Alicia's Bridal Shower

Two weekends ago we celebrated Alicia's upcoming wedding with a great bridal shower at Nancy's house. I swear, Nancy should be a party planner and decorator for a living...and then I can just walk around and photograph her work! Everything matched my sister's wedding theme from the flower (hydrangeas) to the colors (pewter and raspberry). The details fit perfectly. Here are some detail pictures:

Opening lots of awesome presents:

Alicia with Auntie Donna and mom:

Paulette, a childhood friend of my mom's, with Alicia and mom:

My mom with her high school friend, Brenda:

My mom with her co-workers/friends, Nina, Donna and Robin:

Alicia, mom and the hostess with the mostest, Nancy!

Thanks to such a great bridal shower Nancy...pictures from Auntie Susan's and Auntie Paulie's either tomorrow or Wednesday.

Some Pictures (Finally!)

Last Friday night, my parents, grandparents, Alicia, Damon and I had dinner at Uncle Dave's house. He had a special present for my grandpa...a new computer! Grandpa should really be online...ebay was made for him. Surprisingly he was really good about the gift and they are both very excited to get everyone set up. It was funny, because Grandpa really didn't understand what the gift was, it took a while to register that it was a computer. Good times, good times!

After a pizza dinner, I surprised Damon with another replica of our wedding cake. It is a great tradition that I recommend everyone invest in. We loved our wedding cake...in fact, we ate the rest of the top layer the day after with my parents, grandparents and sister. Damon was excited to see the big "2" on top of the cake...I cannot wait until it gets into the double digits!

I let Damon open his highly romantic anniversary present on Friday night as well. A big ol' box from Cabela's filled with shot gun shell boxes and accessories for his guns. Kudos to my dad who gave me all the info on what the heck to order. At least I got a great big smile from Damon!

On Saturday night, we had a fabulous dinner at Equus in the Fountaingrove Hotel. Equus is a special place for us, since it is the first place we had drinks as a married couple. It is where we celebrated Damon's 30th birthday and where, over the scrumptous table-side ceasar salad, decided to buy our current house. So, it was only fitting to enjoy dinner once again at the newly renovated restaurant. Here we are, in between the crab cakes and calamari!

On Tuesday, my Damon surprised me at work with some beautiful flowers...what a sweet heart he is!

On Tuesday night we headed to the opening night of the Sonoma County Fair to see Heidi Newfield. It was an awesome concert...we were in the 8th row and could see her so well. She was the former lead singer of Trick Pony and is just about to release her first solo album. And trust me, her songs rock. She was a great entertainer and played for two straight hours. I of course, got all sentimental when she sang "Johnny and June," especially because she dedicated it to all the great loves in the world. And I just happen to believe that I am one half of a great love couple. I saw Trick Pony in concert almost four years ago with Jodie Bissig...when I returned home, I received a phone call from Damon. I had just met him about a week earlier. It is amazing how some things keep coming full circle.

Hopefully there will be more pictures tomorrow of at least one of the two bridal showers for Alicia last weekend.

Two Years and Counting...

Yesterday my Damon and I celebrated 2 years of marriage...24 months...730 days...17,520 hours...1,051,200 minutes...63,072,000 seconds of wedded bliss. It has been a pleasure being his bride and sharing our life together.

We have been celebrating for the last week (pictures coming tomorrow hopefully!) and are just so excited for what the third year will hold for us.

Last night we went to the fair concert to see Heidi Newfeld (the singer from Trick Pony who is from Healdsburg and sings the "Johnny and June" song) and on our way home it was 60 degrees outside. Damon made a comment that it was twice as hot on our wedding day...crazy!

We watched our wedding video on Friday night, it is such a great way to relive the moments and emotions of our wedding. Here is one of my favorite pictures to bring back some more...

Happy Birthday Miss Ryanne

On Saturday my one and only niece, Ryanne Marie, celebrated her 2nd birthday. She has such a special spot in my heart and I enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate the little girl that she is growing up to be. Leana and Tyler had a nice BBQ at their house with lots of good food and friends. Unfortunately, I had to leave early to head to my sister's bridal shower, but I was still able to capture a few fun images.

Damon and I were the first guests to arrive and Ryanne immediately wanted to open the presents that we brought her. Since I was leaving early, we figured that would be fine. She received some cute hats (from Morgan's mom's store, Bella, in Healdsburg) and some kinder-gym passes at her favorite gymnastics spot. She also really liked to butterfly dress that my mom and dad got her, so she changed and received lots of comments on her new party dress. Isn't she pretty?

Ryanne is a total girl at times and loves my shoes and one of Tyler's sisters shoes. She often insists on wearing them...she did pretty well walking on her own in these. Very impressive!

Ryanne and her Uncle Damon love playing together...here they are playing their favorite games.

Doesn't that face looking at my husband just melt your heart?

Ryanne anxiously waited for her friends and guests to arrive...

Ryanne's friend Zack...love his little teeth!

Ryanne's friend Marco...look at those big eyes of his!

She was so excited for her new blue mini chair...

Here is Ryanne practicing being a big sister and holding the 12 day old little baby girl, Emma...she LOVED having the baby in her arms.

Except for when the baby started crying, Ryanne got very concerned that she couldn't comfort her.

Zack catching a glance at the birthday girl...

Damon and Zack watching Ryanne open her presents...

Hugs for gramma!

Giving love to her new musical birdie...

Ryanne...you are a true little blessing to our family. We appreciate all of the laughter, the smiles and that irrestible big fat bottom lip of yours. May each day be an adventure. We love you to the moon and back!