Adventures

Saturday was yet another adventure. My good friend Marcia got married and we had been planning on attending the wedding. After the late night at the ball game, Gunnar wasn't sure he was ready to make the drive again, especially since he had to prepare for his one half day of work the next day.

So Grace and I decided to take the train! Actually it was the sprinter to the coaster and my mom picked us up in Old Town. It was a two hour trip, but well worth it to be able to celebrate the union of two special people. Grace and I had a great time on the train. We packed a lunch and she was so excited to eat her sandwich on the train. We looked out the windows, we played "I Spy", we met some fun people. Grace got really good at saying "All aboard". It was nice for her and I to have some mother/daughter bonding time, as a lot of the time it seems like we are so busy we forget to just enjoy being together. She really is a fun little girl!



My mom picked us up and we headed to my parents house to get ready for the wedding.

Marcia is the first friend I made when I moved to San Diego. She is very kind and has a huge heart for the Lord. I am always super encouraged when I am able to spend time with her. We have known each other for around 11 years, and I was so happy to be able to witness her marrying Aaron. I have only met him once, but from everything I have heard (my dad knows him) his a great guy. She has waited a long time and been faithful to God's word and will in her life so it is so neat to so God blessing her!

The wedding was beautiful and joyous. I was so happy to be able to be there! We sat in the back (we were in the parents with babies section) so the pictures are not so great.


We left directly from the wedding and headed back on the train. All was going well, until we had a delay on the tracks and got into Oceanside 10 min late. This caused us to miss our connection train, so Gunnar drove to Oceanside to pick us up. We had 45 min to kill waiting for him to pick us up, so we walked down by the beach.


I love to beach! It is so beautiful and relaxing. Well, except for the gang bangers and drunk marines, but we tried to avoid them as much as possible.
Grace was REALLY tired at this point (no nap and lots of excitement) so she was doing this this where she refuses to look at the camera. So I pretty much looked ridiculous jumping and yelling trying to get her to look my direction. It didn't work.

The sky was beautiful, cloudy and dark. The light was shinning through patches, I tried to capture how beautiful it was, but I didn't do it justice.
Oh Grace was trying to throw rocks into the water. She was just a little too far out.
We stayed at the beach for a bit and headed to a coffee shop to wait. Grace said she was cold and since I didn't have a sweater, she wore the shirt I had been wearing earlier that day. It worked out really well that I had changed into a borrowed dress from Maria, so that I had something to put on her. It was not up to the normal fashion standards we like to keep, but desperate times, call for desperate measures. Notice she still won't look at the camera.
When we got the coffee shop I got her a warm milk with a shot of vanilla sweetener (it was the barista's idea). Notice the change in countenance! Amazing what some warm sugar will do to a girl!
We sat and enjoyed our drinks and talked about our day. Gunnar picked us up and we headed home.
The next morning when she woke up the first thing she said to me was "mommy, can we have another adventure?" So I guess it was a hit!

Take me out to the ball game

I love summer time. The weather is beautiful and there is lots of stuff to do. This weekend was no exception, with a trip to the baseball game on Friday night. It was The Chapel's annual baseball game/tail gate party and this year Valley Baptist tagged along. We actually took a van and carpooled down which was lots of fun.

Grace was excited to catch up with her old friends. The Chapel has lots of babies and kids, so it is always fun for her to get to hang out with them. There she is with my good friend Aprill and her parents. Aprill and Derek have been good friends for years, so it is always fun to see them and get caught up.
The highlight of the evening was the presence of my darling niece Elena. She is so adorable!! I have always thought Ann was amazing, but sheesh, does she have to keep showing off how amazing she is? I mean really, a baseball game with a five day old? Of course she had a smile on her face the whole time and was as sweet as ever.

Grace and Elena hung out with Grandma a lot. Yes, my mom is loving it!!

Maria pointed out that this is not the most flattering angle on most people. By most people she must mean she and I, becuase Grace and Elena managed to still look adorable.


I love spending time with my siblings. I do think they are some of the greatest people around. I am the shortest, but the hill helped me out, so you can't really tell.

My mom pointed out that Daniel looked tallest in that last picture, so Michael and I tried to make ourselves tallest. Maria (classic baby of the family) obviously did not reduce herself to our bickering.
Lastly, our family picture at the ball park. This is the third year we have taken one, but this may be my new favorite.

Tia Time

One last post from VBS! I am moving on after this, really I am. :)

Maria came up and stayed with us and helped out at VBS. Grace is always overjoyed to have her Tia here, as am I! Maria is such a sweet blessing. :)

hanging out on the back porch

At the beach in Del Mar

At VBS (working hard, obviously)

At la Jolla Cove

At the block party with my mom and Grace

Elena Mae

Okay, finally, the baby pictures!

Saturday morning, Elena Mae Hilton came into the world. 7lbs 11 oz and as cute as can be! We got down to the hospital two hours after she was born. I got to see her Sunday when she got home as well, but unfortunately I forgot my camera, so I only have the pictures from the day she was born.

Michael and Ann are doing well. It is super cute to see my brother as a daddy. He is so excited. They both are actually, Ann is just more exhausted! :)

Grace has taken to calling Elena Mae "Lemon aid" which is super cute.



It was her party, she could cry if she wanted it. For some reason I think babies that aren't mine are really cute when they cry. I was not as amused when it was Grace for some reason.

Elena and Grandpa

Elena and GrandmaAuntie Anna

Uncle Gun
Tia MariaUncle Danny

The camera loves her!
Crazy that Grace was once that smallWhile I was hogging the baby, Grace got a chance to play with Uncle Danny's fedora. :) The pictures technically don't have anything to do with Elena, but they were cute, and from the hospital, so here they go. Daniel said they were "fedorable."