Business + Pleasure + a Little Bit of House Hunting on the Side

Mia and I decided to tag along while Bryan worked in San Diego last week. Let me just say that after spending a week in sunny California, I don't think I will have any problem making the move. It looks like we will know for sure by the end of the year whether or not the move will be necessary (which I'm keeping my fingers crossed). Here are a few highlights of our trip:

Downtown San Diego has a fabulous children's museum. We spent one of our days there and Mia had an absolute ball.

La Jolla Beach

We had lunch in Seaport Village. I had no idea Mia was so enthralled with birds....

....Not so much of a fan when the bird is sitting on her shoulder!

We were able to spend some time with Bryan's boss, Kevin, and his darling family. Jack and Mia

Since Mia had blue pajamas on, Kate wanted to match so she went and put her blue pj's on too!

Coronado Beach

We did a little house hunting while we were down, which was exciting, but HOLY COW.....the houses are expensive. Let's just say you don't get much bang for your buck, but I guess living close to the beach is a good trade-0ff.

Happy, Happy Birthday Kate!!!

Today, our sweet baby girl would've turned 3-years-old. How can time come and go so quickly? Thinking back on this day last year, it was a very hard, hard day for me. I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know how to feel. I just plain didn't want this day to come and have to feel all the emotions that I knew were coming. But, the day came and was gone so fast.

This year, my perspective was a little different on Kate's birthday than it was the last. I decided that I wanted to start a few traditions. I have found that making a birthday cake for her has brought me a lot of joy. Even though it was so painful having to make and decorate a cake knowing that she is not here to blow out her candles, I found that it was very therapeutic for me. Also, I want Mia to know how important it is for our family to celebrate Kate's life every year and how special her life was to us.

We spent some time at the cemetery and decided that for each birthday we celebrate, we let off one balloon for each year. This was such a fun thing for Kate's cousins and Mia to participate in.

Over the past 3 years, our lives have changed immensely and we have gained a whole new perspective of this life. This life is for our experience. We choose the direction our lives are going to go. Some things we are in control of and some things we are not. Through detours in our lives (big or small), we have the opportunity to take the road to happiness or the road to unhappiness. I am grateful for the road we were led down, even though parts of it were a little bumpy at times, because at the end of the road is the greatest destination of all.

5 YEARS......

......And it just keeps getting better and better!

F*R*E*E*D*O*M In Filly

I can count 2 years that I have missed a Fillmore 4th of July celebration. It's been a fun tradition and it just keeps getting better and better. Here are a few highlights from our weekend...

We started the weekend off right by spending the day at Yuba. Perhaps some of the best skiing water I have seen at Yuba in a LONG time. Mia LOVED her first boating outing!

After an afternoon at the lake we spent the evening in the park. Forget the snow cones and cotton candy...I'm happy as can be with my 2 bink binks.

I want to put a plug in for the 2nd Annual Apple Fest 2009. Mark your calendars for September 19th. Woot, Woot!!!
Gotta love a small town parade!Mia and her BFF, Jaylee.

This picture CRACKS me up. Little Ruby and Mia kept fighting over the arm of the bench. Check out Mia's face......classic!We were so close to missing the fireworks this year. Mia had so much excitement for one day that she crashed around 8:00. Well, that didn't stop Bryan from waking her up from a dead sleep and taking her to the fireworks. I'm kind of glad we did because Mia LOVED them.

I was pleasantly surprised at the firework show this year. Fillmore City went all out!!