (John built the canopy out of bamboo)

The happy couple

My parents...


Kim and me at the cocktail hour

The cousins with the newlyweds

Some of our "significant others"

Cousins (L-R): Scott (my brother), Janelle, Laura (front/center), John (groom), me and Krysti

My brother and me

My brother making out with....my husband?? FUNNY guys!...

Scott and I again.

Scott and Darrin (my cousin Laura's fiance)

My Aunt Jo-el trying to take a nice picture with my crazy husband...

Siblings (L-R): My Uncle Bob, Aunt Kathy and my dad Rick

My mom...after A glass of wine... (just one)

...and then she and my aunt Jo-el started in with the making out. WHAT is WITH my family?

Siblings and their spouses (L-R): Uncle Bob, Aunt Jo-el, Uncle Ron, Aunt Kathy, Mom and Dad...
While the adults partied...the little ones were up in Kye Kye and Poppy's room (my parents) having a little party of their own. The adults took shifts and spent time juggling parenting duties while the other adults got to party at the reception.

Maddie and me getting cheesy..

Maddie and Jenna....having so much fun together!

Mackenzie and me

Living in up at the Biltmore!

Cheers!
I'd say SOMEONE partied a little TOO hard!


Even Silly Baby (aka "Sarah Palin") was pooped!

We had a great time! Congrats to John and Stephanie!

Five Days of FUN!!!

Jenna attended 2 weeks of 5 Daze of Fun (Vacation Bible School) this year at the same church where her preschool was held. She had a fabulous time!

The idea at 5 Daze of Fun is that all the kids were matching shirts for the entire week...however this kid typically had other plans and fought us just about every morning...wanting to wear something different.

On the Friday of the first week of "Daze" it was her birthday and she got her wish....I let her wear whatever she wanted. THIS is what she chose....

I didn't fight it. However, that night there was a presentation and a big party at the church for all the "Daze" kids and she gave in and wore the shirt...although she still insisted on the flower crown.

Here she is with Silly Baby (aka Sarah Palin) before the big show....


Standing with her teacher and class...getting ready to go up on stage...


All the kids on stage doing their thing!


Do you see her? The crown makes her a bit easier to spot at least...


The songs were so much fun that she memorized them almost instantly and constantly asks to play the CD in the car. It's great music!!

Ryan watching the show....

and then doing some dancing....


after the production....it was time to let loose in the bounce-house!! Always a welcome activity!


5 Daze of Fun was a GREAT experience and she can't wait to do it again next summer!!

She's our "American Girl"....well...sorta...

So....ALL Jenna really wanted for her birthday was an "American Girl" doll. Luckily for us (since the real dolls are way too expensive for a girl her age) she has no idea about the difference between a REAL American Girl and the generic version you can buy at Target.


Now...not only did she really really R-E-A-L-L-Y want an American Girl for her birthday but, for some reason, she wanted her Auntie Elaine, (soon to be Uncle) Ty, and (soon to be cousins) Gabby and Ana to get it for her. Luckily for everyone...they obliged.

The name on the dolls box was Sadie. However....she now goes by either "Kailyn", "Bella" or simply "American Girl". I'm so glad I took these pictures to remember what "American Girl" looked like when she arrived because Lord knows she doesn't look like this anymore. The poor doll has had her clothes changed repeatedly and had her hair "did" so many times that I'm surprised it hasn't fallen out yet.

No question about it....she L-O-V-E-S this baby to pieces.

Thank you Thank you THANK YOU to Auntie Elaine, Uncle Ty and Gabby and Ana!! You guys are the best!

Happy Fourth of July!

This year, for the Fourth, Ryan was sick (as in barfing) so Daddy and he stayed home and Mommy and Jenna headed to our friends house for food and fireworks!

We had a great time with Melissa, DJ, Macie, Delaney and their friends and family.

Here are some fun picks (some were my attempts to just be artistic) from the evening.... Enjoy!










Don't mess with Delaney!

It was a BIG deal to get Macie to try those sparklers....






Jenna...on the other hand...LOVES to play with fire! YIKES!



Glow bracelets are tons of fun too!

...and they look cool when you get creative and turn the flash off on your camera...


Card tricks....
Loud fireworks in the distance...


Good times!