Chico weekend

It’s that time of year!!

Family visiting.  Fires roaring.  And work is getting slow (enough) because it’s the holidays so everyone can get together.

 

We were in Chico this past weekend for a wedding, a 1st birthday, and a new baby visit.  So many happy things to bring us all together!! 

We arrived in town on Friday evening and only swung by the hotel for a hot second to drop off our bags (I stayed in the car because P was asleep in the car seat).  Immediately after we went to see Billy & Sara and their new family addition.

 

Look at this little nugget!  It’s seems like only a second ago P was this small, and yet, I hardly remember it.  Was he really that tiny!? 

I completely forgot how to hold a newborn and was super awkward. 

Of course P just wanted Liam’s hair.  The boy is obsessed!! 

Next on the baby tour…

We miss these guys so much!  [They are still in LA, but were home in Chico for the holidays/wedding/birthday stuff too]

After we said hi, we were quickly off again because we had to go back to the hotel to get ready for the rehearsal dinner.  We got a suite with Kyle’s parents and set up the pack n play in the adjoining living room.  After P’s routine, we snuck out while Kyle’s parents stayed to watch him.

The rehearsal dinner was really low key and fun – catered by a local Mexican place.  The chips and salsa were fantastic. 

We didn’t stay out too late though since we had a packed Saturday planned.

P woke up at 6 am, so we had an early start on the day.  No work out for me.  Instead, we hung out in our PJs until our brunch at 9.  Unfortunately, patty-cakes decided it was nap time and fell asleep in my arms right as we were about to leave.  :( 

I tried to let him get in as many zzzzs as possible while holding him – he actually didn’t wake up until the car seat transfer – even after I put on my shoes, and carried him from the hotel room to the elevator and downstairs and through the parking lot! 

For breakfast we met up with these guys, plus the parents.  It must be so cool for all these grandparents to see their kids grow up and marry…and then have their own kids…and then stay in such good touch that they get to see the next generation of kiddos on a regular basis.  I feel like I know Kyle’s friends’ parents so well!

 

This is my standard Cafe Coda order.  The simpleton with veggie sausages.  P was faking the pouty face because his dehydrated organic apple and banana bits weren’t as thrilling.  So I got him some eggs. 

Afterwards we all rolled ourselves to the park.

Three generations.

Since the wedding started in the early afternoon, we grabbed some snacks for lunch and ate back in the hotel room while getting ready.

    

The top two goat cheeses are from Zucchini & Vine (a store in Chico that I thought was only furniture until Kyle’s parents came home with these amazing cheeses!).

The bottom two prepared eats are from TJ’s.  I was nursing P while Kyle ran to Trader Joe’s and then Safeway, so these were his purchases (he had to go to Safeway since he couldn’t find any GF crackers at TJ’s).  I didn’t really like the egg white salad (I prefer yolks, or some kind of fat, in my salads).  Luckily I had Mary’s Gone crackers, goat cheese, and chocolates to fill me up.

Ooooohhhhh my. 

I literally have one photo from the wedding. 

 

Best wedding dessert I’ve ever had.  Ever.  Including my own wedding. 

I was eyeing the tower of treats from the second we entered the reception.  There were lots of cupcakes, but the ganache coated chocolate thing was where my attention was honed.  In fact, I was so focused on it, I made sure Kyle knew to get me one if I wasn’t around when they started serving desserts (I went back and forth twice to nurse P and then put him down for bed).  I was worried the back and forth would be a total pain, but the timing actually worked out really well.  I went between the church ceremony and the reception (which were in two different places and separated by an hour long gap, so nobody knew I was even gone).  Then Kyle’s parents texted me around 5 that my little guy was getting sleepy and so I headed back again to do his bedtime routine and nurse him to sleep.  Unfortunately, the plan didn’t work as well as I’d hoped because P was still wide awake when I put him down.  Crying ensued so I had to leave him in a sad state.  Not at all what I wanted but Kyle’s parents were excellent babysitters and texted me soon after I left telling me he was quietly sleeping.  Phew. 

By the time I got back my salad was in front of me and my entree was arriving.  Plus Kyle had a big glass of champs waiting for me.  I didn’t miss a single speech, dance, or anything!  Including dessert.  🙂

The next morning we went to a wedding brunch at Johnny’s.  I had some kind of egg frittata thing with broccoli and it was so good I went back for 4 more.  Seriously. 

 

P and I shared some fruit too. 

After that it was off to the next party!

Happy first birthday!!

 

Cutest party favor!

Mickey vs. Pacman

We had some lunch (more delicious Mexican catering and a yummy home-made salad) then took a few group pics in the backyard.  And then we said our goodbyes.  🙁

 

Long drive home…