Yet another family wedding...

It seems as if us Hoffmans (or formerly Hoffmans) have been saving up all or our marriages for this year. This time it was my cousin, Erik (completing the third marriage in the year). His lovely bride is Olga. Taking place at the Monday club in San Luis Obispo, Josh and I attended this rather casual but meaningful wedding. My cousin and his bride have been dating for "5 years". I say this in quotes because I wasn't counting the 4 years before that they started dating that one or both of them liked eachother. I will never forget my cousin's first comment to me about Olga. It was his freshman year in college at Cal Poly, where him and Olga lived in the dorms together, 1999. I had come to stay in his dorm room during Thanksgiving with him and noticed that there were a few stuffed animals beside his bed. "Erik, wow, stuffed animals!" I teased. "Oh..." he said fake non-chalently, "those...I am babysitting those for a friend." As I didn't try to hold in my laughter, I asked which friend. And that was when I first heard Olga's name. It was also the day that I figured that they would probably get married one day. And look at this...9 years later and they have rings!

Isn't she beautiful?

...And he handsome?

I couldn't resist putting in yet one more picture of us... We are newlyweds... What do you expect?!!

Their first dance. I love the look in Olga's eyes.

The kids at the wedding were very endearing. The above photo is one of Olga's family members and the below is of my little cousin Alex, who refused to give me any face forward pictures. I was glad for this one. What beats an action shot. She looks like she could be off chasing some sort of bad guy. Go Alex!!! You can catch him!

What would a wedding be without a pinata? My cousin Reed really knew how to swing his pinata stick.

The next morning, all of us went to breakfast at the Madonna Inn. Gee, can you tell by the pink chairs and the rediculous goblets on the table?!! My dad really was having a good time. He looks stoic in this picture. I like it.

Last but certainly not least (in price at least...) is my grapefruit. No, this was no ordinary grapefruit. The Madonna Inn successfully charged me $3.75 for this HALF grapefruit. I wanted a whole grapefruit, but who pays $7.50 for one grapefruit that you could buy for $.50 at the store. So, of course, it deserved documentation. I want to at least give it publicity so that I can make the price worth it. Enjoy it.

Now we all know the effects of country music...

It was a delightful evening as we two normal people traveled to the not-so-distant Pismo Beach. As we drove over the rolling hills east of the ocean, we had absolutely no inkling of what Dean and Jessica's wedding would reveal.

It all began with the kids. Hannah, an unsuspected culprit was surely confused as her eating habits began to resemble that of an innocent cat savoring the last morsel of cream upon the floor. Thankfully she chose the preferred human method of disposable bamboo plate and chocolate.

Although, it seemed as the situation had escalated as I observed Chante trying to aid her vision by using a nearby glass of pink lemonade...wrong kind of glasses...

I knew it was trouble when Joe and Kristen got involved. No longer were the bamboo plates used as eating recepticles, but as party hats.

This creation was implemented via a Russian Tea Cookie/Mexican Wedding cake. These exquisitely sweet pastries, I learned are functional for the makings of clown make-up. Oh my! Celeste has moved from playdough to food!

Just when I thought I would capture a romantic moment with the Fulwylers, once again, the moment captured me. I was fooled once again by the nature of the evening.

Nothing could quite parallel that of this individual who I think is Landon. However, I am not convinced that this same face belongs to the gentle-spirited children's ministry servant.

As much as this man did officiate the wedding beautifully, he is a country music lover. I think I am beginning to understand the transformation here. With all of the country music playing out here in the hills, people are beginning to forget where reality is.

I knew it was trouble when they roped my very own husband into a CONGO LINE!!! This could be only the work of, dare I say it, Country Music...no...country music.

The bride and groom were involved from the very start, with every Shania Twain and line dancing groove delineated for the evening. It even drove them to the same lapse of reality, smearing cake in every which direction.

We were just thankful that we remained here with you, in the world where country is but a hallucination, a vision, a wonder...not a reality. Luckily it didn't affect us much, as we tried to shelter our ears strategically.

Overflow...

Out of the joy that Jesus fills our hearts with, we sang.

Two became one... even our instruments!

Oak, not of the poison variety...

After work one evening, Josh and I decided to take a trip to Los Osos Oaks (which is right across the street from our house). God has created a certain amazing majesty in these trees.

Josh aptly noted that it seems as if every picture that we take in the dusk ends up looking the same. Regardless, I enjoyed this one!

I also mentioned that I would post a link for our Picasa web album for our honeymoon. You can click on this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/joshburson

Return from Kauai, Honeymoon beginning...

After our adventures in Kauai, we have been unpacking our new home in Los Osos. God has blessed us with enough similarities to keep us laughing and we still have plenty to discover! We look forward to getting more settled and are anxious to see where the Lord takes us next, now that we are married.

Here are some of our favorite pictures from our Kauai adventures:

We enjoyed one of the most amazing sunsets in Princeville.

Our plan was to go on adventures and not worry about getting our feet dirty...

So, after discovering beaches with swings, we had to adventure into the jungle.

We discovered that vines (as Indiana continues to suggest) truly do work for swinging...


This sea adventure included snorkeling, dolphins, and the Na Pali coast. The best part really, was the fact that you can see the guy's hand taking our picture on Josh's shirt!

Adventures with God's creation surrounding us were a perfect opportunity to relax in the richness of the glory that He doesn't cease to immerse us with...Kauai and Los Osos.