strawberry fields forever

This was our first time picking strawberries at Tanaka Farms. It will be a yearly adventure for sure! I think I ate my weight in strawberries.... so good.

munching on the fresh produce with Tana

where are you, strawberries??

delicious.

pro strawberry picker

an interesting pose. I see gymnastics in our future.

inspired.

This girl is incredible. She posted on her blog recently about some things that inspire me... well I should have had Megan Lewis on my inspiration list. We go back to high school days when we tumbled together. I love this pic of us - so young aren't we - this is probably 1992 or so. Thought I would return the favor and post about her: an amazing mom of four girlies. Incredibly creative. Always positive, always supportive, just full of life and family and the goodness in this world. She lives in Utah but I always feel like she is close! Love ya, Meg.

not what I had in mind

We do annual Valentine's pics with Stella's friend Tana. This year was... not productive. Is that a good way to put it? Take a look at this madness. Our whole reason of going was to get a pic of them together... Stella's individual shots were also very entertaining. Melissa (Tana's mom) and I just hope that one day we will be able to laugh at the insane memory of this photo shoot day.

Here's what last year's looked like.

Lauren & Dave

My friend Lauren married her love, Dave, and we were so happy to be there. Lauren and I go way back to high school - we cheered together. In all my excitement I did not take a picture of the two of them. Awesome. But it was such a pretty wedding on a hill overlooking the ocean, and the reception rocked. Lauren, you were so beautiful. Stella had a blast with Ryder & Stella Blue. We love you guys! Congrats!!

Ryder, Stella Blue & Stella Rae

Dipping sugar sticks

we ate this and survived.

My bff Gina was here from Virginia and we pretty much partied for a week. We hit the fair for a concert, then we saw this. Can you believe it exists, leave it to the fair carnie people to create strange foods. It tasted like... chocolate and bacon. Gina added salt on hers, as was recommended. Take it from us: now you don't need to waste $5 trying it.

{ Congrats GinaB on your baby boy!!! We found out while she was here :) }

Jazzi is three!

We had great fun at Chuck E. Cheese for Jasmine's 3rd birthday!

Love you, Jazzi!

sea world with the cousins

Our dear friends the AZ Nelsons met us at Sea World. We let the kiddies run amok. Neither J or I have been in 20+ years, so it was a really fun time. { Though he was in a bad mood about our booth picture (above) - I adore booth pics but J says only bad things happen in dark little curtained-off booths. The picture says it all. I love the lone pigtail }

We also wanted to issue an apology to the nice man who sold us his free passes from his work: you saved us $50! But Jason double-checked with the security guard that they were legit, who promptly asked the nice man to leave. Sorry about that... Here are our adventures:

summer is here!

We hit the pool with our friend/twinner, Emma...

the girlies loved the water playground. Happy summer!

Spring 4.0

Congrats to my dear friend Spring who just graduated from Fullerton with her Masters in Nursing! She will be a Family Nurse Practitioner. She did this while working and taking care of her family and had a 4.0 through the entire program! CSUF didn't recognize this in the ceremony (shame on them!) so here is her public recognition: you are amazing, Spring! Congratulations!!

happy 1st bday, RYDER!

My good friend Lauren threw the cutest safari party for Stella's boyfriend Ryder (a younger man!). He is such a rad kid. We had a blast - they had a pinata (Stella ate the candy right off the ground), Ryder got a cute blue car (Stella was a gift stealer and rode on it), and as we were leaving we couldn't find Stella... oh she was in the backyard, diggin in the dirt like a gopher, dirt in her hair and shoes. Never a dull moment. We were happy to be there and celebrate with the one year old. Yay, Ryder!

sweethearts

This is Stella with her BFF Tana. This shot was going to be sooo cute with them each holding a bear... but Stella NEEDED them both... We may have some sharing issues to work out in the future. Love these funny little girls!

happy valentine's day

xoxo

hey-la, hey-la, my girlfriend's back!!!

My girl is back home in Cali! My best friend Demetra

has been in Baltimore for the last 6 years...

she'll now be working at Long Beach Children's

as a Nurse Practitioner - congratulations!

(And yay for me, I get my friend back!)

This is an old pic but it's all I have.

Here's to many more great memories!

happy day!

Our little friend Adam was adopted today by a good friend of mine!!!

What a cool thing to be a part of. It brought tears to my eyes.

We are so very happy for all of the "Tran Clan,"

and YAY for Adam Michael Tran!!!

Here's a pic of Stella and Adam hanging out.

friends to the end

Meet two of Stella's newest friends...

their moms are two of my dearest friends -

may we have wonderful adventures together raising our kiddos!

Tana Marie & mommy Melissa

Ryder Owen & mommy Lauren