The excitement never seems to end...

I guess it helps to always have something to look forward to!

As long as we live where we live, Owen will get a parade for his birthday! :-)

The cousins come, we sit out chairs, and get the most candy because we sit at the beginning!

And...Gramma and Grampa came too!

We had lots to look forward to with a Birthday party the next morning!...

The morning AFTER...

was just more time to celebrate and have fun!

Sitting, relaxing, eating, talking, soaking morning rays...

We did not rush but made our way to the beach to stake out a spot...

The beach, the sun, the time, the beauty...so much to remember and to be thankful for...
snack, sun, snack, water, snack, sand, lunch time! :-)

O is still asking to go back...memories of a 4-year-old
OOPs! We can't forget: today was Rog's day...Big Birthday spent relaxin' on the beach!
M & M...& M! Little "Meep" has memories too!
Owen was able to get lots of people to play his wave-chasing game:

Gramma...

Auntie Lori...

Auntie Julie...

And then it was time to get some Z's...or we would have a monster on our hands for traveling the next day...

M & M's families all together, eating pizza and laughing some more:

Then it was time to say good bye...to CA, to MB, to each other...

Gramma hugged and squeezed the kids...again

and again... Hugs all around...Loading up...all to sad to leave...anxious to travel all the way home...

Rog is getting good at this traveling thing!

:-)

A suitcase, two carseats, a stroller, diaper bag and carry-on...did we forget anything?

We were early...and the weekend had passed without a bit of stress...until the dumb lady who made us late when checking in...how many things can one person do to screw up our checking in?

Gabby and Gramma Mimi didn't mind the wait...

We made it...just barely due to one melt-down, a poopy diaper, and shuffling of bags that was unnecessary (dumb woman who messed up our tickets!)...

no hard feelings...now. :-)

Can I really call that forgiveness? or just willing to forget and move on?

:-)

Julie and Todd got on the same airplane and we all said good-bye in CO...

To end the blogging on this trip I will revise an earlier statement:

No regrets? only that it was too short!

But memories are deep and we will be together again...soon! :-)

M & M

that's why we were all here!

We arrived, hoping to be in style, but that doesn't matter when you are in for such a treat as a casual reception as this! It was called "casual" but there was nothing casual about the experience! We dined, we toasted, we danced...
what a night! what a view! what a couple!

nope...not this couple...

although Owen hopes he's at least her second best man (or third or fourth considering there's "GrampaPhil" and "Diego" in the running) :-)

The "peeps" were all smiles...

At sunset we all gathered around to hear M & M's story and to hear the vows they said to one another in the Galapagos (Mario, did I spell that right?)

The timing was perfect...Mary Beth always has been quite the romantic! :-)
heehee
And yes...that was almost the end of our FIRST FULL DAY in CA!

DAY ONE in CA!

(Yep...the last post was just the trip there!)

Owen woke up bright and early and said,
"I get to see the ocean!"
We tried not to wake EVERYONE up, but soon Owen had a whole bunch of people who wanted to walk to the beach for a morning stroll...
Grampa, of course, was able to find some coffee...

My "surfer boy"...if only he would get his face wet sometime.
:-)

No, that's not Owen surfing, but we did get to see some guys having a great time out there!

If Gramma could have held all three of her grandkids all weekend...I wonder...
hmmm....
But...this whole weekend was for these two...
M & M!
That night was the reception so we still had to do a few preparations...
After the breakfast and a bit of tying ribbons, it was beach time!
Beach time...giggles, good times...any chance to celebrate!
And, have a dance party!
oops...show time is over!
And that was all before afternoon nap! :-)