Our European Family

Since McKay's family lives over in Europe it's always a big deal when we get to see them and this year we got doubly spoiled because we got to play tourist with them in LA.  The last time we saw them was at our wedding, so their visit was definitely overdue.  I still can't believe how big his "little" brothers are!

On a beautifully sunny day (which we get way too many of) we took the family down to the Third Street Promanade and Santa Monica Pier.  I wish we could somehow donate some of our sunny days to our friends from the less fortunate, cloudy citys.  Then I could enjoy some of my much missed rainy days.

Apparently we were not the only people that thought it would be a nice day to go down to the pier!

A large reason for McKay's family coming to LA was because of the parent's planned cruise up to Alaska with their siblings.  With parents gone, we became the "responsible" adults for some of McKay's siblings and cousins.  We had a blast, and I definitely got a little taste of what it would be like to be the mother of 8 children.  Now I understand mother's complaints about making food all the time.  I did nothing but think, and prepare, for what meal I was going to make next.  God bless you mothers of big families, and small families for that matter!  I'm just glad I get to cook for only McKay right now, who fortunately, is a joy to cook for!

While McKay was at work I tried to make sure the kids ate, played nicely together, got out and about, showered, you know, the regular things you worry about making sure kids do, however...

...sometimes that did not always happen.

But when we did it was always worth it!  And it was especially awesome when I took care of all four of my worries with this beach outing!

Up next, the special adventure of Clarissa and I!

Countups

While dating McKay, I never thought the day would come that we could start celebrating real anniversaries!  Instead, we always had countdowns.  Oh, so many countdowns!  Countdowns to talkie time, countdowns to Christmas, countdowns to summer leave, to parent's weekend, to ring dance, to Mexico, to graduation - basically countdowns to any thing that meant we could be together - and of course, the biggest countdown of all, our wedding day countdown (you'd think I could have majored in math with all those years of counting down!)

It is just so nice to finally countup!  I can personally attest to the fact that countups are way better than countdowns.  For starters, did you know how fast a year goes by when you are with the man you love in one of the most amazing cities ever!  Let me tell you!  The words "super duper fast" would not even begin to suffice.  Yes that is right, McKay and I just celebrated our one year anniversary (I know! Can you believe it has already come and gone!)  We thought we would do it in style by celebrating our anniversary in Tinsel town, starting with a romantic Italian dinner.

I could have eaten this bread alone and been completely satisfied.  By the way, if anyone has any knock out bread recipes I would love them!

 Anyways, I think this face kind of says it all.  Or maybe his hands tell it even a little better.  How very Italian of you McKay!

 We strolled along Hollywood Blvd, commemorating some of the great stars of cinema and TV.  

Live long and prosper!  

Look at my cute little Trekkie!

We decided that our Hollywood experience would not be complete without watching a movie in the Chinese theater.  We were right!  The best part was seeing a preview for another film that was shot inside the Chinese theater.  Talk about feeling like you're in the twilight zone!

We tried to get a picture with the Hollywood sign, but we were pretty far away.  Kudos to whoever finds it back there!

The one thing we were sad about missing, especially since it is sort of time sensitive, was eating the top to our wedding cake.  When we moved to California we were not about to transport a cake hundreds of miles in a hot car for it to then take up room in our tiny freezer.  Luckily, I have an awesome mother that has kept it in her refrigerator for us.  We are planning to eat it on our year and a half anniversary at Christmas time.  Thanks mom!  And thank you McKay for the best year of my life yet!  I look forward to each year with you as I know they will continue to get better, just like you!