Wedding Bells

Last Saturday, after Cameron's birthday party, we attended our friends Carlos and Jennifer's wedding.

Cameron's 5th Birthday Party

Cameron really wanted a birthday party, but we knew that by the time we invited all the kids he knows - from preschool, church, the neighborhood, bible study, etc. - along with their their parents and siblings, we could end up with a pretty enormous crowd. So, Hatchet Mom slashed the party down to just five boys. Five friends for a five-year-old's party seemed reasonable. We had the party Saturday morning, and the boys had a great time. Cody made pancakes, and the boys loaded them with all sorts of goodies. Then, the boys each made a "Cup o' Worms" with chocolate pudding "mud," Hershey's syrup "slime," crushed Oreos "dirt," and of course, gummy worms. After that were presents, Pin the Tail on the Donkey, and a scavenger hunt for matchbox cars hidden in the back yard. At 11:30, we handed five totally over-stimulated and over-sugered boys back to their parents!

Enjoy the photos below, and take a look at the Video that Cody put together.

(Click on photos for larger view)

Labor Day at the Pool

We made it home from LA in time to enjoy one last day at the pool with the kids. Hasta la vista . . . until next summer.

A Trip to Los Angeles . . . Without Kids!

After a long several months business-wise, Cody needed a vacation. (We both did!) So, Cody planned a last-minute Labor Day Weekend trip to Los Angeles, for just the two of us! I admit I was a bit nervous about hopping on an airplane and leaving the kids behind, but once we arrived in LA, I was able to relax. Cody and I had a fantastic time. It was the first time we'd been away like that in 5 years (since Cameron was born!), and we relished the opportunity to sleep-in, come and go as we pleased, and pretend like we had no responsibilities for the weekend. We visited some of our old stomping grounds, saw old friends, did a little shopping, and (did I mention?) sleep-in. Here are some photos from our weekend.

(Click on photos for a larger view)

First, our old stomping grounds . . . Cody's first office building - the job that brought us to LA in the first place. Our first home in LA, "The Venetian" in Venice. (Did we really live there?!?!?) Our favorite place for half-priced sushi during Happy Hour - the Canal Club. Our second home in Santa Monica. (Cody was pleased to see that the bougenvellia he rigged up 6 years ago had actually grown over the driveway to create the carport he always dreamed of!) Peet's - Cody's "if only we had one in Albuquerque" coffee shop. And, our home in Lake Balboa, plus a couple pics with our wonderful neighbors.



Next, time with friends . . . . Dinner at Rosti with Craig and Stacy, seeing friends at our still-beloved Bel Air Pres, a BBQ at the Kvinslands with the Taylors and McCarties, and some photos of the little misses - Annika, London, Ella, Mia, and Macy are all getting to be so big!



And finally, imagining we are cool at our hotel's roof-top pool. Ahhh . . . a weekend without kids.