Well....Mr. Vincent Alexander Camarena is finally here! He made his debut in the world last Thursday at 3:55 in the afternoon and was welcomed by mom, dad, Aunt Natalie and Grandma Joyce.
Sadly, I was in LA at an event with my grandma, mom and Aunt Jeanie and wasn't able to visit at the hospital (it didn't help that Brooke had the quickest checkout after delivery ever). So Friday, my mom, Haley, Aunt Jeanie and I picked up some goodies at Sam's deli and headed to the Camarena home to be the first to welcome Vincent there!
He is such a little peanut! Miss Haley looked so big compared to him! I don't ever remember her being that tiny, much less smaller! Brooke is doing fantastically well and had actually just returned from running errands when we arrived. I couldn't believe it...a mere 24 hours before she had being giving birth and now was out and about! Their little family seems to be adjusting well and we are so thrilled to welcome the new Camarena into our family!
Friday we had dinner with my parents and Father Peter. He is a semi-retired priest that spends his winters in Peru and summer in the States. It is always a bit humbling to be in the presence of someone who does such good works. He runs an orphanage for the abandoned girls and boys of Lima. He made quite an impression on both me and Chris. He is a Christian in the true sense of the word.
Saturday, Chris had his first Fresno State Rugby game. He has taken on some coaching duties for the new team...because he has so much time in between work, rugby practice, being the rugby club president, studying for his accreditation and, oh that's right, being a new dad! Anyhow, the team did not fare well and Chris was a bit grumpy after the game...
Meanwhile, Haley and I attended the wedding of the son of one of Ashwood's PMs. It was a lovely ceremony at St. Anthony's and the backyard reception that followed was very fun. Chris managed to rally and meet us at the reception. We even fit in a few dances before we turned in for the night.
Our early evening served us well as we met my parents early the next morning to close the cabin. 8am mass, a quick breakfast and we were off to Huntington. It only took a few hours to close the cabin for winter. I think it is the most depressing day in the entire year for my mom! Once we said our goodbyes to our summer retreat we returned to flat land and treated ourselves to Mexican food and ice cream cones!
Miss Haley is offically on rice cereal now. I have to feed it to her twice a day and she really isn't all that interested. I can't believe my little girl has grown up so quickly! Almost 6 months has passed since she was born and our love for her keeps growing everyday we have her in our lives. She is such a joy and blessing (well...maybe not exactly a JOY at 7:45pm when both Chris and I are exhausted and she decides screaming would be a fun passtime, but you get the idea). She will always be our first, our gift from God that made us a family and we are so thankful.
All smiles...at home before the doctors
Saturday we packed up the car and drove to Hanford for the shower. My Aunt Lisa and Uncle Rick have a beautiful home and the fall theme Lisa had chosen was just lovely. All rusts, and golds and browns...
I really do heart the train! It was so relaxing and Haley loves to look out the window and at the other passengers. My mom and I played cards (she beat me relentlessly) and snacked on our brown bag lunches. We arrived at the Ferry Building and did a bit of shopping before we headed across the street to the Hotel Vitale's restaurant, The Americano, for a cocktail and dinner. 
Yum, yum, yum! I love that place.
We landed in balmy Florida, grabbed our luggage and met Auntie Lanie. We missed her so much, it was a fun airport reunion. We were off to Lakeland to see the nubbins (Lane's pups) and Uncle Turtur (Curtie). 
The next couple of days revolved around shopping (I bought this amazing lacquer leopard bracelet), cocktails, lots of Target runs, cards and cricket crafts (we made the most adorable onsies for Miss Priss). 
We celebrated Curtis' birthday a week early at a down home steak house and Sunday we decided a road trip was in order and headed off to Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Museum. It was just a ball. 
Curtis and I rode the simulator and we all took the tour of the inner workings of the operations of the cape. We got to see all sorts of wildlife too as the launch stations are on a preserve. The best was seeing the bald eagle and it's nest which weighed 700 lbs, was 40 years old and as large across the top as a king sized bed! We said goodbye Monday morning and hopped on a plane headed home. This time around we flew 1st class....I'm afraid Miss Haley has high travel expectations now! Until next time...
