Ryan's Graduation...Officially Ready for Kindergarten!!

You gotta love a preschool that accepts an invitation to have a graduation at a winery.  A little girl in Ryan's class is lucky to live at this place! Oak Farm Winery might be the coolest place I have been in a while.  More pictures to come down below, but it is only fair we talk about the boy who graduated today!  (BTW...Music choice selected by Ryan because it is one of his three favorite songs)

The procession walking in...

I was lucky enough to snap this picture when he was looking at me...because he wouldn't make eye contact most of the walk in.

Look closely at the bottom of this picture...there is a slight wave of his hand.  It's slight, but it's there!

Ryan getting his award from his teacher Ms. Lori.  She has been the best teacher for him and we have loved having her as his teacher.

A proud, proud boy!!

There Star of the Week posters were hung all along the outside patio area.  Notice that Kobe got an honorable mention three times and there is only one picture of his parents.

Perfect place for a bounce house!

The eating area.  Next to this is an old barn with light strung across..perfect place for parties.

Time to go....Happy Graduation Ryan!!!!

And now a picture walk of Oak Farm Winery. 

The old barn and the new patio structure.

Even though they hold events on the property, the family lives at the main house which is located in the middle of property.

 This is where the ceremony was held.  The large oak tree, the center focus of the back property is unbelievably beautiful.

This is the view past the oak tree on the opposite side.

And one shall never go without a man-made pond in your backyard.

Out back by the pool.

My summer to-do list.  We are making the boys learn how to swim this summer.  They don't want to simply because they have a fear of just trying to learn, but safety out rules everything and it's time to be safe.  Isn't this picture pitiful?  Rules are...If you can't swim, you don't get to get near a pool.  Hopefully this will motivate them to learn!

Mother's Day 2012

Happiest of Mother's Day to all mothers.

I kicked off my Mother's Day at my happiest place yesterday...The Spa at Wine and Roses.
I have to thank my dear friend Jenn who is one of the managers there and suggested someone who she thought I would enjoy for my masseuse.  Best. Massage. Ever.  Me and the MGC Ladies went to an early breakfast and then headed over to The Nest where we abused our bathrobe and flip flop privileges of lounging for a couple of hours, enjoying our services, and then lounging for a couple more hours.  It was such a beautiful day we even threw on our suits and took in a little sun.  After, we headed for a late lunch before returning back to reality.  It was heavenly and just what we all needed.

Sunday morning, I woke up to a VERY anxious little boy who was so over this "waiting for Mother's Day" thing to happen.  He stood over me just until he was positive I was awake and then ran into the living room, "She's awake, she's awake."  Okay, technically...I wasn't and I REALLY wanted to roll over and continue sleeping, but I thought I had tortured him enough.  You see, it is SO difficult for a five year old to make a gift for you days before and keep it a secret.  He has wanted to tell me for days what he made me and I have cut him off several times yelling..."Don't tell me!!!  I don't want to know!!  I want to be surprised!!!"  Because I do.  I LOVE surprises.  I don't like it when I know what I am getting...ever.  Remember Rich knowing that we were having boys each time and I didn't have a clue???  That's me...it's my thing.  Period.  So, I held true to my guns and I wouldn't let him tell me.  And it made this morning even better.

As I rolled over to get up, I noticed two maps on the pillows next to me. One from Matthew and the other from Ryan. They were maps to each of my gifts. Maps in hand, I headed down the hall for a game of "warmer/colder." I found Ryan's first (not because of the map...because the map was...unique). When I found it he squealed with delight and I finally was able to open his gift.

Ryan kept saying, "See Mom, it's from me.  It says, 'Love, Ryan'.  See, and that person is me.  It says Ryan."

My candle holder...  How sweet is this??

The next treasure I found (from the more accurate map) was from Matt.

This is the first of two cards from Matthew.

Do you love the "letting me live"?  And then asking for something in return...

And here is me in my housecoat. 

Okay, I'm over the housecoat....look what he put inside. :)

After the gifts, we headed to breakfast.  The best part of breakfast was Matthew and his meal.  By the time we actually got to breakfast, it was late and the boys were HUNGRY!  Matthew wanted pancakes and not just kid pancakes, but adult pancakes...two adult pancakes.  We tried to tell him that it was too much, but he insisted he could finish them both.  Even our waitress looked at him and said, "Really?"

He is feeling pretty confident.

Last bite...

I am not proud of this at all!!!!!!!!!!

One should not be so pleased with himself...he doesn't even look miserable!  However, when you have your younger brother chanting, "Man vs. Food, Man vs. Food, Man vs. Food!!!," it gives you that extra boost to finish off your meal.

After that we headed home for a day of laziness.  I finished Book Two of Fifty Shades, started another book, napped, had dinner, then booked my two spa treatments for our Hawaii trip.  All in all....a good day.  I'm blessed!

Sad News...

Last November we were lucky enough to go and have dinner at Fire Station #1 downtown Lodi.  Here is the link from the post I did after we went.  It was an amazing experience.  Not only did we get a tour of the station, play around with some fire equipment, we also got to have dinner with all of the fireman.  During dinner we were able to ask questions and hear stories about there day to day life and different calls they had been on.  One gentleman in particular, Captain Joe Hansen, was extremely friendly and very gracious to us throughout the entire night.  In fact, talking to him through dinner was the one of the highlights of the evening.  And that is why it was devastating to hear that he had passed away Friday.

As we left that night, we had realized that this rare opportunity we had just experienced was something truly special and we are forever grateful for our night with them.  Especially Captain Hansen.

Captain Hansen is on the right, listening in to our friend John explain things to the kids.