day #2 newport beach

aunt paula, my mom and aunt nancy

kate and cousin mika playing in the waves

so it's been said that i am not much of a blogger. i am merely a picture poster...

and ya know what? i am completely OK with that. i know darn well my readers aren't tuning in for my lack luster commentary. and i won't even promise to try to do better. i will just continue posting pictures of the moments that are near and dear to us.

day #2 was our marathon day. it started with the kids adjusting beautifully to the California time zone and sleeping until almost 8AM. and for our little peeps that was 11am NC time-ahhhh! we showered up had some red berry cereal in the room and went down to check out the resort. being a bit brisk we passed on the pool and opted for the sand box. trey couldn't have been happier however Kate tired quickly of the sand between her toes.

as were stood there i felt as if someone was staring at me. i looked up and on the second floor balcony just outside Starbucks there stood three familiar faces. we had no idea when we put this trip together that two of my aunts and my youngest cousin from Iowa were planning on being in California at the same time. and even more ironic i had no idea that my aunt Paula had lived in Newport beach 30 years prior. they were kind enough to come to us and spend the day showing us around. we toured the city, played on the beach and enjoyed an amazing lunch at the Harborside. by late afternoon we were all exhausted and we retired to our rooms for a quick cat nap before meeting uncle john and the sloman clan out for dinner. and again a crazy coincidence. the restaurant that our friends has chosen to meet us at was the same restaurant my aunt had tended bar at... a very cool blast from her past. we enjoyed a hearty Mexican fiesta and several pitchers of margaritas.

from there is was back to our rooms for yet another short cat nap. Milka took the kiddos to bed and Pete, john and i later met up with my aunt Nancy and two of her girls, meg and Laura. Laura flew in from San Fran and meg lives in hermosa beach. they arrived around 1030pm and we were off to celebrate Laura's 24th birthday. so in the spirit of family ties we took the poor girl out and proceeded to get her looped. we actually closed the bar down. i can't remember the last time I've been up that late.

thanks for all the laughs girls. it was great to see you. lots of love!