08.24.03

Dad and Mom

Aric, Wil, me, and Tony

Ashlyn with Grandpa

I'm feeling much better today. Whatever I had yesterday went away. I guess I just needed some rest.
This morning Aric and I got up extra early to pack up our stuff, load up the car, and have a nice brunch with my parents, their friends, and Wil and Tony. We had chinese breakfast (fried doughnuts, soybean milk, pork dumplings, a couple of noodle dishes, sliced beef with fried bread, egg-pancake, etc...). It was yummy! Afterwards, we had some time to walk around Ranch 99. Aric and I bought some snacks and drinks for the car ride home.

Saying goodbye to my family was tough (as always)...Aric and I had a really great, relaxing, and memorable time. =)

The drive home was okay. Surprisingly, there were a lot of cars on the road. It made me super nervous seeing how tightly the cars followed one another in the left lane. Aric said that it was to prevent big rigs from cutting into the left and slowing everyone down. With everyone going at speeds up to 90MPH, I could foresee a multi car pile up if one person decided to jam on the brakes. I realized that all my hmm-ing and hawing was annoying Aric, so I decided to keep my eyes off the road, and watch "The Wiggles" (playing on Aric's lap-top) with Ashlyn.

We made it back in 5 hours and 45 minutes...just in time for James' birthday dinner at Buca Di Beppo's in Irvine. Dinner was really good. Though Buca's serve up enormous portions, we were able to polish off everything. Scary, huh? hehehe

We went back to James and Grace's afterwards to hang out and watch James open his gifts. After gift-opening, the fellas tested out Ed's go-kart on deserted surface streets. Aric and I didn't get home till late. Ashlyn had fallen asleep on the way home. After we changed her and tucked her into bed, we unloaded the car, unpacked, sorted laundry, and went to bed. I have much to do tomorrow.

Hope you had a great weekend!

Pictures from tonight:

Grace, James, and Lauren

Patti, Karis, and Sam

Sue, Liv, and Ed

Brian and Grace

Aric, Ashlyn, and me

James blowing out his birthday candelabra

the fellas and kiddies

Ashlyn, Brandon, Karis, and Liv