Saturday, May 29, 2010

Rehearsal Time

The Bride!



Jan and Jay, is that a chi-chi jacket she is wearing? Nope, the m-i-l is all wrapped up in a blanket for warmth. It was chilly and if the rehearsal had lasted 10 more minutes I would have ripped it off her and rolled myself in it.


Here is one of the many pictures of the bridesmaids and the Matron of Honor. Doesn't matron just make me sound ancient?


Really, there could not have been a prettier backdrop. Tilden Park in Berkeley is awe inspiring.





I am just going to continue the food theme. Rehearsal dinner was at a Chinese restaurant, which for the life of me I can't remember the name. Okay, I know where all the food pictures and talk come from. It stems from the fact that I couldn't eat anything carb-y or delicious so that my dress would zip for the big ceremony.


Jaffa Cafe

Our Julia's Wedding Weekend started off by dropping the kids off for their two day sleepover (thank you friends - you know who you are!). Then, J and I returned to the old days of driving to SF without two kiddos laughing, screaming, or just plain crying in the backseat. It was peaceful and relaxing, the perfect beginning to our weekend. Oh, and we got to stop at Jaffa Cafe for a little lunch date of Mediterranean food. So yummy! I guess it opened the year after we graduated.



For some reason, I was obsessed with taking food photos this weekend. Doesn't this look so delicious?


Wednesday, May 26, 2010

2nd Annual California Car and Cycle Show

Who would have thought that a car show would have brought out the mini-model in Vera. She wanted to pose by every car and have a picture taken of her. We attempted the car show as a family, but finally I called it quits and took the kids back to B's house to play with Stoli...the Keller Dude just wasn't into the rides.


One of my favorite shots from the day.


My other one! It also happens to be one of the most natural smiles of Vera I have ever seen in a picture.


Here she is trying to pose as a 50's pin-up girl. Her other look, the ballerina.


Sunday, May 23, 2010

Photo Collection

Just a few more pics from B's Bridal Shower that I really liked. Vera is such a nut-ball in photos lately that catching a good picture of her smiling is my new Holy Grail.



Run, Keller, run!


The girls were playing a new game, jumping from the table to the couch called "Scare My Mom to Death."


So cute and excited about her new bikini.


OMG, if I could just nibble them to pieces I would. Keller's face in this pics is pretty priceless and Vera...loving the feather hair clip. I made that clip to be in the SB Solstice Parade and Vera found it recently and has been kicking it non-stop. She keeps saying, "Everyone thinks I am a-dor-a-ble!



Last but not lease, I would not be a proud faux aunt if I didn't tell you about Tay's first bike ride! Whoo-hoo...good times riding down to farmer's market on Saturday.


Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Yummy!


So, if the last kid was mine (eating and reading), than this one is for sure J's. Drinking a spicy condiment right out of the jar...that is so J.

Monday, May 17, 2010

My Kid or What?

B's Bridal Shower

B's getting married and we celebrated with lots and lots of polka dots! My responsibilities this time around were to make the wine glasses for favors and dessert. Crafting and baking are two of my favorite things and I was in heaven.

I painted the glasses, but it was CC's suggestion of "Love" tags and a little bit of color that completed their look.


My desserts were all kind of cheats in that I used boxes of cakes and brownies. Oh, and those rice krispy treats are the prepackaged ones that you can buy at Costco. What rice krispy treats you might ask? Those ones that I tried to mold onto lollipop sticks. I am always trying to put treats on sticks for looks, but now can say I am officially done. I have now tried both cookies and rice krispies. No matter what I do, the weight of the dessert makes it slide down the stick. I think I will just stick with designing them and placing on a platter.


Oh, but melting chocolate that you can then write with...that is fun. I see lots of uses for the future. Even just making birthday or Tuesday treats for my kids.


Blonde Carol makes the yummiest food and I love that she places it on a narrow counter between the kitchen and comfy couch room. Love the presentation and taste!




Bride-to-be and Vera:


Something about this shot, I love it. It could be that V is being an utter goofball and has distracted Tay or the fact that the three adults are just ignoring the whole situation and smiling for the camera. It is a little known fact about having your picture taken with a kid, just stare at the camera and continue to smile. There is no blinking or looking down at the kiddo. Because, the minute you stop to see what your kid is doing or to try and adjust them, your baby will make the most adorable face in the entire world and hold it for exactly one second.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Sea Center Good Times!

Opa earned a gold star this weekend for taking care of the kids while I was racing. I promised him that the kids would be great and he could throw a movie on if things started to go wonky. Well, he managed to survive the entire morning without a tv show...because he managed to break the tv at some point between turning it on and starting a movie. :)

Then, he stuck around the rest of the weekend while J was at his future brother-in-law's bachelor party to keep me company and help with the munchkins. Thanks Pops! We dragged him around to the Sea Center, the SB Zoo, and Steven's Park.


Oh, this picture, it was taken right before Keller turned the touch tank into a splashing water table. Good times!

Faces of Vera




I had to include one open mouth picture for you Mrs. 1950s!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Munchkins

I love this photo my sister took...the smiles, the perspective of the photo, the fact that I could eat them up.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Santa Ynez Half Marathon


I would so love to say that this was an easy run, but that wouldn't be quite truthful. For about 9 miles I felt good and there were pretty horses to view and lots of people to watch. And while there were still people to watch after mile 9, it did get a little hairy. The muscles got sore and I had to repeat the mantra, "I can do anything for half an hour." It worked! 13.1 miles have been completed and my first half marathon is done.

The fun part, I ran with my friend Deb the entire way. Never before have I been the type of person who runs well with others. I always worry about my huffing and puffing and how I sound. But, it makes the time go fast and is entertaining. I seriously can't believe we ran that far.

Santa Ynez and the surrounding area is beautiful, there are rolling hills, grape vines, and all that good stuff. But, you know what I think about first when someone asks me how the race went...the port-a-potties. Yep, a bathroom near me is always my first priority. Well, except when said bathrooms are super stinky and you have to stand near them waiting for a race to start. Then, they just make me want to vomit in my mouth.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Swim Lessons!

Vera has been taking swim lessons for three months now, but it is just in the last two weeks that she has had a breakthrough. Not only can she put her head under the water (I actually teared up the first time that she did it!), but her water confidence has improved, improved, improved. Much of the credit has to be given to her amazing swim teacher at the YMCA and the patience she has displayed.


Jumping off the edge of the pool still gives Vera pause.


Look how good our girl is doing floating on her back!


Vera's amazing swim teacher...such a good experience. It is so unique to watch your child learn a new skill.


Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Daddy + Kids

J ran the kids from event to event while I was in Vegas. They rode the electric bus downtown, visited the seals in Carpenteria, saw a huge pod of dolphins, and had all kinds of good Daddy time.