We're God Parents!

My 5 1/2 month old niece Cameron Grace Rangel got baptized today. Tate and I were asked to be the god parents and we were both so excited. It was such a special event for all of us along with it being the first time all the family (great-great grandma and the great-grandparents) plus the obvious grandparents and aunt and uncles went to church together. She did such a good job and didn't cry once! She was so beautiful wearing the dress that was handed down from Tate's aunt who also wore it on her baptism day. Whenever you can keep things like that in the family, it always adds more meaning. I absolutely loved it and couldn't get enough of her. I obviously need a girl!!! After the service we had a family brunch at Cracker & Co Cafe in East Mesa. If you haven't been there, I highly recommend it. The food was great!!

Totally lounging

The happy parents (bro-in-law Phil and Melina)

The happy god parents with cousin Tyler

At breakfast...she loves her Uncle Tate!
They even make the same facial expressions!

Again with the happy god parents!

Leaving Maui and Back to Reality!!

My family and I just got back from Maui Friday morning after being there an entire week and I am now facing reality! Maui is definitely a place that I didn't want to leave. We went because one of our very best friends Garren Whitley got married there. Both Tate and Tyler were in the wedding and I did all the wedding parties hair...no pressure!! The wedding and every part of the vacation turned out wonderful!

We had our camera every day EXCEPT the day of the wedding!!! The main event of our entire trip! I had to be at the there 2 hours earlier than Tate did to do the hair, so of course he had the responsibility of Tyler and the camera, but forgot the camera! His excuse....."I couldn't find Tyler's hair gel." The thing that he forgot, was I took Tyler's gel because Tyler's hair doesn't work for daddy and I was going to do it when he got there. MESS!

We had such a great time, that Tate and I plan on going back for our 5 year anniversary....ALONE though! :-)

We did so many activities along with so many beautiful things to take pictures of, I got a little carried away. I can't post all the pics, since there are way too many, but here are some of the things I thought were the neatest.

Look how close this whale is to the surfers..CRAZY!

This cool heart-shaped rock at the Nakalele Blow Hole

Two whales right along our boat on our snorkeling trip to
Molokini Reef

Tyler & Devin snorkeling at the beach

The beautiful rainbow over Lahaina
(our view from the dinner cruise)

Me & Tyler on the Maui Princess dinner cruise

The amazing sunset from the dinner cruise

Our "family feet" at the black sand beaches

The pyscho sign we saw at the black sand beaches!

Me & Tyler at another Blow Hole at Waianapanapa State Park

Tyler & Tate on the lava rocks at the black sand beaches

My favorite view at the Garden of Eden

One of the waterfalls on the Road to Hana

Tyler and a gorgeous peacock that he was able to feed

Tyler by the sea turtles at the Maui Ocean Center

Some of us girls St. Patty's night

The grooms side wedding party
Troy Tyler, Jason Woolf, Brad Whitley, Garren, Tate & Tyler

The family at the wedding rehearsal (hint - Tyler's shirt)

The reason we went..the bride and groom
Stacy & Garren Whitley!

San Francisco

My family and I went to San Francisco the weekend of February 23rd for my grandma's funeral and we're very glad she is now resting in peace. Even though it was under these circumstances to see all of my cousins and what not, my family and I made some good memories there. It was myself, Aaron, Tyler, my sister and her son, my mom and my brother who flew in from Germany. We were pretty occupied Friday and Saturday afternoon but after that we were able to do our own thing.

For those of you who don't know, the Chinese have a lot of very different customs when some passes away. One of the things that my family is not too fond of is the banquet food. I like Chinese food, but this stuff was out of control! Who in the heck has ever heard of eating SEA BLUBBER?!?!? It was disgusting! Of course we had to "try" a little bit, but let me just tell you that eating a big jelly fish is not the same as sweet and sour chicken! Oh, and you all like chicken right??? Well, they have the ENTIRE chicken on the plate with the head!! Of course it's cooked, but no one wants to look at a chicken head! My family and I joke about it because we cover the head with a big serving spoon. Needless to say, we ate rice and vegetables while at dinner but had In-N-Out and pizza afterwards! :-)

Oh yeah....I chopped my hair while I was there too! When I went with my mom and sister the weekend of February 9th, I cut like 6 inches off there. They do an awesome job for cheap...only $18 for cut/wash/style. Not bad! Anyways, Aaron has been wanting me to go short for a while now and I have wanted to as well but never had the guts too. So, I was determined to do it again while I was there. I went to the same salon and the guy barely spoke English but did a great job. I'll do some before and after pics soon.

Here are just a few pictures we took while at Fisherman's Wharf, Ghiradelli Square, Chinatown and from the hotel. Enjoy!

My nephew Dallas holding Tyler..how cute!

Tyler looking like PePe Le'Pew doing the running man!

The family at Fisherman's Wharf...I love these tulips!

Aaron, Tyler, Dallas and my brother Shane being boys!

My handsome guy at Ghiradelli Square

The BIG 30!!!

This past Valentine's day was my big day.....I turned the BIG 30!!! I know, I know, I am old now but I honestly don't feel it. I have accomplished a lot in the first 30 years of my life and wouldn't change anything for the world. My friend Hailey also turned the big 30 on the 9th and we wanted to celebrate together. When Tater turned 30 I threw him a surprise party and every 30th b-day that is celebrated, is a big thing. Hailey and I wanted the same thing...a big celebration or something together, so we had been hinting around that we wanted a party with everyone or have a girls night out. Something to do with out all the kids. So, for the past 2 weeks our wonderful husbands have been going crazy to plan a party. They pulled it off and threw a surprise birthday party for us at San Felipe's at the Tempe Marketplace this past Saturday. Nothing like walking into a busy restaurant at 6:30pm and having half the restaurant (that was reserved for us) yelling "SURPRISE"!! We had such a blast! Thanks to both of our husbands..it was a hit and a birthday party that we will always remember!

My wonderful husband

Troy and Hailey (the other b-day girl)

My crazy mother in law (I love her to death!)

The three of us

My brother in law and his wife