Globe-trotting Grovers: ReggaeFest+Brad's Birthday+Boating

our story

It all began on the evening of Nov 29th 2003, at former Chat Noir French Restaurant in Costa Mesa, CA. Brad approached me [Jana] and we instantly connected; it was love at first sight. The next 4 years that followed were a whirlwind of romance, growing pains, and adventures. We circled the globe, traveling to South America, Europe, and Asia. Then one night, Brad surprised me with a romantic beachside proposal. We made it official on August 23rd 2008 with an intimate wedding at a hip art gallery in Laguna Beach. A year later we finished redesigning our home in the beach village of Corona del Mar.

On May 18th, 2010, we were blessed with a sweet little miracle of our own, our baby boy Taj Leon. He stole our hearts and took our breath away! Then, 19 months later, his incredible little brother, Jax Franz, arrived on Christmas morning (December 25th) 2011. What an amazing gift we received! In an effort to slow down the clock and enjoy our beautiful family, in Spring of 2012, we sold our CA seaside home and moved across the country to our dream lake house in Brad's hometown of Bemus Point, a resort village on Chautauqua Lake in Western New York! Even though we are living a more slow paced life, we are living a life far from ordinary!

From the West Coast to the East Coast, our Grover family adventures continue! So won't you come along and join us on this journey of love, family, and travel we like to call our La Vida Grover!

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

ReggaeFest+Brad's Birthday+Boating

What a busy weekend we had celebrating Brad's official birthday! No turning back now, Brad is officially in a new decade of his life! On Saturday, we met up with family and friends at the annual Reggaefest held at the Southern Tier Brewing Company. Chautauqua County has its very own beer breweries, the Southern Tier Brewery and Elicottville Brewery. Brad's favorite beer is now the Southern Tier beer, he drinks it all the time. At the Reggaefest, they had a live reggae band, plenty of beer, caribbean style BBQ, and even keg bowling...you heard right, KEG bowling! The kids loved watching it! Even with the alternating misty rain and steamy sunshine weather, we had fun at the brew fest!

Taj, with his favorite Uncle Buck!:

Amanda and I have become really good friends, the Dawes family are the sweetest!

After Brad's last night-out as a 39 year old, he graciously accepted the new number the next morning. Sunday morning, we met his family at the new house, had bagels and fruit, gave them the house tour, and a cruise on the boat. Then after the boys' nap, we did Brad's favorite activity.... BOATING! That's all he wanted to do on the day of his birthday!