Insta-Wedding

I wish I had Insta-gram 5 years ago when I got married. This past weekend, my partner {in crime and} at work got married! He was wrapped up in the planning and all the preparations for months; finding his suit, making an awesome slide show and being there for his beautiful bride!

Great wedding. Great location. Great people and all caught through the amazing eye of Insta-gram. I am linking up with Jeannett and Life Rearranged to share the Insta-Wedding!

 

 

 

 

Insta-Friday Linky

I guess I am not the only one completely OBSESSED Instagram! Instagram is an app that lets you add filters to your basic phone photos and make them look amazing in just a few seconds. For me my iPhone 4 has become not only my phone, but also my date book, music, child distraction and most importantly my take-everywhere camera! And Instagram makes them even better. So I am linking up for the first time EVER with Jeanette and Life.Rearranged for Insta-Friday.

We started a deck remodel back in October. The original was 30 years old and built by my grandpa, dad and uncles. It had holes that little feet could fall through, so it had to go. This is what we have now (almost done a few more coats of stain after it dries out from all the rain). With the amazing weather we had last week we spent many hours blowing bubbles, playing tag, and just enjoying the sunshine. Her are our memories caught with Instagram:

Zoo on a Tuesday Afternoon

The sun is shinning the wind is blowing. We had an afternoon to kill and so we went to the zoo. 

On a windy Tuesday afternoon, its pretty quiet, except for the Howler Monkey's which can actually be a little frightening. The only thing Brock said he wanted to see were "giraffises", it was too windy and they were locked tight in their barn. I told Brock that in wind like this they could blow over, he agreed.

The Merri-Go-Round was free. This was only Brock's second time and Sylas' first. Sylas just really liked the lights and the music. It was a little to complicated for me to figure out how to get them both atop an animal and hang on to them both, so we sat on one of the benches. Thank god we did, I got a little dizzy!

Then it was on to the BIG cats, they were out in full effect!

 

Brock wanted to balance on every curb we found, Sylas climbed all the play structures (on his own), and I took it all in...sunshine, wind and happiness with my Instagram App for iPhone!

So I know I am at least 4 major events behind on this blog, I am in no way happy about this as this is supposed to be tracking not only my life as a mom, but the growth and development of my children. 

This post will try to capture these last 4 events and then I am up to date. I have a few recipes that I hope to share from the last few months, as we did A LOT of eating over the past 2 months!! Welcome 2011! 

Thanksgiving in Eugene, OR

We rented a 4 bedroom house, best idea ever! 18 for Thanksgiving dinner. Great visiting with Aunt Susan. We went to the Invitational Tourney at Mac and took some cool family photos. We ate BBQ from The Hole in the Wall. Ryan and I went to the football game where Nicole was featured on the jumbo-tron! We ate way too many Voodoo Doughnuts! Hands down best Thanksgiving we have had in 4 years!

Christmas Pictures

Christmas 2010

This was our third Christmas spent as a large family, waking up at 510 Dellbrook. It is nice to have Nicole home for Christmas and this year Steven came too. We are lucky to know that she is loved even when she is not surrounded by us.  Christmas began for us on Sunday, December 12, with the wonderful gathering in Lodi. Ryan Christmas was small this year, but no matter what it is a blessing to be with such a loving family, and we all understand and cherish the family that is at a distance. We sure do miss them, though! Brock had a blast playing with Uncle Shane's electric train under the tree and we loved Kim's meatloaves! Home cooking is the way to go.

Christmas Eve with the Canepa's was held at Aunt Cheryl's house this year. We had ham and torttelini and champagne. And Mr. & Mrs. Miscellaneous provided the amazing Dark Chocolate Peppermint and Eggnog Ice Cream pies!!! 

Christmas morning was filled with Thomas the Train, Lightning McQueen, books, and a play kitchen! Santa and this family sure do love Brock and Sylas! Sylas and I slept off a cold while Ryan made his traditional papas con chorizo, eggs and sausage and mimosas for breakfast! We then all got ready for dinner (its the reason for the season, EATING!) and we had Nana and Papa (Kathie and Larry), Uncle Kyle and his Tofurkey, Uncle Lance and Billy and GG Sue and Aunt Susan for a delicious dinner of prime rib!

We ended the weekend, staying in, dry and warm and even though I had to leave with my laryngitis at 6am for work, I knew that the amazing festivities were catching up and everyone would enjoy a peaceful day at home. Christmas is a time to celebrate what brought the holiday to be, the making of a family! Happy birthday, baby Jesus!

[Somewhere between Nicole's birthday on Dec.23 and Christmas Day I lost my camera!]

WELCOME, 2011!

Ryan, the boys and I spent a quiet NYE at home. Mom and Dad spent it in Sonoma, Kathie was in Santa Paula with Pop and Betty and Monica had a few drinks with Lance and Billy before also retreating to home. Nicole was in Arizona for the opening Pac-10 games!

I didn't have to think too hard about a resolution, but decided that I have one ultimate goal this year and my resolutions encompass that:

1. get my health under control 

2. more discipline for myself and the boys

3. a better routine

 ...this year I will become a Marathon Runner!

I will be 30 in October, if I can't take complete control of my life now, what will the next 30 years look like? I want to be the best not only for my children, but ultimately for myself. 

Happy New Year! My your 2011 be filled with MAGIC!