The Summer in Summary

For the first day of school, Morgan was required to bring a drawing of his family and this is what he came up with. I thought it was pretty funny, detailing our summer travels and even differentiating between the dark rental car in Costa Rica vs. the white Pilot w/ hard top everywhere else. The house in Maryland is Rich & Jill's and the one in Ohio is Mama Dee's house. That pretty well sums up our summer I guess.

Today was the first day for Morgan and went on without a missing a beat. He happily ran to the playground and said hi to his teachers as if summer was just any other weekend hiatus. It was good to see everyone and it's great to be back!

Summer Chapter 4: Zanesville, OH

 

After Maryland, we headed up to Zanesville, Ohio to spend time with Ed's grandmother, Tita Didit, Dr. O, Tito Eddie and Pia. Little did I know the week would turn out to be a tennis camp for me! Dr. O, Didit and Ed and myself played doubles 3 times and then they got me a private lesson as a belated birthday gift. I had never played 4 days in a row so I was sore, but it was fun and I am feeling more confident in my game. Just need to work on those darn serves...

All week, Mama Nena made us such good food and it was great to relax while Pia watched the kids a lot. (Thanks Pia!) We took the kids to see "Planes" (Dean is 3 for 3 at falling asleep in the movie theater) and played around at the house. Mama and Didit said they liked the house filled with the noises of the kids and will miss them when they're gone.

The summer has gone by fast and now it's time to start our trek back to Austin. It'll take 3.5 days with overnight stops in Franklin, TN, Little Rock, AR and Dallas, TX. It'll be good to get back to Austin and get settled in before school starts. Morgan's first day is Aug 26th and Dean will be starting 2 days/week beginning Sept 3! I am very excited. Both kids in school = I get a break : ) It comes at a good time with lots of house planning in the near future. Latest builder updates project the new house will be complete by the end of October! Check out the latest video here.

Mama Dee's *Surprise* 60th Party

 

During our last weekend in Maryland, we threw a party for Ed's Tita (Aunt) Didit who will turn 60 this September. A lot of extended family drove down for the event, so it was a great opportunity to see family we haven't seen for a while. While I think Didit suspected the party, we still had some surprises in store for her such as Dr. O serenading as Elvis (see video) and her kids Dane and Grace who flew in from San Francisco and New York. Throughout the night, there was roasting & toasting, dancing, karaoke, and it wouldn't be a Filipino party without lechon (a whole roasted pig).

While everyone was together, I wanted to present Ed's 40th birthday gift which will be later this October since everyone at the party helped to make it happen. Ed was shocked to find out that he will be going to Wailea Fantasy Tennis Camp in Maui, Hawaii this November, instructed by Lindsay Davenport. Linda and Tita Tisset will be flying out to Austin to watch the kids and I will go with him, although not attending the camp. Tita Didit let us use her time share for the hotel and many family members helped contribute in leiu of buying him a gift. Thank you everyone for your generosity and I am glad we were able to share in the reveal. I couldn't have put this trip together without you!

The next morning, as tradition would have it when company is in town, we had lunch at New Fortune in Gaithersburg. Later with full bellies, the kids raced on the grass just out front and we all said our farewells. It was so good to see everyone! We miss you!

Debbie & Bryan's Wedding in Ft. Collins, Colorado

During our stay in Maryland, my good high school friend Debbie was getting married in Ft. Collins, Colorado. Luckily, Ed had help with the kids with me gone for the weekend. Let me first just say that this is the wedding invitation that I got back in June that stated "blah blah blah... ceremony to be followed by rafting down the Poudre River. Reception to follow." I did not really know what to expect other than that sounded SOOO Debbie : ) Packing was another question...

After getting in late on Friday, my other high school friend Sarah and I walked around Ft. Collins and had brunch. It was a cute college town with a very laid back feel. Lots of breweries and restaurants and very walkable. After a few hours, it was about time to get ready for the wedding. We met Bryan's parents in the lobby who were kind enough to drive us to the ceremony at the Mishawaka Ampitheater. It was a beautiful day, but when we arrived the wedding had been set up inside of the dark bar despite confirmed arrangements to have it outside overlooking the river. Bryan's parents talked to the staff who explained the Indigo Girls who would be playing later that night needed to do their sound check. About that time, Debbie and Bryan arrived and Debbie was in tears when she saw what was going on. This being our first time seeing her, Sarah and I instantly went into "friend" mode and corralled her into the bathroom. I went to check on the status and overheard the Indigo Girls' Production Manager saying that they didn't car what happened before 3:00. It was 2:15. So guests scurried to move the chairs outside and I ran to the bathroom to tell Debbie to get in her dress fast! Thankfully, it all worked out and the ceremony was beautiful. Bryan came in on a raft (he is a rafting guide after all) and in full traditional Scottish garb (just because he liked it, not because he's Scottish : ). DJ looked beautiful in her floor-length gown. I had to admit the dress surprised me considering she's not a traditional girl : ) Drummers and kazoos played while her dad escorted her down the aisle (see video).

 

After the ceremony, there was a toast before Debbie and Bryan walked down to the raft marked with a "Just Married" sign and floated down the Poudre River. (Really just around the other side of the restaurant, and then most of the guests got changed while Debbie and Bryan stayed in their wedding clothes and we all hopped on a bus to start rafting further down the river). For as sunny as it was at the reception, the clouds came in and the temperature dropped about 15 degrees for the 1.5 hr rafting journey. Good thing we had beer and adrenaline to keep us warm : ) A few people fell out at the class 4 section, one of which was Sarah, but it was smiles the whole way and we were glad we did it despite being tentative in the beginning. When in Rome, right?

paddle high-five!

grand exit

Debbie even wore her veil under her helmet!

the rafting drop-off point

On the way to the reception, we found out that there had been a tornado 20 miles away and a storm which explained the temperature drop. During the bus drive, we saw a fat rainbow off in the distance.

rainbow on the way to the reception

reception at the rafting company where Bryan works

view at reception

Mr. & Mrs. Holman!

woo hoo!

Sarah & Debbie's sister Amy

thank you whoever let me borrow their fleece! It was so cold!

the volleyball dance floor

At the reception, we danced and drank lots of local beer. It was a great reunion and it was so nice to see Debbie in her element. Ft. Collins really suits her and she seems so happy with Bryan and her life there.

The next morning, there was a brunch before I caught a ride to the airport with Bryan's parents. Thanks Debbie and Bryan for a great time, I'm so happy I was able to share it with you!

scenery on drive to airport