Easter Details

The photos in the trees were from a few days before, but I figured they were close enough.

Monkey in a tree - Shawners

 Can you spot the monkeys?

 Playing with Brando's new lens

 I sometimes ask myself, how did I get such an incredibly handsome hottie for a husband?

 Lounging outside at Iron Cactus Cafe

 Devoured delicious brunch plates

 Pretty details

 Pretty flowers

Another monkey in a tree - Justinbustin

Happy Easter!

I'm kind of late on the bandwagon, but happy easter any way!! I hope you and yours had an amazing day filled with family and love.

What did you do for Easter?

We tried out a new church this morning that's conveniently across the street. Shawners has gone to VBS at this place before and I was bowled over by how comfortable he was as he is hardly ever comfortable in new large groups of people. He says, "I like this church the best. I loved playing tag in here." and "I like these seats. I like these comfort seats." I caught him smiling and paying attention the whole time (whilst folding paper airplanes out of index cards). He was so excited to run out and get the gift bag with goodies in it that they had mentioned. He opens it and says, "It's a big muffin." It was a loaf of banana bread.

Afterwards, we had brunch at Iron Cactus with my sister, her husband, and her three boys. This is the first Easter we have spent with family, besides when we lived in California. I thought of the idea of going to my favorite meal ever together, brunch, and made reservations at Iron Cactus, which has the best brunch buffet in Austin, three weeks ago, and have been so excited about it since. It was just as pleasant and wonderful as I had hoped. It was also very special, as one of my nephews is getting married in June and it will likely be the last meal we will have all together with just the nine of us.

After brunch, Brando slept for two hours on the couch while the boys and I sat next to him and played with the silly putty they got in their Easter baskets and egg hunt this morning. Who knew silly putty could be entertaining for two hours. He loved that we quietly played next to him while he napped.

This evening, we went to watch Rio which was cute, then, ended the evening with a cookie cake Shawners had picked out and candles for Brando's birthday.

It was a pleasant sort of day.

Girls Weekend

Hello, Phoenix! It was so good to see you this weekend. Unfortunately, it flew by all too quick to enjoy every aspect of your perfect weather clad atmosphere. Your mountains are beautiful, and the sanctuary you provide my sisters, cousins, Grandma, Grandpa, and I is irreplaceable. From shopping, to having tea parties in
and laying out by the pool, to bonding conversations, to having our hair colored by my hairdresser sister, to eating out, to enjoying filet mignon grilled by my grandpa, being introduced to a new card game called 31 won by my sister who was turning 31 that day, to massages, to riding golf cartsincluding fitting six people on a two seater, to telling each other ten things we appreciate about each other with lots of tears, it was a weekend to remember.

Thanksgiving Week

Arriving in San Jose, picking up a Sa*ab to drive in for the week, eating at In N Out, driving straight to Ol*vehurst/Plum*s Lake. Turkey dinner on Sunday with my brother's ex-wife and three kids, my sister, her hubby, and their five kids, my parents, and us. Seeing her new 2600 sq.ft. that had more than enough room for all of us, and more than enough room for six cooks in the kitchen. Watching the kids play, play, play their hearts out and spend every night with my mom and dad in their RV they brought up from Santa Cr*z. Playing games with my sister and her hubby every night and with my ex SIL and niece before they went home. Liars dice, skipbo, Uno. Driving to Placerv*lle to meet Brando's family I've never met in eight years. Going from flat land valley Cali to mid size mountains and tall pine trees. Being EXTREMELY bored with people I've hardly met before. Getting over it and playing golf cards with Justinbustin. Shawners joining in, then Oma, then a cousin. Thanksgiving dinner with two cousins and an aunt of Brando's I'd never met before. Pictionary with Justinbustin and Oma on my team. Waking up early in the morning. Going to Apple Hill with Brando's family and discovering the quaintest experience I've ever experienced. Taking gorgeous mountainous pictures. Buying fudge, apple pies, apple cider, and Christmas ornaments. Watching the rest of the family take off to see a veteran's memorial. Going to our first. ever. wine tasting with Brando. Taking kissy pictures in the vineyard. Watching my sons collect pine cones outside the window while we wine tasted. Meeting the family-owned estate owner's son. Having birthday cake for Shawners birthday with Oma. Driving home in order to have a full day in Santa Cr*z. Playing more games with my sis and her hubby. Going out downtown with my good friend, Jef. Waking up early and taking boudoir pictures at U*SC campus. Laughing at the guy biking by on the bike trail nearby biking by and asking if that's a n*ked lady in the grass. Thinking in my head, "No! You're imaging things!!" Finding out I need to get linger*e for Brando at Hot Top*c instead of Vici's. Going to my dad's financial class. Seeing how cute he is with all the little things he does for his clients. Payday bars, lucky pennies, cash drawings, cute analogies, tear-jerking stories. Going on a sailboat with Jef, his girl, Brando, the boys, and my parents. Spending two hours on the Monterey Bay with wine, beer, pizza, and good company. Drinking way too much wine. Going to the Boardwalk any way after we get off. Riding the sky rider with Brando. Taking pictures to ease my fear of hanging 200 ft. about the ground with no way to get down. my Dad and the boys there. Watching them have a good time without being involved or them knowing I was there. Stalking them and taking pictures.  Riding the pirate ship with Brando and laughing at the guy giving me evil looks for standing up. Going home and taking a nap. Oversleeping our dinner date with good friends. Picking up Jef and his girl again to go to dinner with us and other friends. Eating dinner with Cris & Kris and their sweet baby boy. Shopping downtown. More games with my sis and her hubby, this time with Jef and his girl, too. Hanging out with his new girl, the longest girl he's had, that I absolutely love and adore and hope he marries the heck out of her one day. Going over to a friend of Brando's afterwards. Playing the Wii until the wee hours of the morning. Waking up. Hanging out with my sister at Trader Joe's. Going to breakfast at my favorite restaurant ever, Peachwoods. My dad attempting to take me shopping. Giving hugs. Oma's tears. Going home.