Memorial weekend in Carlsbad!

We headed down to our favorite vacation place for the long weekend and got the best beach weather!!  First walk to the beach of the weekend....

The crew.

Hey, look, sand crabs!!

So it looks like the beach was empty, but it was very crowded and the best surfing and people watching. 

Good supplies at San Diego Costco.

7:30am Sunday morning, the Carlsbad tidepools with me, Mace & Luke.  We could have spent hours there on that beautiful morning.

Where to look first...?

A sea star......

And a very gross sea slug were our biggest finds.

I never get pics with my boys so when some nice person offered to take one, I couldn't pass it up!!  Look at the beautiful ocean morning sky!

What's a trip to the beach without burying some boys??

Skateboard action with Johnny.

Racing down the hill!

And one month later, we found Yummy and Fetcher in the mini van of all places....Luke has had an ear to ear smile since that moment and had given them so many snuggles and sniffs.  He is a happy boy.

A try at paddleboarding.

A bonfire in their lovely backyard.

And boogie boarding, all things that make up a wonderful weekend with great friends in Carlsbad.

Playing in the neighbors yard while the chickens were running loose.  Fun times. 

Thanks Kerri, Niko and Roman for another perfect C-Bad weekend.  Love you!

Crushers and an award

On Friday we had the last game of the season for Luke and Mason and their team, the Crush.  They were more into it this year and loved that Daddy coached.

Best Buds.

On Sunday we had their team party at one of the teammates houses and had a bbq and they got their trophies.  Their favorite part!!

Luke, Mace and Coach Manny.  (Daddy missed the party due to Ty's championship game, more on that later)

The Crushers.

Swimming with Auto, our neighbor and apparently a really good pool toy.

Friday Ty got the Reader of the Month award at school.  Eric got a sub for a bit to go see, he was so surprised and excited!

Way to go Ty!!

64 hours in Chicago

This past weekend I went to Chicago to see my college roommate Monika get married.  Jill sent me some of her pictures, this is Jill and I at the the reception.

Monika married Bobby, a perfect fit for both of them, married at Old Saint Mary's Church in the south Loop, a beautiful wedding on a beautiful day.

Jill, Jill and me.  Love them.

In the cab, wedding ready.  I had such a great time staying with Jill, as always.  Dinner Thursday night at Cafe BaBaReba, getting pretty and the wedding on Friday, shopping, margaritas and a movie on Saturday.  Wonderful weekend. 

The Chicago Bean.  We had some time between the wedding and reception so 8 of us headed to a bar right below the bean for some in-between time.  A perfect day in the city.

The reception was on the 80th floor at the Mid-America Club downtown with perfect views heading south.  I loved the view and took pictures of the changing city lights.  I love Buckingham Fountain. 

A bit out of order but waiting for me when I got into the airport were 3 very handsome young boys with a beautiful bunch of flowers and lots of hugs and kisses.....and a few 'what did you get us????'

Jill, Katie, Jill, me & Julie at the Park Grill in-between the fun.  

I have to end by saying I love these girls so much and I don't get to see them enough, a weekend just makes me miss them that much more.  Thanks to my wonderful husband for taking great care of my boys and making a fantastic reception for me to come home to.  I am blessed in so many ways by my family and the friends I have made.  

A surprise, a party and yes, more baseball

Tasha celebrated her 40th on the 3rd and a few of us were at her mom's for dinner and for the surprise arrival of her dad and brother who flew in for her birthday.  It was one of the best surprises I have ever seen!!! 

Saturday morning the boys woke up full of  projects to do, the first one a volcano.  So Mace and Ty took turns painting the foundation.  I love when they work so well together. 

That afternoon I took the boys to Big League of Dreams to see Peyton's game and for some batting practice. 

Then off to the movies with my parents.

Tash and Zolt had a joint birthday/Cinco de Mayo party and it was one of their best.  Good friends and good times. 

Mack & Eric

Me & Vern

Jules, me & Niko

Us

Me, Tash & Jules

Just another day of dress up fun for Luke.  He has a rare imagination and the funniest sense of humor. 

Baseball game tonight, they beat a team that has only lost one time before, and Ty got the game ball!!  He did awesome, he got a double, single and stole 5 bases to score twice.  A great game to watch, go buddy!!!

One more from the birthday!  Trying to distract Tash as her dad walked in the back gate.