San Fran with the Nana's

I was able to take 1/2 days from work for most of the week my nana was visiting, which was great. I was able to accomplish some work and still spend a lot of time with my nana who I love and wish I could see her more often. One of the days we went to San Fran. It was supposed to be cool but sunny. The weather man was wrong. It was cold and cloudy. But we had a great time anyways. We went to the Japanese Tea Gardens for tea. We also went to Bakers beach to get a family picture, but the bridge is not seen well because of the clouds. We topped the day off with dinner at the Olive Garden (A tradition of sorts when Nana comes to visit). It was a lot of fun. I was not too thrilled about going to the beach after seeing this sign, but at least it was too cold to consider wading.
Paige and her Papa

Three nana's and their grandchildren

The Pidgeon clan

Paige and her KK

The fun I missed

When I went to work on Tuesday, most of the family went to Kline Wineries in Sonora. They had a great time. I know Justin loved the Olive Oil tasting more than the wine tasting. He also discovered the wine he likes, Shiraz.

Celebrating Birthdays at the Beach

Nana & my Aunt Kathy came to visit just in time for the shared birthdays of Nana & Chelsie. Together they turned 100 this year so we took them to their favorite spot, the beach, for a fun day and a bonfire at night. Paige did great! And she loved the beach. I did not think we were going to get her to leave. We had a long day of hanging out, had some great dinner and a fire. The roudy teenagers next to us got kicked out for drinking which was quite entertaining. Overall it was a fun day.

Family Bike Rides

We decided to spend some of the money we have left from our wedding and buy a bike & bike trailer so we can have something to do when we don't want to spend money. And it is good excercise too. Sorry- no pics of the trailer- but isn't my bike pretty.

Our new pool

On one of the really hot days we had a couple of weeks ago I went to set-up the froggy kiddie pool. It was really dirty and the shade cover did not work so well anymore. Plus it is kind of boring. So I ran to Wal-Mart and bought a new kiddie pool. This one has two pools, a slide and a pink dolphin that squirts at you. We are moving up in the world.

5 Years and counting

Today (7/18) is our 5 year wedding anniversary. One one hand it feels like time has flown by and it is hard to believe we have been married this long. On the other hand I feel like we have been married for way longer. We have been friends for over 15 years now and have been together as a couple for almost 8 years. I can say that it isn't always easy, but I am glad that we are together. I see some of my single friends and know that I am glad that I have found someone who loves me for who I am. We are such opposites that sometimes it is hard to believe that we are together, but we manage to make it work.

Originally for our 5 year we were going to go away for a week (in May so I wouldn't be gone at fiscal year end again). We had looked at St. Lucia, Antigua and Punta Cana. We were going to leave Paige with my parents and sit on a beach somewhere (Me with my book and Justin snorkeling). It was going to be amazing and much needed rest. But late last year we began to realize that dream was unrealistic this year. The economy has changed our lives recently.

So instead, I started looking for things that would be closer and less expensive. And we decided that going on a zip line would be it. Turning 30 has made me realize I need to get out there and enjoy life a little more. Just because I am a mom and a wife doesn't mean I should be secluded in my house every day. I was nervous, having never experienced anything like this, but I figured it would be safer than skydiving or bungee jumping and I knew Justin would love it.

Paige stayed the night at my mom's last night and we ended up bombing our house for fleas so it was not that romantic. We got to sleep in until 7am and were out the door by 8:30. It took us about 2 hours to get to Moaning Caverns near Angels Camp. It was a nice drive with no traffic. Justin put on a movie and I listened while we drove. We paid our money for our first zip deciding that we would try it once before buying more trips. We had to wait about 15 minutes before gear was ready. The put on all of the safety gear and a jeep drove us up to the tower. It was around 11am and already very hot outside.

When we got up to the tower we had to walk across a not so safe looking bridge to the tower that was a little shaky as well. This is when I started getting a little nervous. We watched the first pair go and that was not too bad. Then the next people came up and one of the girls was petrified and could not do it. I was just hoping I would not chicken out when they hooked me to the line. She did not go, but her two friends loved it.

So, now it was our turn. The guy hooked me to the line and the tension was so tight I could barely reach the ground. I thought I was going to go before I was ready. Luckily they have a safety line that stops you. The tested the equipment and I am literally shaking at this point. But I was determined to do it. They took the safety line off and told me to lift my legs up on the count of three. I was not sure I was going to make it to then because my legs were shaking and I could barely touch the ground. They counted and we went. Justin thinks I hesitated, and maybe I did- but I don't remember.

The ride itself was almost peaceful. You go down a 1500 line, but the feeling is not like I expected. I expected the stomach feeling you get on a rollercoaster But it was just free. It almost didn't even feel exciting at that point. Once they got us off the line a van picked us up and took us back to the visitor center. The wait was at 1 1/2 hours to zip again so we ate lunch. Then we went and walked around Angels Camp for a little while. Then we decided to head home. On the way we stopped at Sonic. It was an enjoyable day. I am glad I tried it. Now I am ready to go pick-up my little girl.

Paige's 18 Month Pics

Now that I have finally mailed the pictures out to family and friends, I feel I can finally post these. In the past, I have posted them the day of, but I think that takes away from some of the fun of getting the letter and seeing the pics for the first time. It took a long time to get these ones done, but we made it through and she did pretty good. It is getting harder to get her to stay still, but they do a good job at sears. Pretty soon she will be posing.

Family Time in Auburn

We went to Auburn last week to visit his family from Utah that was visiting. It was really hot but we set-up some water toys and the kids had a great time. Justin is always the best riding toy.

They had a picnic lunch on the patio. It was so cute watching Paige eat with the big kids.

Justins cousin Chris threw the kids down the slip N slide. They had a great time.

Justin is a pumkin farmer

We carved pumpkins in our front yard last October. Apparently a few seeds got into the ground and we ended up with with Pumkins. Only one has really kept growing, but it is a big one..

Girls Weekend In Hermosa Beach

I have always felt that getting away (Even if only for a few hours) of some non mommy time is essential for not burning out. Some people don't agree with me, and some people just have not had the opportunities that I have had. But I have an awesome husband who supports my need for some "me" time. A couple of weekends ago, I boarded a plane with Denise and her friend Stephanie and headed to Hermosa Beach (Near L.A.) for a girls weekend.

First of all, her sister lives about 2 blocks from the beach. I fell in love and was ready to move there. If only work could come with me! The first night was very chill. We caught a late movie and say "The Proposal". I was tired but it was a good movie so I was happy we went to see it. I finally went to bed around 2:30 AM and was able to sleep in until about 9:30 AM. Stephanie & I were sharing a bed in her sister's roomates room and we did not figure out that there were blinds that could be drawn. The room gets very bright in the morning.

We had a fun relaxing beach day on Friday. We got dressed up (more casual this night) and went to have drinks at a cool Tappas (Appetizers) restaurant at the pier close to her apartment. Sarah & Denise went to pick up two more girls around 11PM and Stephanie & I waited at a local club called Sangria. It was a little boring until the other girls arrived. Then we had a lot of fun dancing the night away. I did not appreciate the big black guy stepping on my ankle but at least he did not break it.

Saturday was another fun beach day. Sarah made some fun "adult" snowcones and we had a lot of fun playing on the beach. A few of us went for a walk on the beach which was beautiful. We played in the ocean and played bacci ball. It was a fun day. That night, we went to a Burlesque club. It was different, but was fun too. Not really my scene but I know the girls had a great time. I left a little early because I was not feeling too well, and a couple of us went back to the apartment and headed to bed early (if 1:30 is early)!

Sunday we went to church, and then had lunch at a friend of her sister's. We went to a local street fair where we found a great wine glass to give to Sarah as a Thank-you for letting us stay at her place and entertaining us. Overall it was a great weekend.

There were some highlights of the trip that I did not mention above. I got up before everyone else in the morning so both weekend mornings I took the beach cruiser out for a bike ride along the strand. The strand is a bike path along the beach and it was gorgeous every morning. I loved it. Also, Sarah has an electric skateboard, and I actually got on it. I was a little slower than everyone else, but I rode it and had a great time.

When I would call Justin he would say, "What did you do with my wife?". I did a lot of fun things that I do not do on a regular basis. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the weekend.

This was the first few of us before we went on on Friday Night.
This was the view from the beach. Million dollar homes!

Two girls (Denise & Stephanie in this case) ridign an electric skateboard like this always gets attention.

Sarah with the wine glass we bought her.

Me riding the skateboard (I stole it from Rachels facebook which is why it is so small)

All of us before going out on Saturday night.

The Poopdeck bar was the "Official home of the Red Sox and Patriots". I kept wanting to go there, but no one would come with me.

Four of us at the Tappas Bar.

Sarah did my hair on Saturday night. You can't really tell in this picture but I have a feather in my hair!