Josh's 30th!

Josh's big 3-0 was this past month (I am so behind in posting it's ridiculous...) and I put together a little surprise party for the man. At first it wasn't really going to be a surprise... but then I went so long without telling him that I thought - why not?? I had 14 people from various parts of CA all meet at a local ice cream shop to start the weekend...

The unsuspecting victim...

Surprise, Josh! Ruby is wary of surprises...

Boys in blue... out for a day of hiking, breweries, and fun!

The girls stayed in and played with babies, read trashy magazines, watched trashy TV, and ATE like it was their job...

It. Was. HOT. So the kiddie pool was brought out and enjoyed by all - big and small. Lounging was a theme of this weekend...

Happy 3-0!! Carrot cake (his fave) for the man of the weekend!

Boys will be boys with fire...

Overall, SUCH a great weekend. I'm SO THANKFUL for everyone making the time to come down and hang out with our little family of 3 (soon to be 4!) and celebrate Josh! I'm also so thankful it was last weekend and not this weekend - this weekend I am going through a "I'm so over being pregnant because I no longer have ankles I'm so swollen" phase, so I wouldn't have been much of a host :)

Happy birthday, Josh!

** thanks to Auntie Kim for all the pics... again... **

Happy Canada/Camping Day!!

It's Canada Day! Josh was able to celebrate by doing one of his favorite things with one of his favorite people. Josh was able to go camping with Ruby (in our backyard)! He was so excited... and she actually got into it!! It was ADORABLE watching them blow up the air mattresses and getting all their blankets in order and packing up for the night under the "stars"/tent...

Nonna and Papa and Lola!!

"...and Nonna and Papa and Lola!!!" This was a phrase we heard A LOT over the past month. My parents were in town for the month of June and they've just left to go back home. It is so sad to see them go - they had such a great time with Ruby and were able to play and do things with her that only grandparents can do. They did the zoo, fed the ducks, butterflies at the history museum, the carousel, the beach, countless games of hide and seek, numerous parks, and just spoiled that girl to no means (I mean, ice cream for lunch...? spoiled!)! Ruby and Lola became best of buds. We were so blessed to have them come and hang out in Santa Barbara with us and I was spoiled to not have to cook or go to the store for a whole month! Talk about wonderful! On top of that, they pretty much furnished our house and hung all our "art" and styled our house. Ummm... grandparents, personal shoppers, chefs, AND stylists?? COME BACK!!! :)

Ruby's language skills have just skyrocketed these past few weeks... I think it's because her Nonna is a talker :) Full sentences, complete thoughts, and she remembers random things and repeats them at appropriate times... she's really growing up fast!

A common question Ruby asks these days is "Back?" as in "You're coming back, right?"... Friday night when she asked that question to them, and all of us knowing that no, they weren't coming back in the morning, was heartbreaking! I, of course, cried when they left. But, thankfully, two year olds don't always pick up on that kind of stuff and she remains unphased... although she's asked for Nonna, Papa, and Lola countless times today...

Thanks for coming Nonna and Papa... we love you!! Come back soon!

candy or iron...

The six year anniversary traditional gift is candy or iron... so random! Well, I eat enough candy for both of us and that Josh is just made of iron, so we got it covered :)

Happy 6 year anniversary, love! Best 6 years of my life! 

All documented thanks to Facebook...

beyond the ocean...

Ruby and Lola at the beach...

Enjoy your weekend... and think deep thoughts....

BFFs...

I love this video... they're so precious!

mickey!

Our friends from up north were making a trip to Disneyland last weekend and we were invited to join, so happily we accepted. Ruby's BFF Daphne was going to be there so it was an easy sell- Mickey AND Daphne?? We are IN! Ruby was of course THRILLED to see Goofy ("Foofy!"), Mickey, and Donald, but as soon as we got close to them it was nothing but "GET AWAY!"... typical. But she was able to go on a ton of rides and have a great time with her BFF. Here are some memories from the happiest place on earth!!

 A little wary of Goofy...

Happiest place on earth is exhausting... I hear ya, Ruby!

Mickey was so great with Ruby... peek a boo definitely broke the ice...

Jungle cruise... watch out for the elephants!

Josh and Ruby's car broke down and shut down the entire Autotopia ride! We all had to get out and walk back to the entrance after an hour of sitting in these very uncomfortable, tiny cars...

Josh and Jon on Splash Mountain!