Does this mean Happy Birthday Big 14!?

Mama made her favorite cake and her favorite meal....We had a few friends over which worked out good, we stayed at our house swimming and away from the crazy party people on the main crazy day..saturday.... I cooked, and cooked, and baked and served a yummy dinner of Chicken enchiladas, rice, yummy homemade beans- and a nice salad.... This is beautiful AVA!

And this is handsome silly Grafton!

Kali super stoked opening some of her gifts...but her grand gift was her

"New Apple Mac Book Lap top and Ipod Touch"!!!!!!! I know it might sound elaborate, but she's worked so hard academically, physically through sports almost daily, a great daughter to us...a great sister...She really worked for it...plus will need it for High School. She couldn't believe it....we also got her a portable DVD player for the road...and clothes...but she hasn't been able to part with her laptop since...

Do you ever take a picture that you really like...whether it's the right angle of yourself, or the back ground is totally perfect?....And then the person you pose with offers a goofy silly face! He's sticking his tongue out towards me. ugh. haha

A place she wanted to visit...Memorial Weekend 2010

There is a place called Pirates Cove up the river...which offers a very nice long boat ride to get there. Because Kali's birthday weekend always seems to land on Memorial, it makes it tough to compete with all the crowds and crazies! But we took a nice boat ride up on Friday early afternoon, and we pulled up to front row parking with this cabana all to our selves. They have new sand.....a nice restaurant and bar for everyone to enjoy. It's a very new place...so of course it's clean clean clean! My fav! Our boat ride up to Pirates Cove...

Kali and Big Bucks...He loves the boat!

Mama and Kali on the Sea Doo's. So fun!

Kali getting a little crazy with mama on the back!

Leaving Catalina on the Express!

So....throughout Saturday night into the wee hours of Sunday, we wake through the night to hear lots and lots of wind...the kind of wind that blows trees around...keep in mind our ride over was terrible..and now were taking 19 people back home, but the weather seems even crazier...As we all approach the dock, the guy I met at the Dive Shack sees me, and proceeds to tell Bill and I to start buying passes, if we want to get home that day..and get the passes now! And only hoping the Catalina Express will take the rough seas. So we did.... 7:30 am with a departure of 10:15- Isn't this an eery sign to keep dockside? There she is.

Gaylord boarding. Escorted as the first people on...

Miss. Kali and mommy. Super scared, but prayer and meditation got us through what was gonna be another crazy ride back. There were 30 foot swells.. The servers on the express(very courteous and a great staff, by the way) were walking isle to isle with small trash bags for sick people. GROSSSSSS!!!!! Kali....just keep looking out the window..... LOL!

This picture doesn't do justice. Mother Nature was rocking the seas!

Trying to plan an escape off the island...

This is my handsome boy the morning of..."trying to get his family off the island safely"- We just enjoyed some waffles and eggs in the restaurant behind him..getting ready to say our good-bye's. I left him there to come back Monday...After the storm.... The kids getting antsy waiting to board the Catalina Express.....In the very distance...2 Red Flags. That means strong "Gale wind warnings"- DANGER!

The pier-

The TWO RED FLAGS!

Love

Happy Birthday Gaylord -"The Legend"

Feeling happy....family surrounded...couldn't be a better night! Muah! Rocky, Regina and Kali

Little Rocky!

All the Grandkids, and a very happy Grandpa!

And the journey home....actually pit stop...the karaoke bar!

Gaylord's Weekend Celebration Catalina 2010

You said what?! haha. It was nice getting out to dinner, than over for some Karaoke with Gaylord and Shirley....wrapped in lots of blankies too!

And then they all sang....Gaylord is actually crying here...there's more pictures, but I figured they are too emotional to post. He loved this sooo much. The kids table. And what's with some of the funny faces...ummhmm Derek!

Our view from the Condo.

Another angle.

Catalina Family and Fun

The view was spectacular....Hamilton Cove was amazing.. Simply put, a nice resort tucked up on the mountain...fun things for the kids....a nice relaxing time for the parents...and a perfect place to celebrate Gaylord's 83rd B-day! We were ALL together! That's Sandra's speciality drink...yum yum! The kiddos......

Vicki, Billy, Joni, Sandra and Mama Shirley

Billy, Gaylord (Birthday Boy), Joni, Sandra and Vicki

Ms. Vicki headed out to sea.....

The Blob....Catalina 2010

This was almost across the channel, I caught this of Kali....She's steering far away from everyone sea sick on the boat. She doesn't get sea sick, and the whole boat...sick. Super rough waters... As we're pulling into Catalina May 2010-Aboard "White Fin"

So here's the GPS.."thingy"- I sat up top with Bill and the guys...For one, to keep away from the sick ones..two, to keep a look out on the horizon...and three, to keep an eye on how many more miles to go....Well, the funny thing, this GPS just showed this same spot, for which felt like "Forever"- but actually for about 30 min's. We basically just got pushed around some swells and headed more South than we wanted. So without saying..as we finally drifted back on track...I noticed this "blob" on the screen. Bill was sea sick..and driving, so I was trying not to ask questions, but dying to! But after noticing he was "a little green" I decided...comments later. lol! I was in my own world of prayer/don't worry, than later, I looked back and the adrenaline was just pumping. Crazy weather, crazy swells...but we made it-

Just a little taste of what we endured for almost 2 1.2 hrs. Normally this trip is about an hour and a half-

Catalina here we come! This is closer to the island and Dad's getting his color back. The little thing in his hand? He must munch on corn tortilla salty chips...that just helps the sickness for him. Bag was almost empty when we got there! haha.

My favorite things..Family, Lake, Sun, and Boating...Mothers Day 2010

Every year, we celebrate...and I can't really remember a significant moment in them...I know they are sweet, and relaxing...or going out to dinner...super cute cards...but for some reason, this one outshined them all. Kris and Kali drove up for the first time together alone. And as much as I worried..their trip turned out to be fun, and enjoyable...no drama, no friends, just the two of them. Well Bucks too! Bill and I waited for them, and the 4 of us laid in Kris' room, cracked up, told stories...and just enjoyed the time together alone. And believe me, Kris is never alone, we always have friends...and extra's up. So it was special for me. We were able to just chill, without entertaining anyone else-Kali snuck up and caught me on Mothers Day morning, soaking up the sun before gathering my thoughts to rally for homebound and another very full week- Our cruise up the Lake to our cove. The weather was fabulous. Highs 90...Lows 70- It really couldn't be more perfect. As I said...no hitch in anything... Maybe my good mommyhood was paying me back. My favorite things...my family...the lake, the sun and boating.

Travis and Lisa - Those cans? Budlight in cans! HAHA - Git er' done......

Kali, Kris and Jaz

Kali and Jazzi-poo!

Friends and Family Mothers Day 2010

Bill and Travis. We've been friends for almost 10 years; Bill treats Trav like a brother. We have some great times together. And if you know Travie...he's a jokester...so the entire time your with him....it's silly, silly, silly. We love him! It's always good company to be around people who keep the smiles flowing all day....

Look at this amazing cove. It was ours to enjoy for a bit...we had appetizers, and chilled-

Kali and Bill. Kali almost 14....and Bill....Well....?

Travis and Jazmine - Jazzie 5 and Travie...Well...?

Big Bucks...and Kris cruising through the channel. Bucks' first boat ride. He loved it!