If you don't want to plan a birthday party....

Poppi will just have to take us to Bucca di Beppo! We love this place.. and as you can tell, the little guys do, too. Happy Birthday, Justin.
bring it on...
"what are you eating?"
the cousins.. Townsend, Jbird and big C... in his spaghetti-colored shirt
Townsie's first ice cream cone
After Poppi ordered everything on the menu...

The men...

Four generations of "Benz" guys.. well, technically one Heit...

walking practice... determined to get this little ring bearer down the aisle... ** he did make it 1/2 way, then Nana B scooped him up as he just decided to sit down on the way.

Congratulations S&J!!!

We are so happy to have another brother in the family!!! Everything was so beautiful and we were spoiled by the awesome treats from the the bride and groom and beautiful weather in Oregon. It all flew by so fast, but we loved every minute of it.

Hooray for the beautiful bride

Stefanie, her adorable handmade "birdcage veil", gorgeous dress by Vera Wang and her chauffer.

more gorgeous pictures from S&J's wedding in Sunriver to come... but this one keeps me smiling... it's all grainy and Kate is missing (because she is behind the lens).. We are tossing these cute little yarn poof balls (handmade by Stef/ Julie and the craft crew) that Jadyn threw in lieu of flower pedals.. it started off as demo'ing "how to throw them up in the air when walking down the aisle.". ended as a funny foto-opp and lots of laughs in the "prep room" at the church... ps. How cute is Nana B?

A little taste of real fall in the Pacific Northwest...

The trip to Oregon was a complete whirlwind of activities.. we are all still tired a week later. Everything was awesome! We couldn't have asked for better weather.. crisp an cold in the mornings and night and warm, sunny, leaves turning by day. I can only imagine how exhausted the bride and groom and the parents of the aforementioned must be... they all did SO many hand craft touches.. and there was Nana B feeding the entire state of Oregon with her to-die-for pastries and savories... more photo memories as we have them.. The boys hijacked Jbird's bike (vintage Stefanie's Schwinn) on a crisp morning in Portland
Bedtime with Big Poppi
Ladies night at the Owl's Nest , Sunriver Lodge
Vintage Joe Benz Florence Eisman outfit for wedding rehearsal... where is Jadyn? Off having the time of her life riding bikes, seeing deer, and loving the outdoors in Sunriver.

Roxy Cardiff Jam

A real big deal for Jbird! She and her friend, Peytie, ripped it up in the Teenie Wahine division of the contest held at their favorite wave break in Cardiff (same site as Campbell's first bday bash). I wish I had photos of the big tents and balloons... it was a real rush for girls, but I think even more so for the dads (who I also think were more nervous than the girls) as they got to be out there in the ocean pushing their daughters into the waves. The girls were so proud of themselves.. throwing shakas and peace signs to all of us spectators on the shore. Campbell even clapped for the first time (he usually does this funny thing with both hands together cheering) for his big sis as she strutted her stuff.

Joe cool...

And yes, they're pink and rhinestoned...we were laughing so hard at his love for Emma's shades, the photo is less than ideal...um, isn't RAEN going to do a tott line??