2009 Summer Vacation/Anniversary Trip - Part 2

What a blessing it was to drive up into the Sierra Nevada for our 10th anniversary getaway! We are really thankful to the Claytons for allowing us to use their cabin and to the Ferreiras for helping us arrange for our time there.

The cabin is on highway 4 near Camp Connell, CA (above Arnold). It is a beautiful cabin surrounded by God's amazing Creation! We stayed two nights and really enjoyed our time up above 5,000 feet!

Enjoying dinner on the deck


We went to this nearby state park...


... and took a 5-mile hike out and around a grove of Sequoia trees






This particular tree is the 2nd biggest Sequoia in the world (I think =)

From the website: "The largest redwood in Calaveras Big Trees State Park is the Louis Agassiz tree. It is located in the South Grove. This tree is "only" 250 feet tall, but it is over 25 feet in diameter six feet above the ground!"


Same tree, opposite side.
It's diameter is the size of the length of our rec room... Now's that's a BIG TREE!


After the hike, we went into town and enjoyed a Giant Burger


Then, we went back to the state park and as the day heated up, we cooled off by playing in the river... one of my favorite pastimes!

2009 Summer Vacation/Anniversary Trip - Part 1

In July we took a trip to NorCal for vacation and for Amy and I to celebrate our 10th anniversary. We drove up to Pittsburg, CA (where my parents live) on the day of our anniversary, July 17th. It was great to great to visit with them for a few days!

My parents surprised us that evening by sending Amy and I out to dinner while they hung out with the kids. Thanks Mom and Dad! Here we are at dinner that night:

Then, on the 19th, Amy and I got to head up to the mountains for an anniversary getaway! Kaylin and TJ got to have more special time with Grams and Papa. Amy and I really enjoyed a chance to be alone together to celebrate our 10 years of marriage! HUGE THANKS and LOTS of LOVE to Mom and Dad for making that possible!

Grams is a photographer... so she always gets great shots to document our visits and special occasions. The next three pics are just some of the ones she took while they watched the kids for a couple days:

Cute shot of the kids down at the dock on the Delta


Kaylin showing off moves she learned in her dance class


TJ as "The Hulk" - He loves that gift from Grams and Papa!

The kids also got their chance at being photographers. Here's one that TJ took:

And here are three photos that Kaylin took:

We all enjoyed our visit with Grams and Papa... we love you both very much!

Our 10th Anniversary

July 17, 2009 marked our 10th wedding anniversary!

Here's what I wrote as my status on Facebook that day: "I married my best friend 10 years ago today! I love you more every day Amy Lynn and I'm so thankful to God for the amazing gift you are to me."

Amy puts many hours of work into creating a photo album that documents our married life and she gave it to me as a gift for our 10th... what an amazing blessing! Amy's hard work and the story of God's faithfulness in that album brought tears to my eyes. Thanks babe for your hard work!

We'd love to share the album with you the next time we see you. Until then, this blog post will be a sneak preview! The next 2-3 blog entries will cover our vacation to NorCal that included a getaway to the mountains to celebrate our 10th anniversary.

We were married July 17, 1999:

The following pictures and captions are taken from one page of the album Amy made that summarizes our 9 anniversary celebrations before this year:

1st Anniversary - 2000 - We stayed overnight at the Vizcaya Mansion Bed & Breakfast in Sacramento and visited Old Sacramento and the state capitol.

2nd Anniversary - 2001 - Dinner at Shadowbrook in Santa Cruz, went for a walk on west cliff and played at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk:

3rd Anniversary - 2002 - Dinner at Green Valley Grill in Watsonville on our anniversary and Alan Jackson concert at Mid-State fair a few days later:

4th Anniversary - 2003 - (NO PICTURE) Stayed at the Hyatt Monterey and had dinner at Tinnery at the Beach in Pacific Grove.

5th Anniversary - 2004 - Dinner at Ristorante Italiano in Santa Cruz and a movie on actual anniversary. Trip to Universal Studios a few weeks later:

6th Anniversary - 2005 - Dinner at Malone's in Scotts Valley and Comedy Sportz show in San Jose:

7th Anniversary - 2006 - (NO PICTURE) - Dinner at Cafe Cruz in Santa Cruz

8th Anniversary - 2007 - Orange County Fair on anniversary included unplanned (and free) Wierd Al concert). Went to FishFest concert a month later (blog post):

9th Anniversary - 2008 - Stayed in Jim and Nancy's guest suite in the mountains (Green Valley Lake, CA). Brunch in Lake Arrowhead and kayaking at Big Bear Lake (blog post):

Father's Day

We celebrated Father's Day today! My family really loved me up... it was a great day! I am blessed!

The day started great with getting to sleep in! This pic is when the kids came to see me when I woke up. I got to open a present while still in bed... Amy had a mousepad made with lots of great pictures of my family!


Later, we went to the Cola Corner for the 2nd Father's Day in a row and I got to add to my Coca-Cola collection!


Another favorite... Mad Wolf Mongolian BBQ for dinner!

BIG THANKS to my amazing wife and cool kids for making me feel very loved! I love being "Daddy" to Kaylin and TJ.

Kaylin's PreSchool Culmination Ceremony!

Kaylin's year of preschool is over! She had a great year, learned a lot and grew in lots of ways!

Kaylin with her teacher, Miss Angel


Mikayla, Miss Angel, Kaylin




Last Day of School - It was Pajama Day


Kaylin and classmates in their PJs

Kaylin (on the right) and her class singing... "Adios PreSchool... We're movin' up to Kindergarten"

Happy Birthday Amy!

Catching up on blog posts...

On May 22nd we celebrated Amy's birthday by going to Claim Jumper (one of her favorites) for a great dinner with some friends. I love you Amy... Happy Birthday!

Trevor's 3rd Birthday!

This first pics are from the day of his birthday... April 28th

I am 3!


Whoa... it's Spiderman! He was lovin' his new costume!

TJ's Spiderman party...

the cake!


The birthday boy with the cake creators!

Playgroup party...