Makena's Dance Recital

Finally caught up on the most recent event! This last Wednesday was Makena's second dance recital for Temecula Dance Company. Can I just say, she was seriously the cutest little dancer out there! I crack up that she was partnered with the only boy in the group and boy can she shake it! Here are a few pictures! Again, I failed to bring my camera along :( Thank goodness for the Iphone lifesaver again (and a few sent from my sis)!

Shake it little lady!
Nana and Pop Pop
Proud Mommy and Daddy

Uncle Mike was able to make it this year and loved seeing her perform! :) He said he laughed so hard he had tears in his eyes...sure, he was soooo touched to see her dancing! ;)

Firefighter Olympics

The California Firefighter Olympics is when most fire departments (from Northern and Southern California) compete in competitions such as softball, paddle boarding, surfing, etc. Mike was set to play with his department (Huntington Beach Fire Department) and play softball.

Luckily the Olympics was hosted by Newport Beach Fire Department so we didn't have to go too far. We ventured up to Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach for a few days while he was off on his 6 day break for him to play in the softball tournament.

On his first day, they played 2 games. They won the first, but lost the second. The weather was perfect for some softball watching! Mike's mom came with us to help me cheer Mike and his team on! When Mike was little, he used to watch his dad compete in the same tournaments. This time, he was actually playing! On the second day, they also played two games. I can't remember if they won or lost :( Mike scored TWO home runs for his team! Yay! We were so nervous (brought back memories for Mike's mom when he used to play baseball) when he was up to bat! What a great few days that was! Looking forward to next year and hoping it's hosted by a department that is close by!

Location, Location, Location

Before we got engaged, I loved looking at wedding blogs for ideas that I would use someday when planning my own wedding. I wasn't impatient was I? Well, I came across a blog that had featured a wedding at a beautiful venue that happened to be in Irvine. I did my research and found the exact location. Mike and I took a trip to Orange County one day (before the proposal even came!) and checked out the venue. We both L-O-V-E-D it. It was the perfect place and fit our style.

At the start of summer break, we got to visit the venue to see an actual wedding set up and were able to see how everything all comes together for the special day. We took our families and they also shared our love for this beautiful place.

After searching the Internet and wedding magazines, we finally came to the decision that this was the place and nothing else was going to do. We love the beach (obviously), but had so many reservations about the weather, etc. and just didn't feel like it fit our style we were trying to accomplish either.




We made the important decision to meet with the site coordinator and were so pleased with everything the venue offered.

Here it is!

Strawberry Farms is located on a beautiful golf course that is hidden in the hills of Irvine. It's west of the 405 which means it's closer to the beach (that is a major "plus" since Irvine can get warm!). The barn is what sold us! It is such a unique venue and will fit our vintage style just perfect!

The day we met with the coordinator was a fun day spent with my mom! While my mom and I went into the barn to measure, plan, etc. Mike hit some golf balls on the driving range. He loves that the venue is at a golf course.

We ventured over to the restaurant and had a wonderful lunch out on the veranda! What a great day it was and what perfect weather too! We can only hope that we will have perfect weather July 20, 2012! :)
Mike and I planned to go back to Strawberry Farms this July 20th to celebrate a year away from our special day (his idea! Just love his thoughtfulness), but unfortunately he was on shift that day :( We will have plenty of return trips! In fact, we plan on going back next Friday to have lunch before I have to go back to work.

Baby Boy Cohen

We waited and waited (patiently-Mike, impatiently-Me) for the phone call that my sister was going into labor. We awoke at 2:30 a.m. to find out that she was on her way to Fallbrook. Yay! I tried my best to go back to sleep, but was just way too excited! We drove out to Fallbrook to wait for the little man's debut! We were all a little exhausted from being up so early, but waited patiently in the waiting room! The tiny waiting room was packed with our family, Kevin's family, Ryan (Mike's brother), and Carole (Mike's mom). It was such a funny experience to have Makena with us because it seemed like it was just yesterday that we were waiting for her debut. She was no longer going to be the baby :(
We waited some more hoping that we could see him through the window since we hadn't heard anything for a while. No such luck...he didn't want to make his appearance yet.
He's here! Look at those smiles! ;) *I missed the opportunity to snap a family picture with Kevin :( Sorry! Just another example of my poor picture taking skills this summer :(
I just melt when I look at this picture. Just too precious.
Nana holding baby Cohen for the first time :) He is already wrapped around her finger like Makena!

Since we went in shifts, I didn't get a chance to get a picture of Pop Pop and baby Cohen together :(

Uncle Mike is so excited to have a little boy to play Legos with! Although he does love playing Polly Pockets with Makena! Love this little man so much!!!!!!
Such a precious little face and so tiny!
This little one is so in love with her little brother!

A little (to say the least) behind

As the last day of school approached, I promised myself that I would keep up with my blog since I knew there would be plenty to blog about this summer. I had my plan set that this summer would be to plan for our wedding, relax, and of course, blog. Instead, I sit here with an empty blog and an empty camera. Thank goodness for an iphone and other people who have been responsible enough to bring a camera along for the memories. Here is a brief explanation of what's been going on..

Baby Cohen: Oh my goodness...absolutely in love with this little man. He is just too precious and we cannot get enough of him. And as for Makena, I am in total shock (still) that she is going to be a kindergartner...where did time go?? She is the cutest Big Sis and so good to her brother! Pictures to come soon of his birthday! ;)

Plenty (way too many) of doctor visits: I've experienced a migraine or two before, but nothing like experiencing them once or twice in one week for over a month straight. I was having them so often that I panicked (shocked? I bet not.) and told my doctor that I thought I needed a brain scan (MRI) just to make sure there wasn't something more serious going on...he thought I was nuts, but ordered my scan. Luckily, everything came back great...needless to say, these awful migraines have made me nuts all summer and have prevented me from doing so many things that I had on my "To Do" list :( I blame these (number one reason for sure!) for my lack of blogging!!!!!!!!

Wedding planning: I was so sad to not fulfill everything that I wanted to accomplish this summer. I had so many ideas that were put on hold due to those pesky migraines :( I did, however, manage to build my own wedding binder (which I'm quite embarrassed by. It's a little, um, OCD). Sadly, we came to the conclusion that everything is just way too expensive and really had to come to the harsh reality of making our budget smaller than we had anticipated. It's so crazy how everything is outrageously inflated when it has anything to do with a wedding. One BIG decision we made was finding our photographer. Check her out: (http://www.bethanybelleblog.net/). The second I saw her work, I knew she was the one for us! We are so excited she will be shooting our engagement session (love the ones she has shot..check them out on her site) and our special day! It now all comes down to pretty much the little things that I have been dreaming and envisioning for months now. :) Let the fun begin!


Amongst all of that, add in a TON of beach days (can you blame us?), great family time, Huntington Beach Fire Department firefighter Olympics, Padre Game, pool days, Makena's dance recital, plenty of trips to Strawberry Farms, and throw in a few crafty days here and there (I was lucky if I squeezed in 3).

Did I mention any sort of vacation or getaway? Not this summer! Looking forward to that honeymoon next summer! We have been looking into the Maldives! Yay!

There ya have it...my long explanation of why I have been such a blogging slacker. Please forgive my lack of blogging and I promise to add pictures soon! ;)

P.S. Um, Where did summer go? So sad :(