Napa Style

We were able to get away this past weekend to Napa for a little Anniversary trip with Brian and Rachel! We had such a great time. Some highlights and then a link to the pics!

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Matt and I like to give the gift that matches the year. Year four is fruit/flowers, which seems pretty difficult..right? But not for my husband! He found a company in Napa that makes wreaths and other items out of Grapevines. He called ahead and had a wreath put on the door of the store with a note that said "Happy Anniversary Sweet Wife." I'm not going to lie..my thoughts first went to "That's funny, someone else has a Sweet Wife???"...but I quickly realized it was for me! Totally surprised! It is the coolest wreath and I can't wait to find the perfect spot for it!

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Food! We ate at the most wonderful restaurants.

Angele. Hurley's. Gott's Roadside. Boon Fly Cafe.

Don't the names just sound so inviting? All weekend long we had great food!

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Sunday before we were heading home we stopped at Dean and Deluca to pick up lunch items and then set off to find a place to eat. We headed toward the Napa Museum based on a tip from one of the wineries and happened upon a little league baseball game. We took our salami, crackers and cheese and sat in the stands to cheer with the other fans. It was great! Napa v. Santa Clara. What was even better was the walk off 2 run homer at the end!

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There was so much more..but alas pictures will have to tell the rest.

http://gallery.me.com/mattpoladian#100600

A little late - but too important to miss - EASTER!

I LOVE EASTER! Let me tell you why. I remembered the time I realized it - that I was a sinner. No, you don't have to be a murderer or an adultress or a bank robber to be counted a sinner. I am a sinner because I lean on my own understanding instead of trusting the Lord. I am a sinner because I care too much about what others think of me. I am a sinner because I worry about what I have absolutly no control over. I am a sinner because like Eve in the garden, I chose to not obey God's commands. BUT - and the huge BUT that I am so thankful for - GOD in his mercy sent His Son to pay for my sins. He came to earth, lived a sin FREE life and died at the hands of sinful men. He defied death and rose 3 days later to fulfill what is written in scripture and so that we might know He was and is God the Son. AMAZING! That is why I love Easter. I can celebrate with fellow believers what Christ did on my behalf.

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." Eph 2:4-5

I got a few more pictures up. Anyone else who uses safari having a problem?? Well..anyway. Here are some photos from Easter!

Melissa, Eric and Cade came down to go to church with us and then we enjoyed lunch with this fantastic view! We ate poolside at the Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Coast. It was delicious, Cade was perfect and we loved our time together.
Matt enjoying the view

The restaurant is just above the pool. Great spot, reasonable prices and an excellent view. We'll go back for sure!

After lunch we headed to Oceanside for time with the Bishops, Osbornes and Kouyoumjians. Of course we participated in the annual cousins easter egg hunt - and yes we are all in our 20s and no there are no children present. I have no pictures of the event, but I can assure you, it was wonderful!!

Happy Easter! He is risen indeed!

Dinner on the San Clemente Pier

I've been having so much trouble uploading photos! But I got this one up so I'll post it! We had a great dinner on the pier with Grandma Betty, Grandpa John, Nathan and Marie. The weather was beautiful and the company was perfect! So glad we got to extend family time from Easter through Tuesday.