This is how I show my love

One of my favorite activities is being on the water in any form possible. Sailing is right at the top of that list. Fortunately for us, my Dad has had a regular sailing trip each month for the last few years. That's going to stop, but lucky for us, he had two sailing trips lined up when we were out there this time. The kids stayed with Oma, Brando's Mom, because Oma is more interesting than sailing to them apparently.

I love boat pictures!

The color of the water was intense and ever changing depending on the clouds, the sun, and the angle.

West Cliff Drive and coastline

There was an insane amount of seals on the beams of the wharf that day.

View of Santa Cruz Harbor

A few days later we went to eat on the wharf and there were massive amounts of pelicans dive bombing the water for fish. I don't remember Santa Cruz having so many pelicans when I was growing up there!

I love leaning back on the boat and looking up at the sails.

We had such a perfect view of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk from this trip.

More Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

My sexy man.

The Santa Cruz Harbor Lighthouse

Something about the breeze through my hair, the view of the coastline, the endless horizon, and gliding through the water lilting from side to side puts me in a happy place.

*Post Title from the lyrics of AWOLNATION's Sail*

'Cause Today I Swear I'm Not Doing Anything

This trip to California's itinerary goal was to, for once, enjoy time actually IN Santa Cruz and with family, transition to my mother-in-law's new house, and enjoy our new twenty-one day old niece. Normally when we go to Santa Cruz, our hometown, we stay a few days, drop the kids off with the grandparents, take off on a romantic venture, come back for a whirlwind 48 hours and then fly back home.

This time, with my mother-in-law's new house and our new baby niece, I just wanted to ENJOY time there for once. Create new memories at Brando's Mom's new home. Spend time with those we love. And appreciate all that we had growing up as kids. And, boy, did we. Our itinerary reads like a Restaurant Guide to Santa Cruz with all the fabulous dinners at all of our favorite restaurants we had with our parents.

And since the majority of my photos are on Brando's computer, I'll leave you with the few photos I do have of some of my favorite memories.

Friday-

*Breakfast at Aldo's with Brando's Mom

*Saw our new baby niece, along with her Mommy & Daddy

*Shadowbrook with my parents

Saturday-

*Sailing with my parents

*these photos were actually taken during our second sailing trip, mentioned later on*

*Brando's childhood friend's wedding at a vineyard estate in the Aptos mountains

*Windjammer after wedding party

Sunday-

*Brunch at a family member's house with the newly married couple

*Riva's on the wharf with Brando's Mom

Monday-

*The Farm for breakfast
*Photo Shoot with Brando

*Seascape Resort for lunch with Brando's Mom

*Golf cart ride down to Seascape Beach and beach with Brando's Mom

*Stockton Bridge Grill with Brando's Mom and my Mom (not one of our favorite restaurants, but a good place to go for a quiet evening)

Tuesday-

*Rio Del Mar Beach with Brando's Mom and the boys

*Pedicures with my Mom and niece

*Kianti's with my Mom, my niece, and her boyfriend

*Marini's Candies with my Mom, my niece, and her boyfriend

Wednesday-

*Boardwalk with Brando's Mom, the boys, my niece and her boyfriend

*Shadowbrook with my parents and Brando's Mom

Thursday-

*Justinbustin went to work with my Dad

*Seascape Resort with Brando's Mom, our new baby niece and her mom and dad, and Jen

*Rio Del Mar Beach with Brando and I

*this photo was actually taken at Sunny Cove Beach, mentioned later on*

*Dinner at Star Bene with Brando where we had our first date almost twelve years ago (not one of our favorite places as far as food goes, but favorite for sentimental reasons)

*Stayed the night with Brando at Bella Notte, where they have heated bathroom floors and a fireplace, for an impromptu anniversary celebration

Friday-

*Monterey Bay Aquarium with the boys, my sister and her five children, my niece, and my Mom

*Bubba Gump Shrimp Company in Monterey with all of the same

*Smurfs with the boys and my Mom and Dad

Saturday-

*Sailing with my Mom and Dad

*Sunny Cove beach with the boys and my sister and her five kids - that's Brando in the orange shorts on the cliff, and Justinbustin in the wetsuit on the rocks just to his right

*Crow's Nest with my Mom and Dad

Sunday-

*Walnut Avenue Cafe lunch with my Mom and Dad, and Brando's Mom

*Rio Del Mar Beach and boogey boarding (the waves were too small to surf) with the boys

*Dinner at Bittersweet Bistro with Brando's Mom, our new baby niece, B, and her mom, K, and dad, M - equation in the heart he drew courtesy of Shawners (delicious food, slow service, gorgeous restaurant)

Monday-

*Shopping at Rip Curl (I always do my last minute run before the airport)

*Lunch at In n Out with Brando's Mom

I may be missing a few things in there, but that was the gist of it. See what I mean about being a guide to restaurants in Santa Cruz? I asked my Mom if she felt like this trip was any different with us not going anywhere, and she said, yes, we gotto eat with you every night. Worth. every. moment.

*Post Title from the lyrics of Bruno Mars' The Lazy Song*

In Honor of my Nephew and New Niece

A romantic photo...

The actual wedding and celebration with only family invited was Friday. Tomorrow is the wedding and bigger celebration with all their friends invited. So much to do!! They've been staying by a house on the lake and spending time with all their family who has flown in to see them this weekend. So much fun playing at Austin's Parks and Pizza with them yesterday, and having brunch at Cannoli Joe's with them today. What amazing people to be so gracious to their family and those who came to see them marry by spending time with them on their honeymoon. I love my nephew so much and am so glad he has such an amazing woman in his life that has a big of heart as he has, and just as big and crazy of a family, too. And Happy Father's Day, honey. Thank you for giving up your father's day to help me pick up and organize flowers.

Happy Thoughts

Who knew talking to my parents could produce such happy thoughts? Calling my Dad to get ahold of my Mom, having him three-way my Mom without knowing it, then spending the next half hour joking and laughing with them. Felt like being home.

LBC Baby

Wow, a new record for me. I haven't read blogs in five days. I love reading blogs - they're like my gossip magazines, only I know they're true for the most part ; ) .

I just came back from the most AHmazing weekend EVER in Long Beach. My cousin on my Mom's side got married and my parents flew our whole family out to celebrate and support them. So very happy! We stayed at the cutest little hotel with teak lounge chairs by the pool with two inch thick cushions that I sank into and wanted to stay forever in. The kids were running around happy, the weather was gorgeous, my cousin and his new wife are adorable, my uncle is perverted but I got over that, and there was no family drama. Brando didn't even feel the need to be resident photographer because my cousin got a new camera. Granted the pictures weren't as fabulous because he's just learning, and I was glad I took a bunch, and Brando the ones that he did, but it was nice to have my hubby the whole time.

Their sweet Rolls Royce transportation from the wedding to the reception

The pretty houses lining the coastal road on the way to the reception

One of my favorite, favorite things about Cali is all the palm trees all over

The reception was at a gorgeous restaurant on the water, where we visited outside until the sunset and the bride and groom arrived. We moved the party inside and danced all night long. SO much fun!!

The view from the restaurant - so gorgeous!

More of the view and marina from the reception restaurant

The restaurant - and that's the open bar right there. Nice.

Upstairs and a view of inside of where the reception moved to later in the evening

View from our seats at the reception restaurant. Ah mazing.

The next morning we woke up, packed our bags, and headed to the beach where I coerced Brando into thinking we were just "stopping by". Really I had the agenda of throwing the kids and I in our bathing suits and having the kids enjoy the beach that I get to visit every year. Once we got there, and the kids already started getting their shorts wet, I ran back to the car and grabbed our suits, threw mine on California style i.e. next to the car under my clothes (or not), and ran back. We spent the next hour splashing and body surfing the waves. SO much fun!! My kids totally got to enjoy the beach I get to visit every year and enjoyed every minute of it. Both of my sister's were there with their families, too, although they didn't go in the water and thought I was crazy because we were all used to growing up in Santa Cruz where the water is COLD. Apparently they didn't know until I told them afterwards that the water is soooooo much warmer down south in Cali. Discovering that is what toes are for, not me!!! Of course they weren't prepared with their bathing suits like I was either. My sister and bil were so sweet afterwards, though, they told me they had a good time and were really happy we stopped by the beach. My sis got some HAUTE pictures of Brando and I with Brando's camera too. Can't wait to steal them off his computer!

We used a bottle of water to shower and changed into our dry clothes then headed to brunch four minutes up the road and arrived there exactly on time. Fortunately the bride and groom were late wondering in any way! I enjoyed the next three hours visiting with ALL of my cousins and siblings (except for my brother, who was there the night before, but had to drive home early that morning for work) and watching a super fun Hawaiian luau show,  all while drinking lots of mimosas. Mmmm.

See? Best weekend. EVER. Family, drinks, beach, fun, sunshine. It just DOESN'T get any better.

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.

Normally my title controls the subject of my post but today I don't have a title so you get whatever comes out. I am FINALLY getting together with my girlie Kels after almost three months (as she says I don't think that's an exaggeration) of not seeing each other. Next Tuesday nobody but Kels!! Hopefully when I move down there we won't go so long without seeing each other.

Unfortunately on the other end of that I hope there won't be three months between seeing my girlies where we live now when I move down south!! It's already hard enough to see them!! Speaking of Jen and I went to our first dance class last night. SO fun. Okay I admit I was SO freaking lost - especially on the footwork which meant I was concentrating so hard on that forget about the hands. I still had fun and mentally pushed past the give up feeling. This class was a cardio jazz class with LOTS of body moves - hip thrusting, arms going, everything. Loverly. Next week we'll be doing a beginning hip hop class, I'm hoping that will be a little easier. This is the first time I have ever taken an aerobics class so it's that much more challenging to learn even the basics. Thankfully I've done a few DVDs with my neighbor so I knew some of the very very basics - the grapevine, side step - but I get totally lost on the turns or going forward or back especially back. Any hints, suggestions, practice, etc. are totally appreciated!!

I received a baby shower invitation that is out of this WORLD. I have never seen such a gorgeous baby shower invitation. Completely custom printed, four parts, dang it's nicer than most wedding invitations I've seen. Anywho I'm still deciding if I'm going to go or not, I know the girl but not incredibly well, and honestly the invite is a little intimidating. And I would need to get a new sundress... : ) Girl, where did you get that pretty yellow one?

Oh I never blogged my parent's trip. Some of it was fun. My sister planned it all and it was a little boring. Okay a lot. Usually when my parents go home they call me several times during the following week to tell me what a fabulous time they had, as well as gushing about the trip before they're even on the plane. They haven't called once this week.

When I plan stuff we'll do Schlitterbahn, the pool, Austin Parks n Pizza, eat at Olive Garden, etc. For Saturday my sister planned a day at the lake which WAS fun and they were so sweet they gave Justinbustin a REAL fishing pole for his birthday. For Sunday I had planned Mother's Day Brunch which was also a BLAST and delicious, then it kind of petered from there. We hung out at a freaking BOOKSTORE for three hours because my sister's family had to meet up with her in-laws for mother's day dinner and didn't want to do anything that involved time in the meantime such as swimming.

The minute they took off we headed home after a quick stop at Sephora to spoil me :D and went swimming. My Mom got in the pool which if you knew my Mom you would realize that doesn't normally happen and we had such a great time!! We headed home when it started to rain but had a blast getting to the cars trying to keep everything from getting soaked. Then Brando and I went to Rudino's to grab yummy Greek salad and pizza and we had dinner and played the Wii, which was a blast.

Monday sucked. My sister had planned for us to go to the Children's Museum in downtown Austin, but when I checked online for coupons I noticed they were CLOSED. So we ended up going out to where her son works and having lunch, which also sucked, because apparently the guys he works with are trying to get him fired because they're a**es and they were the ones who made our lunch and they WERE a**es. Dumb.

Afterwards my sis and her boys took off and we headed towards the airport and stopped to have ice cream. Yum! Funny how the best moments this weekend besides the lake day were withOUT my sister's family and the lack of any kind of eventful things to do. Sigh. I had gotten sick of pushing and pulling with her and her fam every time my parents are out here to make sure we all have some great memories, but I'm totally going to plan next time! Or even just NOT planning but giving time to go to the freakin' pool a little more!!!

Still my parents ended up staying with us - yay! They had wanted to stay at my sister's who tried to pawn it off by saying that I always want them to stay here and her family was 'okay' with that, but I said absolutely not, they stay where they want to and they want to stay at your place, that's YOUR choice not mine. I wasn't going to let her use me as her scapegoat. Then it came out that because of their dinner Sunday night they would rather my parents stay at my place any way. Sorry, had to vent the family drama for some reason.

Oh one final totally random thought that reading Allison's latest post got me to thinking of - allergies are kicking me in the BUTT these last two weeks. I've never had allergies before but I guess it is true Texas gives you allergies. The sneezing, the itchy throat, the sinuses clogging, YUCK. On a futuristic note I'm not sure if I want to be here forever just because of that!

Finally

Our night of debauchery...


By the way, my parents visit was a blast. A LOT more relaxing than normal - mostly due to the fact I took a step back on planning this time around. Good quality time either way.

Houston Fun

My parents had a business trip in Houston last week so we drove out Wednesday evening to have dinner with them and play at the Downtown Aquarium. They have a restaurant that is an aquarium so you are eating next to sharks and sea turtles and sting rays. They also had a few rides, a carousel, a ferris wheel, and a train that goes through a shark tunnel, that the kids went on. SO much fun. We didn't get a picture of the huge group of us that was there - my parents, us, my sister and her boys, business friends fo my Dad and their newly married daughter and son-in-law, but it's enough to say the wine and the converstion flowed.