Cousins

Cousins are great! The girls just love their cousins. They loved getting to meet baby Jackson while in California! We also got a chance to hang out with Elliott and Caiden as well! Such a sweet time! We wished we all lived closer!

Time with cousins at the beach!

Elliott, Hazel, Caiden, and Jade <3

<3

MON

While in California, one of my oldest and most dear friend, Joanne, was playing around with my "little" camera (in comparision to her nice, big, cool pro camera) and snapped a few photos. I thought I would share a few because they are of my lovely Jade.

I still have so many other things to share, so there will be a dozen more California posts. 

Love,

Mon

Memories of California

We have been home for a little over a week and I am now just downloading the nearly 1,000 photos I took.  One of the early memories of our trip was Hazel and Jade making freshly squeezed orange juice with oranges from Abuelitas tree.

More photos to come!

Lots of Love!

God Bless <3

Mon

We are having so much fun here in California. I am already bracing myself for the inevitable heartbreak that occurs when we leave but we are enjoying every second we have with our sweet family. Hazel has been beyond excited about being in California with Abuelita and her aunties, and baby cousin Jackson. Tonight she got to sleep with Abuelita in her bed, and was so very happy!

Love,
Mon

Paletas

We discovered a place called La Michoacana about 40 minutes from our home that sells homemade ice cream of the Mexican variety. We decided on watermelon for Hazel, coconut for Jade, and Tamarindo for Joe. It reminded me of growing up hearing the jingle of the paleta man outside. He was the ice cream man in our neighborhood. My favorite is actually chili cucumber but my stomach could not handle it that day so I shared coconut with Jade. It was a nice little treat that made me feel a little bit at home even if the store called them popsicles, for all the gringos. I chatted with an employee who was from Oxnard, Ca. She even pointed to a truck outside that had a LA Dodgers license plate holder, belonging to her brother. Oh, I missed Cali so much, but the paleta and the friendly conversation helped!

Fabulous Friends

While in Cali, my super fabulous friend Joanne Cox (http://awakeningdream.blogspot.com/) was so gracious to lend her awesome photographic skills to taking some pics of the girls. Here are a few (hopefully more to come, uuhhhh huuummmm Jo send me some more!)....

Thank you so much Joanne, you are such a special and important person in our lives. We love you so much...

mon

Princess Hazel Rei

The things that fill Hazel's head and come out of her mouth would astound you. The latest and greatest has got to be, "MOM, how am I going to find a husband?" and she was serious. Joe and I tell her to pray and that God will bring her a Godly husband someday...much later...much much later when she is way older (preferably after college, travel, and when she is 30). Or, perhaps how she speaks of her & Joe getting married, in two weeks she says...she is a crack up. Hazel Rei is in love with anything princess. She has yet to actually watch a "princess" movie so I'm a bit surprised that she seems to be so knowledgeable, irregardless she is a girl and thus very much infatuated with the idea of being a princess.

Joe & I had the opportunity to bring two of her dreams to fruition during out California vacation. We were able to visit Disneyland where Hazel was able to meet a few princesses, after we waited in line for about an hour (fun, fun, fun). I will tell you one thing, Disneyland takes on a new meaning with children. I had an agenda of what I wanted to see & ride, and yeah pretty much didn't get to do nearly all of it but it was ok. Abuelita and Auntie Ginger were able to watch Hazel & Jade for a bit while Joe & I snuck in a couple of rides.

Much love,

MON

The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel

The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel holds special significance to Joe and I. Joe started working there as the overnight cook when we were dating. I started working there as a front desk agent during the first year of our marriage. We grew closer together when I worked there, we were able to actually spend time together with coordinated days off. We made really amazing friends there, it grew to be a type of mini family...the Ritz Carlton employees really embraced our growing family. Many of our Ritz friends have moved on and are now scattered all over the U.S and abroad, some are still there, nevertheless they all, and the the hotel, mean so much to us.

During the 1st part of our trip we were privileged to be able to spend a glorious night at our former hotel. We had a beautiful room with a ocean view. We ate like kings, feasting on a 7+ course meal made specially by our dear friends. We swam in the pool, relaxed in the jacuzzi. Jade & I even trekked down the steep hill to salt creek beach and played in the sand. It was truly a wonderful day & evening....I wish we could of stayed there longer. It is safe to stay that Laguna and the Ritz will always feel like home.