A quick trip to the beach and a fun wedding!

Last weekend we made a quick trip to California, specifically San Diego and La Jolla for my cousin Jake and his bride Tracey's wedding.  It was beautiful and gave us a chance to take a quick family vacation.  Nana and Papa were gracious enough to come along with us to help watch the kids so Jarrett and I could go to the wedding.  Here are some pictures of the fun time we had.

We have been saving our points and now that the Del is officially a Hilton hotel we were able to stay there during our quick getaway.  

We arrived on  November 1, the day after Halloween and while the lobby was still  decorated for fall, all  the shops were set up for  Christmas.   The Del is such a beautiful and fun hotel, one of those bucket list places we love to enjoy.  

Our first stop was the beach of course, and while the water was maybe a balmy 65 degrees, the kids didn't mind.  And good for them, how often do you get to go to the beach?  

So  pants,  jackets and socks and shoes for us adults, swimsuits and shivers  for  the  kids!

Jennings wasn't too impressed yet with the beach.

The boys went right to work trying to find pretty ladies.  Turns out the average age of the female crowd was probably around their mom's age or older.  Oh well!

It was fun having Nana and Papa with us.

This picture reminds me of a picture I took many years ago of just the boys running into the beach.  Oh how our life has changed now.

This was the picture we took at the same beach just a handful of years ago.

And now this is our family, minus Jennings who was with Nana at the time.

So many good moments shared at this place.

Even in the hotel room everyone had a nice time... all the kids need is a TV and they are happy. 

And Nana and Papa were too it seemed, Jennings makes anyone happy I think. 

We went to our favorite Miguel's restaurant and walking back to the hotel, the colors were so vibrant it was like watching fireworks in the sky.

We got up early Saturday morning and headed to the beach before most people.  

It was cold, I wore pants, two shirts and my jacket.  The girls, well they wore this...

Notice that huge bird on that guys arm.  Michael agreed to pose for a picture for me.

Meanwhile down at the beach, Gabe and the two girls were having a blast!

See, I told you it was cold!

We did get a quick family shot!

Such a nice picture of Jarrett, Jennings, Papa and Nana.

Madelyn had no fun, none at all.  (seriously she giggled the entire morning)

Then Michael joined in and regretted not wearing his swim suit.

Gabe was cold so he decided to bury himself in the sand.  Nice picture though right?

And the chilly girls too.

Jennings wasn't sure what to think of the beach.  

Dad loves this place. 

And it was Papa's first time staying at the Del too.  We hope he enjoyed it as well.

Then Isabelle took a page from Gabe's book and buried herself.  Did I mention we had a little bit of sand in our hotel room?

Michael couldn't stand it any longer, when Gabe started surfing in the water, he wanted to join in, so he stripped down to his jock (at least he was wearing one) and just went in the water that way.  He said it was no different than his racing swimsuit, and I guess he did have a point.  

Jennings is still not sure what's going on!

I hope the kids remember that we tried to take them to fun places and while it might not be the grandest adventure and it was only for a quick weekend, it was still so fun and memories were made. 

Then it was time to go to the wedding of my cousin Jake and his bride Tracey.  It was a beautiful wedding and so enjoyable that I forgot to take pictures. It was nice to catch up with everyone and to see people I hadn't seen in a long time.  I can't believe I forgot to take pictures.  Here is the only one I got!

It was a beautiful wedding and we so enjoyed getting to share in their special day.

On Sunday morning we got up and headed back home.  On our way we passed by Lake Jennings, of course I had to take a picture.  Funny on the times before we went to San Diego I never noticed, now all of us spotted it.  

San Diego always seems to bless us with grand memories, and great get-a-ways.  We hope to be back soon.

Until next time,

Angie

Happy Halloween!

Last Thursday we celebrated Halloween!  As usual lately, we didn't decide what the big kids were going to be until about 20 minutes after we were supposed  to leave to go trick or treating.  #howwerollthesedays

Jennings wasn't feeling very good, his sisters gave him a respiratory virus so poor buddy wasn't in the best  spirits but went along as usual too.

First he was a  pumpkin during the day.

Us girls and Jennings were ready to go!

It was fun to have our friend Trudi and Jim's kids over with us to go trick or treating.  It  was nice  to talk with Jim and our kids loved seeing their kiddos.

The boys feel like they are getting too old to trick or treat, its more about how they look and that it must be cool.  It's a part of the teenage years, I know.  Soon they will be adults like dad and I and care less about looking silly.  Oh and by the way, Jarrett went as an exhausted baseball dad with 5 kids.:-)

Jennings a  few days before Halloween when he felt better.

Gabriel thought Jennings might like to dress up as a baseball player to be like his big brothers.  The hats a bit too big still. :-)

We also decorated pumpkins this year, only markers though.  Mom didn't have the energy to carve them or even bring out the paint.  Here's Gabe showing off his artistic energy. 

It took a lot of effort. :-)

Yep,  he took it very serious as you can see.

Michael too!

And even the girls. 

It was fun, an easy pick up and a nice time spent as a family. 

It was a fun Halloween!  Especially thankful this little giraffe was with us this year.

Until next time

Angie

Gabe's 14th birthday.

Today we get to celebrate our tenth birthday with Gabe as begins his 14th year. It’s crazy to think how fast these last years have gone and how I blinked and our smiley, silly and sports loving little boy has grown into a smiley, still silly and sports loving handsome young man. These teenage years are teaching us all some new things but we are so proud of the young man he is becoming. From watching him play with his younger siblings, to observing him pray each morning to himself before he eats and how kind he can be to others. He’d be the first to tell you we expect a lot of of him and sometimes he thinks it’s unfair, but it’s only because we want him to be his best.

So grown up, I feel like I"m looking at a senior picture, not his 14th birthday picture.

Isn't he so cute in this one?  This will always be one of my favorite pictures from when he was a young boy.  Such a sweet and genuine smile.

He doesn't like this picture but I think its crazy how much he's grown in just a few years.

This is when he was going into 6th grade.  He was growing so much that summer.

And just last November (2018)... starting to look like a man.

This one is my absolute favorite... he looks like a toddler still to me in this one.  I remember when he came home to us, his hands still had baby fat on them.  So cute.  

And here he was just this summer, meeting his baby brother.  I know Jennings is going to look up to him.  

 Tonight's birthday celebration was very low key, as we technically gave you your birthday present in July when you got to go to California to compete in a baseball tournament and spent a few days on the beach.  So it was pretty low key... you got DQ after school with your birthday buddy Dane, we had your favorite (Orange Chicken) for dinner and you got to play video games.  Then mom forced us to play a family game.

While this birthday wasn't filled with a big party or even a big hoopla, it was one of my favorites spent with you.  I hope you will know that sometimes low key is just as good, if not better.

Gabe, Dad and I are proud of you and hope your 14th year is your best yet. We are so grateful to be your parents, even when you make us crazy 😜. Keep striving for your biggest goals, we will always cheer you on. Love you always.

Mom and Dad

PS:  Don't grow up on us too fast.  See in our eyes you're still the little boy who grabbed my hand and led me around the first time we met.  That little boy who within minutes of meeting said, "this is my mommy."  Yep, you had me from hello... and Gabe you'll always be my little boy, even if you tower over me.  Love you Gabriel.  Always and forever.

Fall break quick trip

Here we are at the end of October and I haven't had time to blog once this entire month.

During the first weekend in October, when the kids started fall break, we snuck away for a quick trip to Tucson to show the kids Biosphere II, dear friends Dick and Brita and have fun at a resort.  Little did we know our lives were going to flip upside down when Jennings got incredibly sick (that post I'm still working on), but while we were there we had fun.

And we've decided we've maxed out a hotel room..... this time Gabe slept on the floor in the closet, Michael underneath the table (because how dare we ask them to sleep in the same queen bed together) so the girls got a bed and Dad got his own bed. It all worked out.

Here are some of the pictures from our quick trip.
We started off at the Biosphere 2...super cool and fun place to visit!

Then we got to have lunch with our dear friends from Iowa, the Ream's.  We wish we got to see them more often but cherish the times we do get to spend.

and then it was off to the resort to spend some time.  It was Jennings' first time in a hotel.  7 of us in a cramped room, I'm sure he was thinking... "why didn't we just stay home."  

Gabe wouldn't be in the picture with us, he's too embarrassed by us.  You know, teenagers.

Dad was excited to get away from work for a bit. Sadly getting away from home is the only way to escape work.

 Then we went to the pool... the views were incredible from our room.  The resort had at least 4 pools most of which we could see from our room.  So pretty.

Madelyn was having a blast.

Jennings thought it was a great place to rest, although he was definitely on point with his swimming fashion. 

Dad the trooper braved the cooler weather and went in the pool... it was only in the low 100's that day.

Oh Gabe let me take his picture.... 

Then Michael wanted to join in.  

Notice a trend with Gabe?  :-)

I stayed outside the pool by Jennings. 

Crazy to think there is almost 14 years between these two.. I hope that they can become close as the years go by.  I'm sure Jennings will love looking up to his big brothers.

Belle loved the pools, this was the lazy river, she screamed her in her normal happy self, and given that we get up super early and were down in the pool area before 8, some of the guests didn't like her joyful noise.  She was shouted at to be quiet.  She said, "Geez mom, they aren't very friendly, don't they know the sun's been up for at least an hour, its definitely time to wake up."  No sleeping in at our house.

Peaceful baby... little did we know he wasn't feeling that great and less than 4 hours from when this picture was taken, we'd be in the ER and he'd be getting ready to go in for emergency surgery.  Love this little guy so much

I finally did get in the water after much convincing.  It was fun

While our fall break "vacation" was technically only about 24 hours, it was so so good to get away and to have some fun as our family of 7!

Until next time,

Angie