Western Days

For Western Day's this year our church entered a float in the parade. Gunnar and Grace rode the parade, while I hung out on the side lines with my dear sister Maria and our friends Aprill, Becky and their daughters. In the picture is Grace's buddy Ezequiel who also rode the parade. How cute are they heading out in their western outfits?
Maria has come up the last two years to the parade with us. It is always a fun time.
Aprill and I are due about two weeks apart. We were six weeks apart with our first, and it is fun to be going through another pregnancy together.We were so excited, our church float came in first place among the 70 something entries. I am so proud of the men at church who put it together. They did a great job.
Grace looked like such a cutie in her cow girl outfit so of course we had to take lot's of pictures.

Grace and her papa

Grace and Tia

Cutie cowgirl

Are all those teeth yours?

Years ago when we were young and carefree, my dear friend Aprill and I took a trip to Spain together. We had a fabulous time together, and shared many wonderful memories. We met up with my brother and Dad part way through the trip and enjoyed visiting with them as well.

We visited my "spanish grandma" when we were there. She had just had some new denchers fitted and they were bothering her. She kept telling us about them. Towards the end of the visit, she turned to Aprill and said "Your teeth are so nice. Are they all yours?"

Aprill does have nice teeth, and they are all hers. We told my brother Michael that would be a great pick up line and he should use it. Hum, I wonder if that is what did it for Ann? :)

Anyways, it seems appropriate that two friends with nice teeth jokes children should be brushing their teeth together. After going to dinner for Derek's birthday, we got Grace ready for bed at their house so we could transfer her straight from the car to bed when we got home.

They were super cute brushing their teeth together. I love watching Grace interact with her little friends. It is so adorable the way they talk to each other and act so grown up.

Who you calling city slicker?

On Friday night we went out with our dear friends the Olivas. It was Derek's birthday, and so we decided to party it up and take him out for steak. After all, you only turn 32 once. We went to Pinnacle Peak in Santee, where no ties are allowed. If you happen to wear a tie, they cut it off, and eventually pin it to the wall.

Gunnar only has a few ties (that he wears for weddings and church events) so he really didn't have a disposable tie. Derek doesn't have a tie at all. Thankfully, my family came to the rescue. My dad gave an old tie, and we found one someone had made (I don't think anyone had ever worn it before) and headed out.Gunnar had to help Derek tie his tie. :)
Gunnar's tie kind of blended in with his shirt.

The waitress called them city slickers, which made us laugh. I bet she doesn't even own a chicken. She made them hold up their hands and promise to never again be seen around there wearing a tie. Then she cut their ties off.
Off goes Derek's tie.
Gunnar getting his tie cut off.
There are the boys with their manly food. Steak with mushrooms on top and a side of beans. It is a safe bet that I won't be requesting a trip here for my birthday in a couple weeks. :) Nevertheless, we all had a great time.

Veterans Day

Yesterday we spent the morning at the Valley Center Cemetery Veterans day ceremony. We went last year as well, as Gunnar is a member of the Valley Center Cemetery board.

I would have to say this year was way more fun than last year. For a couple reasons. First of all, unlike last year, Grace didn't have a cast on her arm. Although a surprising number of people remembered and asked how her arm was doing. (It is doing great, by the way)

Also this year was much better than last year in that the featured Veteran speaker was a good friend of the families. His son and wife are good friends of Grace and I so we were all excited to see our friends. They, along with Gunnar's dad, came over for lunch, which was a treat. Living out here in the boon docks, I have come to greatly appreciate when people make the drive all the way out here.

Here are a couple pictures from the ceremony yesterday.

Reverend Hanson's invocation

Grace loves her buddy WillHanson generations

Another Wedding

Saturday evening Gunnar had the privilege to officiate another wedding. The Bride is the sister of one of our best friends. The wedding was on a golf course in Temecula and everything went beautifully.

The highlight for us was spending time with our good friends, the Olivas. They have a son Grace's age, and an almost 1 year old daughter. They have been good friends for years and although we don't see them as much as we would like to, it was nice to get caught up.

Family picture before the wedding

Grace and Ezequiel running around

Wedding ceremony

The guys

The girls

The kids dancing, Ezequiel has some moves!

Happy Fall, Ya'll

Please excuse my poor grammar, I just really enjoy rhyming. :)

In celebration of fall, Grace and I met up with some friends at the Bates Nut Farm. I had never been to a pumpkin patch before, so it was a first for both Grace and I. She really enjoyed climbing all over the pumpkins.Grace, Riley and Lilah are all within 5 months of each other (Grace being the oldest) and the three of them looked so cute together! Lilah's big sister is such a big help, she keeps them all in line. After our time in the sun, we were ready to head to the shade to look at the animals. It was nice to get a chance to get out of the heat! It sure has not been feeling like fall yet. :)