Concert Road Trip

In September for my parent's birthday I treated them to a concert at a nearby casino (well a road trip away).   Martina McBride! 

I heard on the radio she was playing at a couple of local venues and I really wanted to go - Dave is so not a Country Music fan and wouldn't appreciate her voice.  My next option - my parents.  And Low & Behold - it was also their birthdays.  We left plenty early that Friday night hoping to beat the traffic and we did for the most part. 

The family selfie


And boy can that woman sing!  We didn't get the best seats in the house, but we had great bleacher seats (first come first serve).





We stayed the night at a nearby hotel and Dad was having some stomach issues, and I apparently got food poisoning at breakfast that morning and was sick the whole way home.  My mom had a car full of sick annoying concert goers.   Well at least we had a great night!

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Beach Wedding

It took for a cousin from Minnesota to get married for us to attend our first beach wedding.  While it was a destination wedding for them - Minnesota to California - it was a 2 hour drive and an overnight stay for us.  And memories to last a lifetime!

At the end of June, here was the ceremony location - Asilomar State Beach

Cutie before the ceremony

Daddy & Drew

Family Photo Courtesy Jodi

After an amazing ceremony we shuttled back to the reception site in Pacific Grove (Monterey).

The Sisters
L-R: Aunt Ardy, Aunt Connie, Grandma Geri

 And then we tried to recreate a family photo from my wedding (more cousins for this one)

Front L-R: Lauren, Grammy Kathie, Me
Back L-R: Katie, Jodi, Grandma Geri, Aunt Connie, Linda (Mother-of-the-Bride), Kristen (Bride), Sandy, Aunt Ardy

My Handsome Guys

Awesome "Guest Book"
Fingerprints with your name on the "leaves"

Daddy & Drew dancing

 It was really special that the Pastor who married my cousin, was also the Pastor who married Dave and I... nine years ago!

Dave, Drew & I with Pastor Karen

The next morning we left Drew with Grammy and GrampC and Dave and I embarked on one of my all-time favorite training runs... through Monterey.

Dave & I at the 1/2 way turnaround
The Dunes

After the run we cleaned up, grabbed breakfast and then ventured down to Cannery Row (Monterey) to check things out.

Drew's first trip to Cannery Row

Bubba Gump with Dave & Drew

Ice Cream on the Brain

We had a wonderful time at the wedding and just staying cool (it was in the 100s at home).  It's always great to have a "family reunion" for a happy reason.

Camping Shenanigans

Memorial Day in our family means a camping getaway.. this year with my side of the family.  Grammy, GrampC, Uncle Matt and his family of four.  We ventured to a new (to us) campground in El Dorado County on the American River - Camp Lotus.  We got out late thanks to some last minute work on my part and then a boatload of traffic, so we made it to the campground close to 9pm.

So the next morning we got things started early.  Breakfast, mimosas and some Catch Phrase (well the kids did without the alcohol).

L-R: Avery & Drew

Matt just found my camera

A little whiffle ball before the days adventures

Bird Invasion

After cleaning up from breakfast we made our way out for a day of wine tasting.  I forgot my camera so all of the pictures are from my cell phone.

The ladies L-R: Grammy Kathie, Auntie Rana, Me

David Girard Winery

The Kids Keeping Cool & Occupied

The Happy Couple

Family Photo

Wine Club Member area

View from the Wine Club Member Area

Gold Hill Winery & Brewery - Adrina & Drew

Miss Avery

Daddy, Drew (and Adrina)

Stop #3, Nello Olivo Winery

 The best thing that happened this trip was when Auntie Rana suckered GrampC into trying the cinnamon challenge.  There was a ramekin of cinnamon near a jug of sangria and it got Rana & GrampC talking about what you could do with it.  Rana dared GrampC to see if he could eat a tablespoon full of cinnamon without drinking anything or coughing it up.  Here's the video of what happened:





Poor GrampC...

Group Photo (no Drew)
L-R: Matt, Rana, Grammy, Avery, Adrina
Back: Dave, Me, GrampC

After a day winetasting we made our way back and found the American River - across the street from our campsite.

Adrina, Drew, Me

Uncle Matt & Avery

While we were on the shore we saw a "rock bar" where we could try and stake claim the next day.  And that's just what we did.  We spent the entire day in the water enjoying the scenery and beverages.

Uncle Matt & Adrina on the Rocks

Matt & I (rafters in the background)

Such tough guys

Adrina & Drew

Uncle Matt, Auntie Rana & Adrina (Avery was napping)

Family Shot

The American River

Battle of the Cold Ones

Random Rock Art

Avery finally woke up from her nap

This was a great campsite that was one of the least expensive to go to.  We'll be back for sure!