All Dressed Up...

Sometimes, being a parent is hard but, in the end, it is the memories of the hardest days that make you laugh the most.  I imagine my dad would have said something along these lines while raising my brother and I.  Which is why I jump at any chance I get to celebrate him.

My dad was a pretty amazing guy.  I am sure that those of you who knew him would agree.  And for those of you who didn't, you'll just have to trust me.  I've mentioned before that he was a top litigator for AAA for years and a JAG officer in the California State Military Reserve who was promoted to the rank of Major posthumously.  He also provided pro-bono legal services to the homeless in Long Beach through the New Image Emergency Shelter.

New Image put on their fundraiser gala, this October, and honored my dad for his contributions to their organization.  Our first gala!  Oh, and honoring my dad...of course we had to be there.  And by we, I mean the littles, too.  Do you see this going well?

We headed up to Long Beach and checked in at our hotel a few hours before so that we could get ready.  Someone was very excited about packing a suitcase for the first time.

He insisted on rolling it himself.  He got ahead of us pretty quickly.

'The Hubs' caught up...my heart still pitter patters seeing this.

He had to take a break once we got into the hotel lobby.  Pulling all of that cargo (toys, by the way) is hard work.

Captures my heart even with a post nap streeeeetch.

After we were ready (and running late) we arrived at the Long Beach Marina.  Did I forget to mention that the fundraiser was on a yacht?  We caught up with my family from back east whom I hadn't seen since my dad's funeral. 

Yes, we took a stroller on a yacht.  Have kids, will travel.

My Uncle Tim (my dad's brother), Aunt Leslie, and cousins Brian and Leah met our girl for the first time and had a lot of catching up to do with 'The Boy'.

Baby's first formal wear...and she rocked it.

Boat watching on the pier with Uncle Michael.

Daddy and his daughter...melts my heart.

The best we could do and not bad if I do say so.  Three out of four of us looking at the camera is a big deal.

We boarder the yacht and immediately, the stroller became a problem.  What?  What do you mean you can't accommodate a stroller on this yacht?  You must be joking. 

The night started with a lovely (but loud) cocktail hour.  It was very nice and we had a great time catching up with family and friends.  Cocktail hour started around 7 pm and about halfway through it, someone was starting to notice that they weren't passing out chicken nuggets on those silver trays.  He held up pretty well but I can't even imagine experiencing all of the noise and people in his face at that age.  He was definitely overwhelmed.

 He looked so handsome in his tux and kept his cool for as long as a three year old could.

Video games are the best out of the house distraction ever!  Thank you MobiGo for occupying our little man. 

My mom and I headed down t o our dinner table a bit early to figure out how the kids were going to be situated.  I thought I had it all under control until I saw no room for the stroller (hmm, they really couldn't accommodate it) and no seat for 'The Boy'.  And it was 115 degrees in the room. 
It was beautiful, though...

My family table with my old name.

We decide to try things out but that soon turned into, let's take a few pictures and go upstairs to the lounge where the kids can lay down.

My thoughts exaclty.

We stayed up in the lounge for the rest of the night which was probably a good idea because I'm sure we would have been banished to our couch for the shenanigans we got into. 

A photo shoot with a three year old...

...disrobing in public (just her slip, thank goodness)...

...fabulous table manners...

...eating five dinner rolls for dinner...and nothing else...

...tummy time on the couch...

...bouncing a screaming baby...

...dancing under buh-buhs...

...just being adorable (not really a shenanigan but it should be a crime)...

...screaming bloody murder in front of people who donated a lot of money to be on this yacht...

...a grownup nap in public...

...sprwaling out for a nap (note: it was just a nap.  he woke up as soon as we got off the yacht and didn't go to bed until well after midnight.)...

...using dinner napkins as burp cloths...

After the littles passed out, I did go downstairs for the tribute to my dad.  It was lovely.  My Uncle Tim spoke, which is always so great to hear because he talks like he and my dad used to have conversations.

Colonel Rick Lalor of the California State Military Reserved also spoke.  Such a wonderful man.  Also, the man who was at my dad's side when he passed away.  Very fitting as my dad was so proud to serve his country. 

And I'd like to thank my brother for summing the whole night up in one photo...

We survived the evening with a few necessary drinks, a lot of tears and many belly laughs.  Hard work but I'd do it again for the memory.

The next day (after being kicked in every party of my body during the night by a little foot), we had breakfast with our visiting family and spent time with Grandma and Auntie Grandma.

Shirley temples make up for it all...

...and so does snuggling a new pal on the way home.

What a weekend.  Exhausting and wonderful all at the same time.  There's a reason there isn't a spot in the baby book for baby's first gala.  I'll try to remember that next time.