Wild Hogs

This is the post you have all been waiting for. This was the newest member of our family...for a weekend. We had wind blowing in our ears and through our clothes with helmets on our heads and nothing but engine between us and the road. Jon first took me on a joy ride to station 41 in search of his camera to officially document his road trip.

That's right, I said road trip. After a good nights sleep dreaming not of sugar plums, but the big black beast, he mounted his ride and was feeling the vibe. Sweet kisses were blown with waves of good bye. With fingers in both ears and a prayer in our hearts, we were anxiously awaiting Jon's return. He met up with 3 other wild hogs and headed off to the coast.

Highway 1 was the route with nothing but curves.
To stop smiling would be...well just wrong; all laughter from here.After they watched the sun set they grabbed a bite to eat and shacked up in a hotel for the night. Soon they were back on the road with the fresh air blowing in their face.We were very grateful to have Jon return with heart beating and full brain functioning. He hopes to do it again in the very near future.

Underwater!

Like I have been saying, Rylee is a fish. Now we have official documentation. Jon got an under water camera to take pics!!! We were all having a blast!!!!! Not bad for a 1.5 year old!!!

Apple Hill

This is the first time we had ever been to Apple Hill, close to Placerville. There are over 50 different ranches who are apart of Apple Hill with muliple orchards each. We stopped off at the first orchard we came to called "Abel's Acres".

They provide anything from berries, to multiple other types of fruits, to pumpkins, to christmas trees, to organic vegetables, to wine and cider, and spa etc.
We have heard such great things about it and the fun activities that families and kids can do. I got a couple tastes of fudge, all sorts of odd flavors and Jon got some fresh apples and asian pears. Very good!!! We tested Rylee out on one of the miniture ponies but that didn't go over so well. So we observed from a great distance.

There was a lot of little art stands to walk in and out of. Our most favorite stand was the scenory photography. They were so beautiful.

The Velvet Robe

Here is one of Jon's co-workers, Scott. Scott was in Jon's academy and is the EMT on the ambulance with Jon. At station 41 they have an evening tradition. This tradition dates back to... well about 7 years ago now where the "A" shift crew was sick and tired of watching TV after dinner. One night they decided to sit out on the "veranda" as they call it (the ambulance / fire engine driveway), have a cup of coffee and a cigar, and watch the world go by, tell war stories, or watch the crazy people come and go from Jimboy's Tacos just across the street.In these pictures you see a very popular jacket wore in the Victorian times. This is called a smoking jacket. Men used to wear these jackets while smoking tobacco products (usually from a pipe or cigars) because it was believed that the "sensitive and delicate" nostrils of ladies would be offended by the pungent fumes of tobacco clinging to their everyday clothing. These jackets are usually waist length made out of velvet or silk and usually are made in rich colors such as burgundy and bottle green.

Scott happened to come across a rare smoking jacket and thought it would be hilarious to carry on the tradition "gentlemen" style and get a velvet robe of his own. They had to take pictures before they all busted a gut laughing. :-) Silly men, the things they come up with!!!

At the park with dad

Jon is such a great photographer and I love displaying his work.

Here they are at our park just around the corner from our house.

Sleeping after a long hard day of play!!!!!

Sac Metro BBQ

The day started off pretty rough with Rylee waking up with vomit just about everywhere in her bed. She was just sitting up and playing...it's as if she was saying, "No big deal, dad". He thought it was diarrhea at first and that she was playing in it. Gross!!!

For the rest of the day she didn't eat anything but dry cereal and pretzels. Poor little Rylee's tummy. :-( What another hot day!! Can you tell my favorite season is...well, cold. Here Rylee is sitting on the bumper of a fire truck.

We had a great time swinging on the swings over and over and over again. We ate BBQ and listened to one of Sac Metro's bands. They were fabulous playing lots of stuff people knew. They even let the little kids up on the stage to sing and dance!!! Later that evening we went to Aimee's house for a big family dinner. Chad our cousin is on a mission here in Sacramento and is in the Elk Grove part of the mission and happens to be in Aimee's ward. Small world!!!! Everything was going great until the incident...little Rebekah got her little chin punctured by sweet Sadie's jaws (Oma's dog). After a bunch of commotion, Aimee and Mat left for the ER with Rebekah's bloody chin dripping down her shirt. After a few hours they deemed her fine to go home. She is now healing up very well according to Aimee.

Lil' Diva

When I tell Rylee to say, "Cheese", this is the face she makes saying, "Sheez".

Here Rylee is sporting the mommy diva look. I think she pulls it off quite well. She is such a riot!!!

Labor Day

For Labor Day weekend we went to Lake Rollins just up past Auburn. We met the Torres' and the Barbero's and a few others for some fun. We just went for the day on Saturday. Here Rylee is testing out her new camping chair. We played in the water since it was hot hot hot and then BBQ'd while Rylee wripped her hair out and played in the dirt. She met a new friend there, though she was 5 times her age. That dirt kept her from looking caucasian after 2 minutes in the stuff. By the way that red dirt STAINED her white tank top!!!! AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!Water toys are so much funner out of the water!!!!

Extreme Make Over

So Rylee's hair fits up in pigtails, I know, a milestone in a little girls life. :-) Jon came home from work and said that I shouldn't do her hair like that anymore because she looks too grown up. Our little one ready to conquer the world!!! It's extreme make over El Dorado style!!! It's amazing how a new hair do can change her whole look.