Weekend Festivities ~
Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful...

That is seriously the only word that comes to mind when I think of our wonderful weekend! A weekend full of festivities is seriously the best way to describe it...it was ridiculously busy, but wonderfully busy!

We arrived Thursday late afternoon to my parents house and had a GREAT long weekend getting to see the family, my childhood friends, family friends and more family! Ever since I moved out of my parents house when I was 18 we have always celebrated all the summer birthdays over Labor Day weekend! We arrived just in time to celebrate my Mom's birthday & my parents 32nd Anniversary!! We kept the evening super mellow since Jess has to get up at the crack of dawn for his exam. Friday started off a bit intense as Jesse had his 3rd CPA Exam...we will know results shortly. He was up just before 5am to get prepared...Braden & I decided to join him as Braden's schedule was a bit off at this point. I know he did great though & I am so excited for this CPA stuff to shortly be behind us! Braden & I hung out with my Mom (AKA Grandma!), we swam and just relaxed the entire day. It was wonderful and Braden was able to get a little more acclimated from the day of traveling the day prior. That evening we had din-din with Jesse's family...the aunts & uncles and a few cousins finally got to meet the little man. Braden was a champ for being in the heat and not getting his normal nap in that day. We also got to see Jesse's Grandpa who we just love. As soon as we got back to my parents house my brother had arrived just minutes before with a few of his friends and Braden was the life of the party! We tried to put him down at his normal time, but he was just laughing away when I tried to feed him and put him down...he wanted to hang out...our lil social butterfly!Vicki meets Braden!
Cousin Pam meets Braden!

Some things NEVER change...

Kailey & Braden...our kiddos together...a dream we've had forever!
Saturday Holly, my absolute best girlfriend in the entire world, came over with her daughter to meet Braden and for us to be able to catch up. Holly is someone that holds an enormous part of my heart which can never be replaced. We are pretty much sisters...besides the biological part! Ever since we were young we were inseparable! She would either be at my house or I would be at hers...we were together 24/7! We had the best time together, we have many great memories. And now that I have a child it makes it fun to experience parenthood together! She is an amazing woman and Mom. It was long overdue to hang out and catch up. It was so awesome being with someone that truly knows everything about you. After Hols & Kailey left we rushed to get things ready for some close family friends to come over, Jeff & Diane. They hadn't had a chance to meet Braden yet either so this was great for them to get to meet him! He was a little sleepy, but all in all he did great considering his busy schedule! Diane introduced me to a new drink I now love ~ Bay Breeze! I had never had it ...or at least not to my knowledge and I absolutely loved it!
Braden meets Diane!

friends forever...

Sunday, the boys woke up early & hit the golf course while my wonderful Mom helped me get Braden all ready and get the house all ready for another round of my girlfriends. It was wonderful getting to see them all again. Jesse & I are always the youngest in our groups of friends...I suppose that has something to do with getting married so young, but our friends always ask when our high school friends are going to get married, etc...well Dec. 2007 & 2008 was the year for 3 of my girls to get married, however I missed every single one of their weddings and I was soooooooooo bummed! Jenn, got married Dec. 23...so needless to say that one was a difficult one for us as we live 4 hours from the wedding site and were unable to re-adjust holiday plans. Rachel, got married January 26th and we were all ready to go...prego belly and all and then this nasty storm hit the coast and we didn't feel it would be safe to be traveling in those conditions while being 4 months prego...so we were sad to have to miss that one. We actually had the car all packed, Kona in the car and we had planned to leave after work a few days prior to the wedding, but sure enough we had to turn around and go home. We were bummed. Tasha, got married June 7...3 days after the birth of our sweet baby Braden. When she asked me to be in her wedding I originally told her we may be prego, but of course I'd LOVE to be in her wedding! Well, sure enough we got prego and we were due originally only days before her wedding...thankfully it's Tasha and she is one of the most unselfish people I know and she just wanted the best for our family and didn't put any pressure on us. She was stoked we were prego! I still planned to BE at the wedding, but just didn't happen with a 3 day old...imagine that. It was wonderful to see all the girls again! It's so neat seeing each of us grow up and become "adults" :) and just being able to pick up where we left off...I love that. They all got a kick out of Braden and were amazed at how good he is! He fell asleep on my girlfriend Amy...she's got the touch! Tai even got a kick out of Braden and she normally isn't one for babies! She was so cute as she just wanted to hold him, practically the whole time! I think she discovered her maternal instincts :) The boys got home, the girls left soon after and then we had our family time. My brother, sis, grandma & everyone else was there just to hang out and have dinner together. It was great.
Braden just absolutely adores his Auntie B...and she adores him!

Monday...my Mom and I were quick to get up and get ready to get some shopping in before we left. I got showered, dried my hair, fed the lil man and then we were out the door! That is just a necessity when we go south ~ I have to get shopping in and it is only complete when my Mom is with me! We were determined to get as much shopping time in as possible...but naturally we just didn't have long enough. We will have Carmel soon though, and no shopping compares to that! Braden did the biggest poop I think he's EVER done while I was out shopping ~ so Jess conquered being Super Dad! Not only did Braden manage to get it all over himself, but all over Jesse too...and then Jess put him in the bath & cleaned up the lil dude! My brother got a kick out of all the poop ~ I don't think he realized that something so small could do that! My dad had forgotten how bad the "explosions" could get! :)

Then...the "See You Soon" was in order as we got ready to leave and head home...my Mom & I refuse to say "Goodbye", we have banned it from our vocabulary!

On our way home we got to say hi to see Jesse's Dad and step family. It was great to see them, we hadn't seen them in while. They were so excited to see him!! Braden was once again all smiles & all happy!

Then...we were home. Braden was a CHAMP for being such an amazing traveler and being such a happy little guy when meeting so many people!!

Many thanks to Mom & Dad for all the entertaining, wonderful meals, etc.
You guys are awesome and we thank you for everything!
xoxo