Family Photos

We haven't gotten our actual family photos back, but we did take a few prior to meeting her.  B has started somewhat of a tradition by falling into mud RIGHT before the photos.  Despite multiple warnings this might happen by all 4 of us, he chose to take the chance and it ended about how we all expected.  While annoying, its also who he is and capturing that during photos is important.  So, muddy shoes is how we rolled.

My incredibly talented former student took our photos and I cannot wait to see them!

 

Children's Museum Field Trip

 

Lately

Bri and I were able to sneak away from work one morning for a date hike.

These boys are very into swimming so we spend a lot of weekends at various pools for meets.

Not pictured is the bat mitzvah we attended before the meet and the party was after the meet, but it was also a blast celebrating my friends child.

B's sweet friend is moving out of state so we have been soaking up time with them.

And a baby shower for one of my closest friends!  She had a huge one, but I was in California, so our closer circle celebrated one night out at dinner.

Family Birthday Party

Cousins, uncles and grandparents birthday party was a blast for B.

 

Hot Chocolate Run

B is really into running 5Ks.  I think hes done 4 or 5 official races and several just with me.  He really wanted to wake up early (before 6) to do the hot chocolate one this year.  It made for a very exhausting birthday weekend, but Brian and I did it with him.  He definitely got a personal best time too!

 

Double Digits!

B turned 10 last Friday!  We had a normal school day and then after school, the big kids took him on a brother adventure to Starbucks (definitely a hit to hang with them!)

He opened his gifts with us.

We hosted a huge party at VV last summer to celebrate the boys birthdays, Brian's and our 20th anniversary, so the kids didn't get big birthday parties this year.  B still wanted to do something, so I told him he could have 4 friends over for dinner, a movie and to sleep over.  All 4 came, but only 3 slept over (which was plenty as not much sleep happened as it was!)

 

Torrey Pines

Before we left on Sunday, we took a hike with my parents, brother, my cousin and her son in Torrey Pines.  We saw dolphins and enjoyed scenery we aren't used to.

 

The Actual Birthday Party

I don't exactly know how many of us went to the lunch party, but maybe 50?  It was held at a beautiful winery in Fallbrook.  It was obviously a great time to take lots of photos of family.

My dad and his 3 brothers.

The enormous table with flowing bottles of wine and family style pasta.

Of course some cup balancing games.

My dad, his brothers and their wives.

After the party we went back to my uncles magical house.  He literally built the bricks and the house himself.  Its on a sprawling mountainside complete with orchards of fruits.  It's a perfect place for large gatherings and holds thousands of my childhood (and now my children's childhood) memories.

Between the orchard and fruit picking and the very old dirty trampoline, the kids all left looking pretty ragged, tired and like they had a lot of fun.

The same trampoline, slide and teeter totter my cousins and I played on as kids.  Still being enjoyed by the next generation.

Its absolutely a perfect place.