Concerts!

April 2015: Maroon 5

In April we went to the Maroon 5 concert at the LA forum.  It was sooooo fun!  

Christine Chavez and Christi Postoian were able to come with us

Adam Levine!  

We got to go to the concert again with some friends from Ian's work! 

Disneyland Fun

March 2015

We loved going to Disneyland with our annual passes of the 2015 year.  When Melissa Jones (Christi Postoian's sister) came to visit with her kids we had a great time meeting up with them and all the kids.  See below at Disneyland with Melissa, Christi and Melissa Lane and kids!  

L-R Tavin Jones, Melissa Jones holding Shad Jones, Delani Postoian, Melissa Lane holding Gwen Lane, Kirra Jones, Lorelai Lane, Christi Postoian and MaKayla Postoian holding Charlotte Lane.

All these kids had a great time at Disneyland!

Melissa Jones with her niece MaKayla Postoian 

Kirra Jones and Lorelai Lane

Disney date night with no kids!  Jergensens, Lanes and Postoians

Happy Birthday to Elyse!  Spent her 6th birthday at the happiest place on earth with friends and family! Pictured here (L-(L-R) Elyse, Ellie, Gwen, Bonnie and Lorelai!  

All the party girls with the one and only Minnie Mouse!
(L-R) Ellie, Sage, Cozette, Gwen, Elyse, Lorelai and Bonnie

Gwen's 4th Birthday

Happy 4th Birthday Gwennie 2015

Gwen loves her "bitty baby" from American Girl doll.  So for her birthday she chose to go to the American Girl Doll store and have a fancy lunch with her Grandma Susie, Lorelai and mommy.  We let the girls bring their dolly strollers so they could walk their dolls to the store.  Gwen brought Bitty Baby to lunch and Lorelai brought my doll that I grew up with, Samantha.  

Happy 4th Birthday Gwen!

After the visit to the store, Lorelai is wishing for this doll, Grace, the girl of the year for 2015.

We had a little family party for Gwen at Christi's house.  Grandma Susie, Grandpa Vern, Grandpa Cordell and Grandma Janette all came over.  Along with Mike, Stevie and Nathan!  We had dinner and cake and ice cream to celebrate our Gwennie girl!

We had a little family/friend dinner for Gwen at Christi's house

Lorelai, Ian, Gwen Lane with Aunt Stevie holding Nathan McDonald and Delani Postoian

Delani & MaKayla Postoian crafting with Gwennie (baby Charlotte is behind)

Grandpa Cordell & Grandma Janette McDonald

Uncle Michael & Cousin Nathan McDonald

Grandma Susie and Grandpa Vern Sewell

Back in Cali

January 2015

We're back!  Back to sunshine, ocean, palm trees and mountains!  Back to warm weather.  Back to Family.  Back to Friends.  So happy to be back!  

the girls wouldn't let each other go!  so excited to see each other

these two were so happy to see each other again!  Lorelai and Elyse

One of our first stops was Grandma and Grandpa McDonald and In N Out! I had missed this warm winter weather and sunshine!

As soon as I got back Christi and I went out and saw So you Think you Can Dance show!
Awesome girls night out!

Fancy feet

My Birthday

Happy Birthday to me!  I love birthdays.  I mean who doesn't?  This year I turned 33 and it wasn't epic, but it was sweet and simple.  I was certainly missing my family and friends this year, but moving away really makes you feel loved because people actually have to put in real effort for your birthday.  My mom sent me a giftcard so I could get a workout dvd she knew I had been wanting...plus she threw in an added cash surprise so I could get a new outfit!  Thanks mom!  And my dad and Janette sent me this adorable cookie jar Janette knew I was coveting!  Janette always has such thoughtful gifts.  And my lovely friend Lizzy sent me super cutey cute Toms (hot pink-my fav!)But the biggest surprise came when Christi (mind you had already given me a birthday gift) sent me a care package the day before.  The box came as a hug surprise filled with party hats, streamers, balloons, cake mix & frosting, a banner, candles, noise makers...it was basically a party in a box!  Already constantly feeling emotional, I burst into tears when I opened it.  So thoughtful and creative.  This girl knows me so well.  To make matters worse, Liz sent me a birthday card the same day with a heartfelt message, so I was just sitting in the car crying and feeling so grateful for my family and friends and missing them so much.

the morning of my birthday the girls were anxious to decorate.  so we got the party
started at 7am.  sorry dad!  ian had worked all night so he could be home with me to
celebrate that day.  he gave me the gift of time and i didn't appreciate it enough that day. 
so thank you, love!  you are the best! ps sorry for waking you with noise makers

this is my kinda par-tay!  hot pink, turquoise and coral, yes please!

So we spontaneously drove to Austin, Texas to check it out.  Lots of cool art spots.  Reminded me of LA



we went to dinner in Austin and ate on the patio of course!

Lorelai took this picture of us

Texas or Bust!

Ian decided to take a job with Ensign Group in Texas, as a healthcare administrator managing a short term rehabilitation facility.  We found out we would be training in San Antonio for 6 months and then once Ian was certified would be given a facility to manage somewhere in Southern Texas.  This is the biggest move and one of the biggest decisions we have ever made.  I have lived in a 60 mile radius in Southern California my entire life, so moving to Texas really made me nervous and anxious, but excited for a new start with Ian's job.  The choice to move to a state where housing is so much affordable and schools are predominantly ranked better was one of the leading factors in our decision to move.  This would help solidify me being able to stay home full time with my girls, and that was the most important reason above all else.  So here we go.  Texas or Bust!





Loading up the truck to Texas!  Thank you Randy, Dad and Vern for helping Ian

And we're off!  Here we go to Texas.  The girls are equipped with coloring books, snacks, candy
toys and all kinds of other goodies thanks to Christi Postoian and Leisa Plocher who put together
goody bags for them to take on the trip. 

We made it to New Mexico!  Stopped to grab a bite at this yummy Mexican food restaurant



  

So happy to be free and out of the car!



The girls made it!  Playing around in their new room

Let the work begin

So happy to be in their own bed tonight!

Saying Goodbye to Cali

It was a whirlwind of outings trying to fit as many excursions and seeing people in before we made the big move to Texas.  Saying goodbye to all these lovely people in my life was so hard, but I knew I'd see them again when we come visit Cali.  Which hopefully will be sooner than later! 

the girls and Grandma Susie on their "grandma day" they spent all day with grandma and grandpa
at the Long Beach Aquarium before we moved

  

Gwen's nursery leader and my lovely friend Sis Green.  I was so happy to have Alicia as Gwen's
nursery leader and she always talked about "her sister green" whom she loved too!  we miss her!

Before we moved Elyse and Lorelai spent the whole day together.  These two girls have been best buddies practically since birth!  Leaving each other was hard, and she still talks about how she missed Elyse and wants her to visit.  Elyse gave Lorelai a friendship bracelet that matched hers so they can always remember each other! I'm heartbroken these two won't be growing up together. They are the cutest and love each other so much!

You know you're good friends when you can spend 5 hours talking at a restaurant and never
run out of things to say.  We will miss our friends Liz and Jeremy Jergensen so much! 

Grandpa Ed!  These girls love their great grandpa Ed Ludloff!  They think he's a big teddy bear!
Gonna miss visiting my grandpa in Long Beach and going to lunch with him.  He's so fun! 

Last day to see our best friends, the Postoians.  I can't even think how I'm going to manage life without Christi.  She's always there for me! They are family to us and we love them so!  They came to see us off to Texas and I appreciated that more than words can say.  I love this family!

Ian and his Randy

Everyone was holding someone, and we told my dad to hold the dog so he wasn't empty handed!

Gonna miss you dad!  Love hanging out at your house and our long talks!  Can't wait to see you soon

Girls night with my girls I became friends with in Canyon Crest.  I love these girls! 
Lacy Merrill, Gina Silva, Alicia Green, Melissa Lane, Michelle Gifford, Michelle Lauritzen

Saying goodbye to these ladies was rough.  They have been my friends since I moved back to Riverside. For over 5 years these ladies have made dinners for me, babysat for me, helped me, laughted with me, celebrated with me. I love them so!
Liz Jergensen, Mellissa Hafer, Melissa Lane, April Hunsaker, Christi Postoian, Karen Fry (missing Angie Giles and Susie Demke)