birthday weekend

It's a pretty awesome tradition if you ask me.  I go on vacation for my birthday... every year.  I don't even plan it that way, April is just a great vacation month.

2006 Caribbean Cruise
2007 Mexican Riviera Cruise
2008 Ohio
2009 Italy
2010 Zion National Park

This year, we headed down to sunny California.  Actually, we went down for our wedding open house.  It was a small casual even at Chris' dad's house.  Juliana planned the whole thing and she did an amazing job! Erik and Juliana have a gorgeous backyard and they did a lot of work in preparation for the event.  It turned out beautifully.

It's a fish cake.  At least that's what it looked like.  Really it was a fried salmon with some kind of sour cream sauce on it.  I heard it was pretty good.

They moved the jaguar outside for the special event.

We had a wonderful time visiting with friends the whole evening.

For my birthday, Chris and I decided to go to Knott's Berry Farm.  It was fun.  We both just love the atmosphere of amusement parks. Then we went straight to an Angel's game.  This boy loves the Angels. It was fun, even though we lost.  

the wedding

I really don't know what to say about the wedding except that it was amazing and perfect and happy.  I tried my best to focus on what the sealer said and loved his message.  I was trying to avoid eye contact with pretty much anyone in my family to help me maintain my composure, but I couldn't help looking around at a room full of the nearest and dearest people in my life.  I am so blessed and so grateful for everyone who came out. Thank you.

Here are a few pictures from that blessed day.

Please take special note of Mike Reid (right between us) because that's just an awesome face.

So these groomsmen have been together for many weddings.  They are seasoned groomsmen and have a wonderful tradition of taking ridiculous pictures.  I love it.  They just do weird stuff so people keep taking pictures, and so long as people are there taking pictures, they'll just keep doing weird stuff.  "You know", Greg Reid said, "They'll just go until someone tells them to stop."

This one is my FAVORITE.  The Brady Bunch fan?  Classic!

Then there are my bridesmaids, Elisha, Sarah, and Lisa.  Not quite as funny but hands-down, more gorgeous than any of Chris' groomsmen (no offense, guys).

My adorable mom with her gloves on.