It's been a quiet week around here. Just doing the usual weekly activities: play group at the park, visiting friends, story time at the library, and gym class. Here are a couple of cute pictures I took yesterday of Alanna having fun with her balloon.

My Dad made the local headlines today. Congrats on your well earned retirement Dad!

We returned from the Raftery family reunion in Bodega Bay yesterday. There were about 35 adults from all over the US. We stayed in homes overlooking the bay (Bodega Harbour). Three of Justin's first cousins also had babies born in 2005; we all stayed in the house together, along with Aunt Sheila (Sherry's sister) and Uncle Blair. There were 4 toddlers running around, Alanna, Casey, Landen, and Jillian. Casey also has a little brother, Patrick who is 10 months old. You can imagine that the house was very lively! The kids had a lot of fun playing together and it was nice getting to spend time with the cousins. Our house was the main gathering place for meals, so we were able to socialize with everyone else while the little ones were napping or after bedtime.

View from the deck of our house

In the morning, after breakfast we all went down to the beach together. The kids had a great time playing in the sand. There were also incredible tide pools. I have never seen so many starfish in the wild, they were beautiful. Alanna is still talking about the ocean and starfish.

On the way to the beach (from left: John, Jillian, Erica, Alanna, Sheila, Casey, Jen, and Landen)

Playing in the sand

Looking at starfish

Our family

Little A at the beach

Waving to Daddy

Click here if you'd like to see more photos from the reunion