08.22.2009: Drake's Birthday Weekend

For Drake's 7th Birthday we celebrated by going to a Charger-Cardinal pre-season football game. We originally planned to have a tailgate party in the parking lot before the game, however the rules at Cardinal stadium seemed so strict, and you had to buy a pass to tailgate in the right lots.....we decided to have our own tailgate party in our driveway! :) Worked out for the best because that day ended up being unusually hot and humid!!! So, we had the A/C kicking in the house for refuge! Which worked out GREAT for the kids! We had a group of about 16 people that came to the game, which made it a lot of fun! Christina & Justice came out from LA.....Mike and Perry Lynn came out from Orange County...Nicole came down from Flag...Brent, Alisa and the kids came all the way from Mesa :) Greg was in town and brought Carol too! And of course Brian Greene was here. It was a blast! Also, we had a nice cake before we went...which the blue icing turned everyone's mouths, skin, teeth, basically anything that came in contact with it BLUE. It was great! The cake was gorgeous, you just had to eat it at your own risk!!!

After the game, we came home and the kids got to play with the transformer masks they got....we drank wine....and ate more blue cake! :) A definite great birthday for a 7 yr old!!

08.19.2009: Day Trip to Washington DC

Vince had to go to Washington DC for a business meeting...and I wasn't planning to go with him. Last minute, we decided I better be there as well, just in case as the meeting involved many things I knew of and was working on. So, basically bought a ticket at the airport, and hopped on a plane with no luggage or anything. Great thing, as I have NEVER been to DC before and was soooo excited. Bad thing, I had NO clothes!!! ARGH! So we landed at 10pm...checked into our hotel...ran to Target 10 mins before it closed...spent $100 on clothes & basic essentials! Very cool! After our run thru Target...literally!!!!...we decided to check out the monuments at night. Knowing we were only there for about 24 hours, and had a meeting the next day...didn't give me much time to do the tourist thing!

We spent the next 2 hours walking around the monuments at night. EXTREMELY cool!!! LOVED IT! Highly recommend doing it at night BEFORE you do it during the day! So amazing......!!! Although when I saw Lincoln....all I could think of was Planet of the Apes. Great! Facing the horrible humidity & 3 hours time difference we finally went to bed about 3am....just in time to get up at 6am for the meeting!

After the meeting, we drove around the city...went to Arlington Cemetary....saw JFK's burial place....drove down Embassy Row...had lunch at a really cute little bar/diner place...drove around the monuments during the day....walked Simthsonian Row...went into the Air & Space Musuem.....went to the White House...saw Obama....ok, not really, but we saw his house (the kids all got a kick out of us going to his house!!)....went back to the room to rest before dinner. We stayed on Bolling AFB....which is where Marine One is kept...that is the President's helicopter, for those not savy on their prez knowledge....and Vince saw it landing and quickly going into an unmarked hanger. I tried to take pics later, but there were about 1,000 security cameras everywhere with signs saying DO NOT POINT CAMERAS IN THIS DIRECTION! For fear of being shot, I didn't. All very high security, and very interesting!! DLA...Defense Logistics Agency is HQ'd right there across from our hotel...so was White House Communications....all so cool!! Anyways, love staying on military bases....we always get to see cool things!

Next, we went downtown for dinner. I found a cool restaurant online called Georgia Brown's...high end southern food. OMG! It was AMAZZZZZZZING! One of the BEST meals I have ever had. Unbelievable food, wine, ambiance, music, people, staff, etc!!!! We didn't want to leave, but all the food had been eaten! :( Cannot wait to go back just for the chance to go here again.

So, up at 5am, we flew home. Not much more then 24 hours in the city and we hit everything!!!! it was a crazy trip, but soooooo very fun! I love spontaneous!

08.14.2009: Toby Keith Concert with the girls

Vicki & Nicole invited Alisa & I to the Toby Keith concert with them....girls trip! I say trip because it was on the other side of town! :) We had a great time....the weather was perfect....it was an outside concert. Only one pic from the night though :( Oh well!!! Lots of fun! I always like seeing Toby in concert...he is a great entertainer!!!!

08.08.2009: Las Vegas--Chris & KJ's 21st Bday

The crew headed to Vegas for the weekend for Chris & KJ's 21st birthday celebrations! Vince and I made it up on Sat, since we were in CA for the week prior...both working & wedding planning. Mom coaxed us up there by telling us that she was about to reach DIAMOND status on her player card w/ the Harrah's group. So, OF COURSE we had to be there for the big moment!!! I am proud to say that I was sitting right next to her at a penny machine when she checked her card & realized that she reached the Diamond status!!! So, we cashed out, ran and got the others....and upgraded her card!! Whoohoo!! This means that she now has access to special Diamond Club lounges...very nice!! So we went up! Vince & I, Brad & Leonor, and Mom and Dad.

After our moment of fame.....we headed over to Gina & Bills' room for the boys bday drinks!!! Chris & KJ had already turned 21, but this was their "Vegas party". We headed to the strip for a night of gambling and celebrating!

08.01.2009: Engagement Party!!!

Sooooo, I still haven't gotten any pictures from anyone from the engagement party!! :( So, this is all I have to post for now....

Alisa & Brent hosted an engagement party for Vince and I at their house on Sat. It was beautiful! So grateful that Gina & Bill, and Brad & Leonor, and Erik & Steph, and Christina & Justice all made it out from CA....and of course, Mom & Dad! :) Olivia was still in town from Costa Rica. Vince's Mom came out....Vince's sister, Jackie and her husband Will came....Kennedy's came...of course Brian Greene....all very, very nice!!! We had a great time!! Thank you all for the wonerful gifts as well!! :)

The pictures don't do the end of the night justice...Everyone had much, much, much to drink...music was blaring, people were dancing...then "It's Raining Men" came on...and the boys went crazy! Think we all laughed for a good hour! It was so much fun! Thank you all for coming & enjoying the evening with us! Thanks to Brent & Alisa for hosting the night as well!!!!! :)