Off to Wonderland

 Pierre and Briannahs Wedding

June 26, 2011

On a perfectly warm Saturday day in June, guest arrived at Poppa and Melissa's house in Castro Valley, Ca, were they took the leap down the rabbit hole to a land of love and fantasy to be known as Alices Wonderland.

"Begin at the beginning and go on to the end and then Stop" - the King

I ask Briannah what made her choose Alice and wonderland for a theme, and she simple told me that her and Pierre love to drink a lot of tea, it is a nightly ritual that they both hold dear. I adore how something so small could turn into such a wonderful themed wedding.

Family came from all over the country to help these two transform their Grandparents backyard into their own utopia. Plants were placed and planted with care, decorations were hung in just the right manner, every little detail was thought about and set up with loving hands.

This wedding held a special place in my heart, Briannah is like a cousin to me. When I was younger Briannah would hang out with Melissa and I, looking up to what her big cousins were doing and mimic it whether it was good our bad. I am so happy to say that I got to watch her grow up and on this day I got watch this couple promise their love for each. They took a vow to devote to each other love through thick and thin. It was truly a magically day, not only for the Bride and Groom but for the guest as well. We are all so lucky to be able to share in their special day

The next generation of Trouble

Blake, Aj Julian
Melissa, mine and Steffanie's Sons

Exploring the California Acadamy of Science

 One of the joys about living in the Bay Area is all of the amazing places and things to do at our finger tips. On this particular day we journeyed into San Fransisco to visit the California Academy of Science.

We left the hot dry weather of the suburbs and drove into the city, we could feel the tempter drop and soon realized that we did not back enough warm cloth. Luckily the baby had a sweater and a blanket, so he got bundled up for the short walk through Golden Gate Park to the museum.




We meet up with my dear Big Sis Denise and her wonderful family and Boyfriend at the entrance. Everyone was really excited to see each other and to meet the baby for the first time.  I don't get to see my Big very often but when I do it always makes my day. I was so lucky to have found such a wonderful friend and just love spending time with her and her family. Three years ago she meet Paul her AMAZING boyfriend. I love watching the two of them together, they are so cute and you can just tell how much in love they are.



Aaron and I have been to the museum once before and we both Love the rain forest exhibit. They have done such a beautiful job of putting together the Living Rain Forest you "Step inside a living 4-story rain forest, where dripping water sets the beat for a symphony of croaking frogs and chirping birds." You enter at the floor of the forest "and climb into the tree-tops of Costa Rica to find free-flying birds and butterflies." The child in us all came out in the forest, it is amazing to see this beautiful butterfly fluttering around. Their colors and size range from dull brown to vibrant pinks and blue and small as a couple inches to as larger as your whole hand.  You feel as if you are taking a mini vacation and are transferred to a whole new world with out ever getting on a plane. "Finally, descend in a glass elevator into the Amazonian flooded forest, where an acrylic tunnel allows you to walk beneath the catfish and arapaima that swim overhead."


 I love seeing the wonderment and excitement in Aj eyes as a big Catfish swims overhead or when a yellow tropical fish comes up to say hi. I can never say thank you enough to the people who make museums like these possible. With out them we would never be able to pet a star fish or see an albino Alligator swim around. The love and dedication that the employees of the California Science Academy bring to our experience is priceless and very much appreciated