Happy 1st Birthdays Ella & Zoey!

Sierra's cousin Eleanor threw a fantastic first birthday for her girls, Ella and Zoey, last weekend in Oxnard. We are so fortunate to live close enough to visit them as much as we do. The kids have a special love for each other and it's always fun to see the little girls together. Jackson seems to have a closer bond with Zoey. He just loves squeezing and kissing her. 

Mariola with Zoey.

the most generous goody bags ever!

cousin Shawn with Ella

Noah and Daddy Sid

Riley wasn't the center of attention...she wasn't happy about that...

Zoey Rose

Ella Rose

Riley didn't take a bite but loved looking at the cupcake.

Party Planner Extraordinaire Eleanor with her beauties. 

Jackson loves cake!

Riley isn't impressed by these cousins. Ha!

Jackson covers Zoey's eyes so she doesn't get jealous. 

Grandpa Terry knows how to make Riley smiley!

Happy first birthday (today), Ella and Zoey! May your toddler years be easy on your Mommy and Daddy! 

Gram's 65th Birthday Celebration!

We were in Ventura over the weekend celebrating Gram Roni, who turned the big 65! We planned a BBQ picnic at the Mandalay Beach Park which was perfect--the kids had so much fun on the playground and running around, as did the adults. Gram was SO happy to see her family and friends come together, share stories, laughs, and cupcakes.

Noah, Terry, Orion, Jackson, Amber, Riley, Sierra, Don,
Ella, Roni, Eleanor, Sid, Zoey, and Laura

Gram and Grandpa raised three handsome boys...
Pender thinks he's one of them!

I made this book to capture her special party day--her birthday is "officially today," as Jackson would say.  Happy birthday, Gram! We love you!

Click here to view this photo book larger

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Auntie Jane Meets the Kids!

Aunt Jane and Jackson

Daddy, Jack, Grandpa, and Uncle Noah

Two weekends ago we were in Ventura because Sierra's sister, Jane, and her husband, David, were visiting from England. They were last in the U.S. five years ago for Orion and Mariola's wedding in Lake Tahoe (and I was newly pregnant with Jackson).

Santa Barbara -- Aunt Mariola & Uncle Orion 

Riley, Mama, and Gram

Aunt Jane

Uncle Noah, Aunt Laura, Gram, & Grandpa (he celebrated his 71st birthday)

We stayed at a Marriott Residence Inn and you would have thought it was a five star resort the way Jackson was talking: "I have my own TV in my room!" That weekend Terry made a delicious English dinner and the kids stayed up way too late only to wake at their usual 6ish a.m. the next day. After naps we went to the pier in Santa Barbara with the family followed by dinner at Noah and Laura's. On Sunday after checking out of the Ritz Marriott, we spent some time with cousins Ella and Zoey and then back to Gram and Grandpa's before heading home.

The girls play

Ella looks like Riley, right?!

Jackson over the last few days really seems to be maturing into a "young lad" as Auntie Jane would say. We were fortunate to then have Jane and David with us for a few days. I was really worried that Jackson would copy everything she said but about two weeks ago I noticed his copying-everyone-annoying-behavior start to fade. Thank goodness that phase is just about over. So he just copied her cute English sayings like "perfect!" As well as "popsie" for Riley and "darling" for me.

First time carrying Riley on my back.
 Of course Jackson realized he could be carried as well!

 While Jane and David were with us last weekend we visited Mt. Soledad (Jackson napped in the car), walked LJ Cove and downtown LJ, went to Old Town for drinks and downtown for dinner with Uncle Clint and Aunt Angela, and had lunch at Jackson's favorite--Greek.

La Jolla Cove

Mt. Soledad

We would love to visit them and see Europe as well but think it's best to wait until both kids will have the memories and their own seats for the 11-12 hour flight. We miss them already! Cheerio!