4th of July Festivities - Part 2

After the annual parade we made our way home so we could shower off all the sweat, change and get things together for part two of our fun day.  We headed to Uncle Matt's house for a BBQ with Rana, Adrina and my parents - Rana's Dad and friends also joined us.

Drew managed to get a few zzz's before we arrived.  I can't believe how much he takes after his Daddy in the snoring department!



Once we arrived at Uncle Matt's sure enough Drew woke up and after a few moments was ready to play with Adrina. The two of them went swimming to escape the heat.

They made it into the pool a few times to keep cool.  Even after Arco (Matt's former K9 Partner) "christened" the pool. Eh the kids didn't seem to mind.  It's not like they were drinking the water or anything.

Another hit to stay cool... eating popsicles!

Yes they had a little dessert before dinner.  Which I have to say was out of this world.  Marinated flank steak (Rana has an awesome "recipe" she used), corn on the cob, watermelon, and potato salad.

Mr. Picky Eater (aka Drew) won't eat steak, but had a hot dog instead.  Funny thing is apparently he had someone willing to feed him instead of doing it himself.

For dessert I made something a little festive.

I must confess, it was as good as it looks!

Once it cooled down and the shade moved into Matt's backyard we moved the party outdoors.  Here Drew is looking at his beloved "purple flowers".  A favorite of his since last year!

Once it was dark it was time for the real fun - fireworks!  OK so I have to admit, fireworks in our county were illegal, however we purchased them in a legal county.  But when your brother is a cop and he okays fireworks, then I think we're safe.

Drew and Adrina were happily playing with the snappers (perfectly legal I may add).

Then it was the real fun - fireworks in the street.  Luckily there was someone else setting off really cool (and illegal) fireworks in the sky.  Matt's city did fireworks the day before - rather than on the 4th.  Drew anxiously waited for all the fun.

The pictures I took of our firework spectacle didn't turn out well... so here's a final picture of Drew doing the "sparklers".  Did you know they don't call them sparklers anymore?  Geesh.

4th of July Festivities - Part 1

What a great weekend filled with friends and family - covering a good chunk of the East Bay.  We started out on Sunday morning at the annual Danville Parade.  This year our group was smaller, only Ms. Stephanie's family and ours.  We met up at a friend's house - who graciously let us park in her driveway while they're vacationing.

Yes this would be our future President....

With the Nebjibs, we did the wagon brigade to the chairs I'd "reserved" along the parade route.  There we watched the spectacular which of course heated up as did the temperatures!  Here are the pictures from the morning - stretching to the afternoon.

Here are the Nejibs - Brian, Troy, Ms Stephanie, and Mason.

Here's the kids waiting for the parade to begin.

And then with the wail of the sirens from the police cars and motorcycles - the parade begins!

Here are a few of the parade entries from this year...

Now here are some candids of all of us....

Since we're getting rather photo heavy I'll share part two of our day tomorrow! 

Take Me to the Fair

On Thursday night after work I decided I wasn't much in the mood to cook so I had this brilliant idea that we'd hit up the Alameda County Fair.  We managed to get in the door for $24 - tickets for Dave and I and then parking (that's our cost after the discount coupons).  Thankfully Drew is free!

We then found some discarded food coupons - score!  So we walked around to stake out our food options and figure out what sounded best.  Drew wanted pizza... Daddy wanted corn dogs and well Mama just wanted to eat!  So Dave found his corn dog and Drew and I had pizza.

 After eating all Drew wanted to do was hit the rides.  So we caved and dropped another chunk of change for the ride tickets.  Dave and I were counting on having to ride on them with Drew as he's never done them by himself and was barely meeting the height requirement on most everything.

We started small - the boats.  Dave had to give Drew a little lesson on how to steer and ring the bell.

So Drew was left alone on the little ride - comforted with the fact he was in the "Nemo" boat.

Turns out he loved it!  Just look at his excitement.

So then our little ride enthusiast was feeling pretty sure of himself and was ready to tackle the train.  And was OK when Daddy didn't join him on the ride.

It turns out the only ride he needed anyone to accompany him on, was the carousel.

My brave boy apparently doesn't have the problems with the spinning rides - the way his Mama does.

Our little adventurer did amazingly well on the rides and the entire fair in general!  There was absolutely zero whining when the tickets ran out and it was time to make our way toward the exhibits and for me to do a little shopping.

We finally left the fair at 10pm - well after Drew's bedtime.  Dave and I couldn't believe how well he held up and what a great kid he was.  Pair that up with the fact we beat the holiday crowds and heat... we were pretty darn excited about our whole fair experience!

Drew barely made it out of the parking lot before he zonked out for the remainder of the car ride home.  We may have spent a small fortune, but we seriously had the best time - all because I was lazy and didn't want to cook!

Happy 4th of July

We want to wish all of you a wonderful, safe and pleasant 4th of July holiday.  This morning we are watching the annual Danville Parade - we "camped" out yesterday for about 2 hours to hold our little piece of "real estate".  This happens to be the same place we've called home for the 4th of July for the past 4 years.

Camping out this year I had some company - Dave and Drew braved the warm temperatures.

Enjoy the long holiday weekend and we hope you all manage to stay cool.

Scrapbook Saturday - The Big Easy

One of the joys of my job - I get to travel to places I've always wanted to see but haven't had the chance.  This page was from my work trip to New Orleans less than a year after Katrina hit.

Taking Mardi Gras colors - purple, green and yellow, I put this together.  I matted all the photos with black cardstock.  Then I used some New Orleans Embellishments I'd picked up when a local scrapbook store was going out of business.  So they were ridiculously inexpensive.

I added a few eyelets pertaining to boozing and some purple brads to hold down the date Lisa and I were in New Orleans.  For the record we were drinking after hours!

If You Give Drew a Cupcake

If you give Drew a cupcake...

then he'd lick the frosting.

After Drew licked all the frosting, then he'd realize he "finished" the cupcake.

After he finished the cupcake, he'd want another.

The moral of this story... Drew will eat all of the chocolate but refuse the cake.  I wonder if he was switched at birth, because neither Dave or I will refuse a cupcake dessert (that is unless we're watching our waistline).

Another "New" Ballpark Off the List

I think we used this business trip of mine to Washington, DC to the max.  When I first mentioned to Dave that my boss was willing to fly him to DC and keep me company, the first thing out of his mouth was: "Are the Nationals in town?"

I of course being the wife I am and knowing the man I married, had already researched this before even calling him to ask if he wanted to come.  No the Nationals weren't in town, however they were playing in Baltimore.  Not far away.

Camden Yards you say?  Oh like Dave would pass up that opportunity!  So he trekked all the way to DC for the sole purpose of seeing a new baseball stadium.  Sure the sightseeing was a perk, and if he had to spend time with me... well I guess he could be persuaded. 

Dave braved the 2 hour ride there (more like 3 hours back) via public transportation to catch an Oriole's game at the famous stadium. The direct route only operates Monday through Friday, which would've cut his trip in half.

That was his view after he stepped off the Light Rail.  Dave was in heaven.  He stopped to take a few pictures at the various things outside the stadium.  Turns out the people he had take the photos weren't very good with a point and shoot camera - most of the pictures weren't in focus.

Dave was really excited to see the where the furthest ball ever hit at Camden Yards was hit by none other than Ken Griffey Jr.

Then Dave made his way into the stadium to try and catch a few batting practice balls.  He was quite proud of his Ironman Mask he wore in honor of the "Ironman" Cal Ripkin (he's also wearing his jersey).  Again he managed to find someone else who couldn't snap an in-focus picture with a point and shoot camera.

Apparently he was a hit with all the nearby fans, but it was so hot and humid that day he couldn't wear it for more than the Orioles at bats.  He did wear it so much though he snapped the band on the mask.  Perhaps it was the big head of his?

The seats of his weren't bad either!  Of course he didn't have a hard time getting tickets.  It's not like the Orioles are doing all that well this year. 

I think the "new" ballpark was a hit for this baseball nut.

The Orioles pulled off a win on Sunday - beating the Nationals 4-3.  He also missed seeing the new sensation pitching sensation, Stephen Strasbug pitch by one day.  You know that stadium would have been packed if he pitched on Sunday.  Oh well.

This was one stadium this fan surely won't ever forget.