California in October

Back in August we decided we needed a family vacation to see Grandma and Grandpa in California. Joe happened to have a couple days off for fall break, so we added a few more days on, and went for a week of relaxing family time.

Grandma took us to the mall to shop for some Sunday clothes for Brek. We also got him some REAL shoes. 3 pairs actually - a black church pair, a pair of Sketchers, and a cute pair of cowboy boots. He gets very excited when we put his shoes on.

Grandma also treated Brek to a ride on the carousal. Another kid took the tiger, so Brek hopped on the cool looking dragon. He was very excited about it moving up and down this time around.

 

On Saturday we got to go and watch our nieces Heather and Katie play in their soccer games. I should have taken more pictures, especially since I apparently didn't take a single one of Heather. She plays on a really good team, and the team they were playing was finally some decent competition. It was a lot of fun to cheer her on!

On the sidelines, Brek was hanging out and hugging Annalies and Katie. Grandpa even got lucky and snuck a hug in there too.

Sweet Annalies

Brek hugged Katie over and over again.

Giving loves to Grandpa!

lBetween Heather's and Katie's games, we went and had brunch at IHOP. Here are the 2 little ones drinking their orange juice.

I love this picture of me and Anna!

Monday my nieces came over after school and we hung out and played all afternoon and evening. And then on Tuesdays, my mom watches Anna. I love this picture too!

Cousins!

My mom made Brek his Halloween costume. Here he is trying it on before we packed it away for the plane ride.

He knows he's hot stuff!

Showing off his tail.

Thank goodness Grandma can sew so many awesome things!

 We had an awesome time in California. It was very relaxing and low-key, but filled with what is most important - time with our family! Of course I could have enjoyed another day or 2, but we had to come back to reality and real life. Well, Joe had to come back to work. :) But we'll be back for Christmas, and that isn't too far away.

We love you Grandma and Grandpa!!!

August thru October

I've realized that I've been REALLY bad at taking pictures these past few months. Not that there was a whole lot to document and remember, but even the day-to-day moments, I've just missed out on capturing on the camera. For example, I didn't take a single picture at my Biggs Family Reunion in August. It sure was fun to be surrounded by so many aunts, uncles, and cousins, along with my brothers, nieces, and my parents. 

Joe had a birthday in August. It was a busy week and he was back to work, so we celebrated a little differently. Instead of cake, we made homemade maple bars. At least I put a candle on one, we sang, and I got a picture.

Then, Joe and I used a gift card we've had a for a couple years, and went to lunch at Market Street Grill. We had a delicious spinach dip for an appetizer. Joe had some steak medallions that were melt in your mouth. I had a halibut crab cake thing that with every bite I felt like I was in heaven. I finally remembered to pull out my camera to document our desserts. They even put a candle on Joe's strawberry shortcake.

I had a delicious key lime pie. Yum! We'll definitely be SAVING up so we can go again. (I've never had a meal - and mind you, it was lunch - cost that much. But totally worth it!) I'm determined that food in heaven is going to be catered by these guys because it was. that. good.

Brek got a hold of a sucker. Something tells me that he enjoyed it.

Love that face!

Brek and I finally got to go up the mountain with Joe for his last day of polka. It was quite the adventure of a day. A half hour in, everyone at the resort had to be evacuated to the parking lot due to a bomb threat. We were out in the snow and cold for 2 1/2 hours. Considering the situation, Brek did pretty well. The unfortunate part was that the first thing he did was find a freezing cold puddle and start playing. He didn't have any idea how cold and wet he was, and was more upset that I wouldn't let him keep playing in the water. I'm glad I brought a change of clothes for him, but that was all up in the green room, along with his diaper bag, because of course, he also had a poopy diaper and had to sit in it for an hour or so. By the end of it, he was quite miserable. But we survived. And we enjoyed listening to Joe play some polka.

Joe has been getting to play some alp horn quite regularly on his polka days. He really enjoys it and wishes and hopes that some day we can afford to buy him one.

Joe is the farthest one back in the sweater.

Brek enjoyed playing and running around while Joe played.

 

 

 

 

A couple weeks ago Brek was playing around with our laundry basket. And then he got stuck.

It's hard to see, but he eventually thought it was pretty funny.

And then I helped him get out, and he was REALLY EXCITED!!!

Brek had his first day of high school.

I've been subbing occasionally at Joe's school. Usually, Joe's mom watches Brek in the morning, and then around lunch time he goes to our friend's house so he can play with other kids. He loves it.
But on this particular day, Joe's mom was out of town, and we were flying to California that night anyway, and we didn't want to do a bunch of driving back and forth, so we just brought Brek with us.

He enjoyed most of it.

Brek's favorite part of the day was conducting the orchestra with his own baton while sitting on Joe's lap. I wish I had gotten a picture of it, but I was sitting in the wrong place. Most of the kids were able to still focus despite such an adorable distraction. A couple periods he came and hung out with me in the English class I was teaching. He generally thought that was boring but did enjoy drawing on the white board and throwing paper airplanes and my library cards.

All in all, not a bad day for the little guy. But I am pretty glad I've got a FEW more years before he goes off to high school for real. And the best part of the day was flying to see Grandma and Grandpa.

Stay tuned...