Summer trip to California- 2009

We spent 5-1/2 weeks in Calfirnia this past summer. After living in Costa Rica for a year this was our first visit back and we packed much into it! It was soooo much fun to reconnect iwth friends and family! It's taken me a month to get this post up, you can see we took many picutres but even with that said there were so many moments and connections we did not capture on film but have cherished memories that we hold dear!
Lisa and McKenna at Lisa's Portuguese family reunion at her Grandma's Ranch- Newman California. McKenna has grown tall this past year, she reminds me often that she's going to pass me up soon and it's destined to happen.








Lisa and Tatum, who's always smiling, she's lost 3 or 4 teeth in the last 6month so her smile is quite distinctive! And the CR tooth mouse (aka tooth fairy in the US) has been hit hard recently in the pocketbook!




Gabi was quite fascinated with the power vehicles, I think this must be a rub off from Uncle Jason and Shea






Tatum holding cousin Jaxson just barely!

Gabi riding cousin Jax's bike, I think she's wondering why she doesn't have any of these power bikes at home?

woo hoo!

Gabi taking a break from jumping in the jump house Aunt Patty and Uncle Al set up for the reunion

Uncle Jason and cousin Jax

Lisa and Great Aunt Sandy. Sandy has been an inspiration to me on the knitting front helping me many times as I've worked on projects and having made beautiful sweaters and blankets for the Foulger girls over the years.

McKenna holding cousin Jenny's new kitty

Aunt Alice, Aunt Violet, Uncle George, Aunt Minnie and Grandma Frances -what amazing genes I have!

The sisters, what's left of Grandma Frances' 16 siblings- the Portuguese Cardoza clan


Gabi enjoying Great Grandmas Frances' bday cake double-fisting it! What a prescious opportunity to celebrate Great Grandma Frances' 93rd birthday together, definately a gift!

What started out as a simple idea to get all the Siegel grandchildren together for a group pic turned out to be quite a daunting task.....hopefully next year it'll be easier but with "terrible two's" on the horizon likely not! ,.

Grandma Frances Cabral's 93rd birthday - I hope I can look this fabulus at 93, or upon 2nd thought mabye I should just feel fortuante to come from such great genes! Grandma is so loved by many, it was wonderful to see her share her birthday with 130+ relatives.

Lisa, brother Jason and our babes -Jax and Gabi!

My wonderful sister-in-law Angyand her babe Jax

Lisa's brother Jason, cousin Shea and Mike- the Chefs for the Cabral/Cardoza family reunion-no small feat as there were 130+ of us attending!

Cousin Ryan, Lisa, cousin Colin and Brad- Ryan and Colin with their parents Aunt Mary and Uncle Ernie Barncastle crashed the party driving 3+ hours from San Luis Obispo to attend, definately a testament to the event! There were many relatives that hadn't attended for some time so I took the opportunity to gab with many of them and only caught a few pictures.

Angy Siegel, Aileen Siegel (Lisa's Mom) and Aunt Mary Barncastle

Cousin Andrea Geiger and Great Aunt Aileen Cabral

Great Uncle Ed Cabral and cousin Madeline Bridges

cousin Gunner beating up on his Dad Chris and loving every moment of it!

Tatum

Cousin Jenn Bettencourt and Tatum horsing around.

Lisa, Gabi and Uncle Dick Cabral

Lisa's brother Jason and wife Angy

Brad and Uncle Ern

McKenna registering guests at the family reunion trying to get our family online-no small feat!

Lisa's sister Lyndsey and Gabi

Gabi -- 18 months, always very inquisitive.

We celebrated all the great grandchildren birthdays together-cupcakes for all thanks to Great Aunt Patty

Gabi and cousin Jax riding in the laundry basket-very simple fun!

Cousin Jax showing us how to play baseball at the beach at Lake Tahoe

Angy Siegel and brother-in-law Eric Bott

We had an incredible day at Lake Tahoe
being up in the Mountains at our Truckee cabin is one of our favorite spots in the world!

Cousin Shea and Boone along for the ride

McKenna lounging

Jax digging for treasures

Lisa's Dad- Bob Siegel

Tatum

Lisa, McKenna and

Jax

Uncle Jason and Jax

McKenna pausing before taking the plunge

My beautiful sister Lyndsey and son Colten before making the plunge from the pier into the cold waters of Lake Tahoe

The Siegel kids and some of their crew

Gabi's pretty ticklish

Lisa and the girls

Shea, Boone and Jenn getting ready to celebrate Shea's bday

Aunt Patty and Uncle Al lighting the many candles!

Bob and daughter-in-law Angy

Jason and his boy, Jax

Lyndsey and her boys, Colten and Greyson

Colten, Taty, Jax, Grey and McKenna

Boone, Shea and Jenn

ready for lunch, it' was a windy day at Donner Lake

Uncle Eric and Colten head out on the pier for some fishing while McKenna comes running in!

Nana Leen and Tatum, it's a bit bright to open eyes for the camera!

Jax, Jason and Angy at Donner Lake

Bundling up, Mckenna is trying to stay warm

Gabi deep in thought

Grey taking a break from digging in the sand

It was fun to catch up with Old Auburn neighhbors Jenn and Jackson Skaff