God Bless America

The 4th of July was a huge success! Thank you everyone for celebrating with us here in Seal Beach. I don't know if I made myself clear enough at the party, but 4th of July is my favorite holiday! Don't ask me how that I began but I believe it had something to do with SDSU and alcohol being allowed on the beach! Go figure! Anyway, this year was fantastic!
So many pictures captured the fun of the day. Follow this exciting play-by-play of the days events:
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The Smiths were the first to arrive and the girls quickly found their way to the play room.

Shortly after, the "troops" fell in! Look at the American Blue!

Patrick and Melina, we are so glad that you guys could make it! You added an extra special element to the party that we would have never known about without you (see "Flip Cup" photos below... LOL) ! Marzie, what a fantastic appetizer! Thank you!

Awwwww...

Ryan and Carsie go for a swim!

Ryan showing off her loose tooth! Still hasn't come out (5 days later)! Hmmm? Can anyone help me out on how long that will take?

Uncle Bubba took Charlie for a ride because she couldn't get her ear wet. Oh those ear infections, always bad timing!

Mother and Daughter? Or are they sisters? Sure looks like it to me!

Grandpa and Ginny "breakin' it down!" She's revealing her famous potato salad recipe. Dad, I hope you wrote it down!!!

Our little "Fly Girl"... Do you think she was able to keep that ear dry here? Hmmm, daddy might have gotten in a little trouble.

Paint projects compliments of the Smith Family. Thank you! Thank you!

The other halves "breakin' it down"

We even hired a band...

...And a topless little man as entertainment! So cute Cam!

Kudron Love

Very patriotic picture of Marzie and Nona!

Awwwww... dessert! Yummy! I was eating brownies too for three days after! Thanks a lot Cas!

Cr-azy Eye Ryan enjoyed dessert "just a little!"

My favorite part of the day!
"Flip Cup"
We are NOT opposed to college drinking games at our parties! This game was a first for me but it definitely won't be the last! I'm hooked! However, Patrick made me take the tablecloth off for better balance of the cups... that was hard for the party planner in me! But I got over it REAL fast with just one round of this game! Whoa, so much fun!

Awe Man, that team always won! Darn it!

OO, I think we got our one token win this time! We brought on Mike as the "professional" and Katie was an incredible lead! I think I was the weak link! Don't worry, I will work on it for next time!

Yes Patrick, we know... you are #1! You just wait mister, I'm gonna practice!

Katie leads us off...

Patrick beginning the game! Hey, look who's gonna bring it home for this team!! Whoa, is that Steve Grace going for the drinking game???? Nah, it can't be. It is!

Proof in the pudding! That's MY man!

Game over. Back to regular ole adult fun!

The Buckaroo Club Meeting
(Check out Charlie's various poses in the next three pictures. What am I gonna do with that one?)

Fireworks at the Navy Base from our balcony

Trying to get some fun family shots.

Here is a good shot of the Kudrons. Too bad we couldn't get Cameron to turn his head.

The Graces... Charlie didn't like the noise. It scared her. And what's with the green ribbon? Where did she get that? I don't remember that at all.

Daddy and Ryan enjoy the fireworks show together. We LOVE that daddy didn't have to work on this particular 4th of July, it made it extra special for the girls and me.

Charlie spent parts of the show inside on Grandpa's lap. She is still not too sure about those loud fireworks.

Nona and Mike... great picture! Mike usually makes funny faces during pictures just to make my mom mad. She'll be happy for this one.

Lori and Nancy enjoying the show and watching the kids go crazy on the balcony! Such a fun new experience for them.

Marzie loved hanging out with the girls and the girls LOVED Marzie just as much!

Nona helped the girls to sing American songs during the show. They loved it!

Oh wow... what a great day!
Again, thanks for coming out to spend it with us! I can't think of a better day!

The Lucky Slumber Party

On July 2nd, the Grace Family had some wonderful overnight visitors come into town! Jeff and Julie made an overnight trip on their way to Coronado for the 4th of July weekend and Godmommy Katie wanted to get in on the action too! We had a wonderful dinner at McKenna's and then hung out in the back yard for some nighttime swimming and "final-final" cocktails!

Julie was teaching Ryan about clovers and literally found a 4-leaf clover! Unbelievable! Do you know how many hours I spent on the playground in school and on the soccer field looking for the so called 4-leaf clover??? I had to wait 36 years to find out that they really do exist! Luckily for Ryan and Charlie, they won't have to waste all that time growing up looking, they already have their proof! Nice find Julie!

The girls went swimming. Charlie wasn't supposed to get her head wet because of her ear infection. "It was an accident Mommy, I promise it was!" Hmmm, not so sure!

Lounging during cocktail hour!

Hmmm, that head looks pretty wet to me Char Char!

Enjoying the "final-final" of the night.

Thanks for the slumber party everyone. We loved having you!

10 Hours, 2 Kids, 1 Mommy and 2 Much Fun

So with summer here, it is time again to buy annual passes to Disneyland so that we can take advantage of our time off of school! The girls and I headed to Disneyland for what mom expected to be an easy 3-4 hour trip like our usual trips to Disneyland have been in the past. Oh no, mommy did not take into consideration that her girls are "big girls" now and don't want to miss out on ANYTHING!! Both girls insisted that we stay for the 9:25 fireworks show! Mommy accepted the challenge and a day of adventures began...

Every line was ridiculous! Poor Ryan had some rag-a-muffin hair all day long! The tangles just got worse and worse as the fun continued! It took thick conditioner rinses to get all the "fun" out of her hair! Here we waited 40 minutes for the Alice in Wonderland ride. Whoosh!

We waited in line to meet Mickey. Charlie got a little too scared for her close up when our time arrived! But Ryan was Brave.

Snow White's wishing well. We threw in our pennies and made a wish. No matter how much I asked, the girls would NOT reveal their wishes. Hmmmm... still wondering!

Toon Town

Mickey's House... the girls got a kick out of the phone ringing over, and over, and over again! Notice Charlie, she doesn't like loud sounds.

Lunchtime... everyone got their energy back!

The Tiki Room! Charlie quickly covered her ears when the Tiki Gods started talking in the waiting area. Ryan, on the other hand, was ready to take on the Gods all by herself!

Autopia... Ryan was the driver and Charlie and I hung on for dear life.

Waiting in the Autopia car while we waited for our turn to get out! Guess what color our car was? Charlie was so pleased!

Still going strong for the 6:30 parade! Front row seats took an hour of waiting on the curb! Okay by me, I need a break! We ate popcorn and frozen lemonade for dinner! Wish I would have planned ahead better!

Awww... after one last ride It's a Small World the sun started to go down, Ryan's cough started to pick up, Charlie started to "whine" down, and Mommy was fr-eezing! Fireworks will have to wait till next time! Ryan was so sad but...

...it didn't stop her from falling asleep in the car before we even exited the parking structure!

Charlie wasn't far behind!

Anyone want to join us for another trip soon?

When the Kids are Away, the Grown Ups will Play!

Every June is our annual Palm Springs trip with 7 other couples. Yes, 16 in all (after adding two more "significant others" this year to the mix). We rent a house that can hold us all comfortably and enjoy some adult fun without the kiddos! This year, our number was only 14 because Joe and Claudia needed to stay home with Baby Jack (ahhh, priorities I guess). Anyway, here are some pictures of the weekend...

Bryan, Dana, Erin, Colleen, Tracy, and Julie

Colleen, Lori, and Julie

Dana and Bryan Sullivan

Lori and Steve

Ryan and Michelle

Tracy and Scott

Erin and Dana

Lori, Michelle, and Tracy

Julie and Lori

Jeff and Julie

Tracy and Julie
(The newbies to the group!)