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!

Guy's Weekend

It's a big year for my parents, my Dad especially - in June he retired and then a couple weeks later it was Father's Day (he's also coming upon his 60th birthday and 40th Wedding Anniversary).  So for his retirement/Father's Day gift, we gave him his dream trip to Dodger Stadium.

Not long after meeting Dave about 14 years ago, and learning he was a Dodger Fan, my Dad has wanted to visit Dodger Stadium.  He'd never been.  So that's what he did with Dave and my brother in tow.  They met up with Dave's Dad as well for a true guy's weekend.

Well it was quite the party... Dave and my Dad drove down on Friday and checked into the Embassy Suites just in time for the free "happy hour".  Then David (aka Tata) met up with the boys.  The reports of what happened next are a little "fuzzy" so I take it it was one of those nights where boys will be boys.

The next morning Dave and my Dad awoke and met my brother Matt at the airport (he had a wedding the night before) and then they set out for the ball game.  They decided to play it smart and take cabs everywhere they went - aka a paid DD.

I think this has to be the "happiest place on earth" for Dave.  So I'm posting pictures found on the camera - because girls weren't invited, but I get to post the blog, I am taking some liberties at posting...

Found a picture of Andre Ethier... a former Sun Devil....

The view from their seats...

My Dad was in 7th heaven.  He's still talking about the trip a month and a half later.  And it was also obvious how much fun he was having with all the texts he was sending to me and probably half the people in his contact list.   The whole family was "lectured' by Grammy about how GrampC went over his text minutes so texting was off limits for a few weeks...

Happy GrampC and Uncle Matt

Two of the 3 "its"... GrampC and Tata (the 3rd "it"is Grandpa who was in New York)

I received a crapload of texts from everyone with pictures, but I apparently deleted them all - but here is GrampC on the drive back home at Tommy's.  It's a chili burger fast food restaurant that is Dave's "staple" when visiting LA.  Dave had to take GrampC to his first Tommy's experience.  Let's just say I am happy I wasn't in the car for the remainder of that trip...

 

While the boys were away, Drew and I enjoyed some time "house sitting" at  Grammy and GrampC's house.  Grammy was back in Minnesota for a family reunion.  It is really tough house sitting at Camp Grammy's....

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Avery Arrives!

On Thursday night we got the text that Matt's wife, Rana was going to have a baby!  And little Avery Joy made her appearance shortly before 11am on Friday weighing in at 7lbs and 19 inches long.  It was all I could do to focus at work before leaving to get Drew and Dave to head over to the hospital and give her our first cuddles.

We asked Drew what he though of his new cousin - yes, Drew's the only boy among a sea of girls - and he said "She's cute" in a shy quiet voice.  I think he was intimidated, but liked what he saw.

And here's Grammy with Avery...

Grammy and Great-Grandma Geri were at the hospital all night waiting for the big delivery.

Uncle Dave with Avery...

And then his own baby....

I think Drew's grown a little since his infant days!

GrampC with his 4th grandchild.

And GG with her 8th (I think I counted right) great-grandchild.

And Rana's Mom Jan - a.k.a. Granny.

Have you seen a prouder Daddy?  Tough guy Matt melts with a baby girl in his arms. 

He actually begged to sniper the baby away from whomever had her.  Quite the change from the day Drew was born and we forced him into Matt's arms.  That's what time and your own child will do for ya.

And the family photo... awwww

Welcome to the family little Avery!

At Rana's shower everyone was asked to guess the day she'd come, the weight, height, and hair color.  no one guessed the day,  but Nancy C. picked the 7th, Grammy Kathie picked the 9th - Avery arrived on the 8th.  Nancy guessed the weight at 7lbs, 19 1/2"... gotta say that's pretty much spot on if you're going for the tie.  Grammy picked 6lbs 15 oz, and 20 3/4".   I tried to get Rana to cross her legs until the 12th - the day I picked, but Avery had other plans.  Her Auntie will remember that.... ;)

Merry Christmas - 2012

It's the New Year so let's talk about Christmas... Better late than never right?

This year Drew was sooo excited - I think he was more excited about what would happen to his Elf Doodle.  As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago we set up a "hidden camera" to catch Santa and Doodle.  Drew woke up first thing in the morning and went to the video camera. 

Here was that Santa Video if you missed it.

After watching the video on the camera, it was time to get down to business... presents!!  First of course was from Santa...

He was pretty excited to see not one, but two light sabers.  You know because Daddy needs one too cause he always wanted one so Drew has someone to battle.

This is a book he got from my coworker - he's so excited to read it at night (we're reading chapter books at bedtime).

We didn't take as many pictures this year, it was more fun just enjoying our time together and opening gifts.  Of course we had to do our annual bury-Drew-in-the-wrapping-paper-and-take-a-picture photo.  We've done this to him since he was born!

Christmas Day we went over to Grammy and GrampC's and hung out with the family.  Uncle Matt had a wild hair and decided to do a polar plunge in the pool - and we caught the whole thing on video.

Yeah Uncle Matt is crazy.  He would've had a partner, but Dave has been sick (found out the next morning he has bronchitis... which adds yet another disease to our household in the past few months).

After the crazy stunt it was time to get down to business.  Before opening gifts this year, my mom wanted to restore an old tradition dating back before me... and we read the Christmas story.  Well actually Adrina and Drew read the Christmas Story from the Bible.

And then the youngest person in the family (Drew) puts baby Jesus in the Manger.

Afterward we opened presents what felt like for hours.  We all made out well but mostly enjoyed our family time.