Redneck Riviera Reunion

Webbs reunite!

July marked the culmination of more than a year of planning when we boarded a plane for Panama City Beach, Florida for a Webb Family Reunion!  The first and only time I have been able to get together with all of my cousins since we've started having children was at Granny's funeral two years ago.  We loved spending time together so much that we promised to plan a reunion in the coming years, and we pulled it off!

Every member of the Webb family was in attendance for at least a few days, including 9 kids ages five and under, and three more babies on the way.  My cousins and I have clearly been busy procreating these past few years.  It was great to have so many kids around to entertain each other and a good time was definitely had by all.  We spent the week relaxing on the white sand beaches, playing in the pool, eating delicious seafood, and shopping at Pier Park.  Virginia loved her cousins so dearly and is ready to do it again in 2014!

Bedtime stories with Mimi

Our little daredevil road the bumpy banana boat in the Gulf with 5 crazy male cousins.

Virginia and her Lair cousins enjoy a family dinner.

The cousins enjoy the musical talent in the family.

The oldest cousins hit Pier Park amusement rides.

Anna and Virginia on the Pier Park carousel.

Webb women -- Janet, Suzanne, Leslie, Leesy with Virginia, Jenna & Anna.

Mom and daughter on the balcony overlooking the Gulf.

Virginia loves her Aunt Liz & Uncle Dave!

Chaos ensues when you try to photograph 9 kids under the age of 5.  We managed to squeeze 8 of them in this shot!

The moms to be were surprised with a baby shower at the beach!

Going to Carolina...

February is a big birthday month for the Neeland family, so we decided that it was the perfect time for a getaway to meet the family and celebrate the February birthdays in North Carolina again this year.  We had also recently gotten some big news that Cousin Beth was expecting her first baby, so we had even more of a reason to celebrate this year.

Since Daddy had to work, Virginia and I made it a girls' trip.  Now that she's almost four, traveling with her is pretty much a breeze!

We found a cheap fare to Charlotte and off we went for a long weekend.  While there, we celebrated Nanny's 91st birthday as well as birthdays for Auntie Lynn and Aunt Liz.  We hit the children's museum near Liz and Dave's house and ate out at some great restaurants too.  Virginia also had a blast seeing the Mack cousins who live in the Charlotte area as well -- Beau & Jessica and Shannon & Brett.  It was quite a family reunion on both sides of our family. 

Milking a cow at the children's museum.

Practicing radiology with Papa.

Fixing a car with Papa at the museum.

With Shannon & Brett at dinner.

Cousin Beau & Jessica!

Loving on Aunt Liz and Uncle Dave

Cousin Adam -- more relatives to love! (We didn't get a photo of poor cousin Beth, who was suffering greatly with morning sickness the whole visit -- she was quite the trooper!!!!)

Auntie Lynn is so much fun!

The 91st birthday girl and her first great grandchild.

Virginia and her Mimi and Papa. 

Back home, carrying her own bag.  What a big girl!

Christmas Highlights 2012

Since Thomas and I were in Europe most of the beginning of December, Christmas came very quickly this year!  We had just enough time for my usual baking projects for all of our secretaries and paralegals a work, a playgroup Christmas potluck, and a visit to Alameda's Santa Claus. 

The playgroup Christmas cuties.

Thomas reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to the playgroup kids.

Then it was off to Alabama for another Christmas on the road!  We had a blast hanging with the Neelands and Virginia had a chance to see several of her second cousins for the first time in more than a year.  Virginia spent much of the trip loving on Uncle Dave - a strategy she used, in part, to gain access to the chocolate game on his tablet.

Showing Dave how the Chocolate Game is played!

Bundled up for Zoo Lights at the Montgomery Zoo.

Christmas with cozy things.

Kids' table for Christmas dinner with cousin Brice.

Uncle Dave, Aunt Lizzie & Ginger the dog - her favorites!

Applying her new makeup on Christmas eve.

Love for Lizzie and Uncle Dave 

Final goodbyes to Mimi and Papa!

We had a bit of an adventure on the return, as we found ourselves stranded in Dallas overnight the day after a snowstorm had caused delays for days.  But after a few hours sleep in an airport Marriott, we made it home in one piece.  

We did a late Christmas celebration with all the Harveys in California a few days later.  Virginia was surprised to find that GayGay apparently told Santa that she had been extra good this year, as he had dropped off a blue Mini Cooper at our house while we were away.  Virginia was in love (and managed to almost immediately drive the thing into a tree).

Someone must have been extra good this year!

This is Halloween!

With Virginia at age 3 1/2, we knew Halloween was going to be a blast this year, and we were not disappointed!  We did the usual visit to Moore's Pumpkin Patch in Castro Valley earlier in the month, and also had a great Halloween party and playdate at our house with all of her buddies (which we pretty much forgot to photograph!).  We also visited our friends at Chez Neumansky in the days leading up to Halloween to see their haunted front yard and visit Virginia's friend, Tasha.

Pumpkin Patch Highlights:

The only photo of our "Pumpkin Pizza Playdate" party (the kids kept us too busy!):

The PJ afterparty with Griffin:

Since Alameda has such great spooky Halloween decorations, we invited Mimi and Papa to come for the holiday this year.  We carved pumpkins with Papa and were silly with Mimi all week long.

Virginia had very firm ideas about her Halloween costume this year (a butterfly), and all of Thomas's convincing and cajoling would not budge her off of it.  So, a butterfly it was!  Most of the butterfly costumes on the market were inappropriately trashy, so we made our own with a pair of wings, an orange fluffy skirt, a black leotard, and face paint.

Halloween itself was a rainy day, but we made the most of it trick-or-treating with Virginia's playgroup buddies, Xander and Isabel, all around the Gold Coast.  Virginia got a lot of loot and lots of compliments on her cute costume.

Tron, Tinkerbell, and Butterfly:

Ready to get some candy!:

Virginia and Tasha (aka Butterfly Fairy Pirate Princess):

Spooky Gold Coast decorations:

Assessing her loot with Mimi, clearly after having way too much candy!