Five Year Getaway

This year Drew and I celebrated 5 years of marriage.  Wow!  It seems so long, but it really flew by.  We now have a beautiful daughter who will be two in 3 months, Drew has an amazing job, I am living my dream job of being a stay-at-home mommy (or mama as Makenna is stuck saying), we have wonderful family and friends, and are truly blessed.  I love this man more today then I did when I married him, and we have for sure have had some ups and downs along the way.  This past weekend we were able to get away to Seascape near Aptos and Monterey Bay.  It was absolutely beautiful and relaxing.  Our room was complete with kitchen and fireplace… Our view and background noise was of the ocean… We spent the evening going on a walk and explore the surrounding hotel, playing scrabble and eating pizza on the balcony, and watching a movie in bed.  The next day we had breakfast on the balcony while watching deer and dolphins, went to the Mystery Spot (but never went in), had ice cream at Marianne’s, sat on the beach for a few hours and read some books, played a few card games, and people watched, oh and took a nap, went to a yummy restaurant for dinner, and played some more board games.  On our way home we stopped at Lighthouse State Park and Natural Bridges for some beautiful views.  It was totally relaxing and a much needed break from life. 

July is Coming to an End

I can’t believe that this month is almost over, but I have to admit that I am not terribly sad to see it over.  It was a month full of busyness, Drew traveling to Belize, lots of events, a week of VBS, and other hectic things in our schedules.  The month of August is busy, but a different kind of busy.  Drew and I get to go to a conference together, we celebrate our FIVE YEAR  anniversary at Seascape for two days, we are privileged to attend two weddings this month, we get a few days away in Grass Valley on the Pastoral Retreat, and a trip to Tahoe at the end of the month to celebrate my Dad.  Lots of fun and play and time away.  I am totally looking forward to the month of August.  Here are some fun pictures from the last week and a half of July…

Makenna fell asleep two minutes after leaving the church parking lot after a long day at VBS. 

We finally washed the car for the first time in probably six months,  Makenna helped us out.

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Makenna being silly in front of the camera.

 

Makenna has begun tantrums full force this month.  This is the beginning of one caught on camera.  We had to leave for a meeting with a friend and Makenna didn’t want to go.  She ended up flailing on the floor, limp noodle, screaming and crying for about ten minutes before I could calm her down enough to bribe her with goldfish and water in the car.

 

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We spend a lot of time in the backyard.  Drew is trying to teach Makenna how to play baseball.  In the third picture you can see what she thinks of the game. 

We have been so blessed by hand-me-downs of clothing, toys, books, and so much more.  This is our latest blessing.  A family from Off Road (the junior high group) gave us their play structure that they were no longer using.  Makenna L-O-V-E-S it!  She slides forward, backward, on her tummy, you name it she has slid that way.  Thank you Palumbo Family!!!

Birthdays, Weddings, and Daddy’s Day

So for those of you you who don’t know, Drew has a twin, Kyle.  Heather (Kyle’s wife) and I, try to uphold a tradition of the boys doing something fun together for the boys birthday.  This year we ended up at Bay Meadows Park.  The boys played baseball, Kyle barbequed some burgers, and Makenna joyfully watched remote control airplanes all day.  She also played on this super old playground. 

A few days before, I had seen this adorable hat at Target.  She had been wearing it with the bows in the front since I bought it.  Looks cute right?  Well, apparently I had her in the hat backwards, and it wasn’t until Kyle pointed it out that we noticed the ridiculousness.  In the rest of the pictures she is wearing the hat correctly. 

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Makenna spotted an airplane that had landed on the grass and b-lined it for a chance to see it up close.  The man controlling the plane let her get extremely close and even touch it.  She was in heaven!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drew also has an older brother, Josiah.  This past Saturday he married Amanda.  At their rehearsal dinner we ate Andy’s BBQ…yum!  They had a beautiful ceremony at our church.  Drew was a groomsman and Makenna was the flower girl.  I hope to post some of the professional pictures.  She did an amazing job.  First, she fell right at the door, so the coordinator had to help her stand up.  By this point the ring bearer (Connor about 3 years old) was already 1/3 of the way down the isle.  Makenna followed, with her basket in hand.  She saw my mom sitting in an isle seat about three rows up from the door.  So she decided to stop and say hello to her.  My mom encouraged her to keep walking.  Makenna then proceeded to walk one row up to one of our former Junior High girls, Briana, and try and give her the flower basket.  Briana politely refused the gift and encouraged Makenna to keep walking.  By this point, the ring bearer had walked to his grandmother in the front row and noticed Makenna bent over, now picking up the flower petals that had fallen out of her basket.  As he walked back to see what she was up to the audience made an adoring sigh, which frightened him and he ran back, crying, to his father at the back door.  Makenna, who was still picking up her petals, was greeted by her Daddy, who left his post at the front to walk her the rest of the way down the isle to me.  She then sat in my lap (proud as can be) with her lollipop in mouth, so that she could quietly sit through the entire wedding.  Didn’t really happen, but she made it about 3/4 of the way through …quietly.  She was adorable!!! 

   

Makenna with Mom-Mom and GrandBob (Mother and Father of the Groom)

  

The Grooms Family

 

 

 

Makenna, on the way to the reception.  She was more than ready for a nap and very loopy!

 

 

 

This morning we celebrated Father’s Day.  Makenna gave Daddy an easel, so that he could teach her to be an amazing artist just like him.  They had a lot of fun together.