Globe-trotting Grovers: October 2013

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!

Friday, October 25, 2013

Wrestling Mania with Paxton

Untitled from jana grover on Vimeo.

Untitled from jana grover on Vimeo.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Pumpkin Patch 2013 - Port Farms, PA

Its pumpkin time again! This year our friends recommended Port Farms in Erie, PA. So on Friday after preschool and lunch, we drove out to Pennsylvania to play at the pumpkin patch!

YEEHAW!

Boys riding trikes..... including big boy daddy!

A crazy time was had on this giant hill slides.... Brad and I took turns going down with the boys.

Bunnies!

feeding goats

Playing in the corn kernel sandbox!

Taj was a great helper at the pumpkin patch!

Jax was a good helper too, he picked out this pumpkin!!

Buffalo Zoo

The other day, Taj tells me "Mommy, I want to go to the animal zoo!" So I say, "Ok!" And the next day (Tuesday) we drove up to the Buffalo Zoo, in Buffalo, where we had not yet been. It was that easy..... and a nice day for a mommy & sons zoo day! I love the adventures I get to have with my boys!

The Buffalo Zoo was okay, not the greatest though. About half of the animals were sleeping, eating, or just hanging indoors, or the exhibitions were closed. It was a weekday, in the middle of Fall, so maybe that is the norm. Either way, Taj and Jax got to see their beloved polar bears, gorillas, giraffes, and elephants! On the way home, I had heard a Trader Joe's (first ever in Western New York) opened in Amherst.... neighboring community in Buffalo. TJ was calling my name..... I longed for our favorites we used to get all the time when we lived in California! TJ did not disappoint! Everything about it, the hawaiian shirts to the reggae music to the free food samples, was just like I remembered it! Ahhhh, for a few minutes I felt like I was in grocery store paradise! We surprised daddy with his favorite Very Berry Clusters cereal and chocolate covered caramels too!

October Indian Summer

Its been the best Fall we could ask for so far! Fiery colorful trees and warm temperatures in 60s and 70s to match! It feels like an Indian Summer! On some weeks I feel it has been warmer than during the actual summer weeks! In October, last year, we already had our boat in winter storage and the docks were pulled out of the water. Last year this month, we were also preparing for a hurricane! lol
What a nice change to be able to sit outside in the evenings and enjoy that rosy sunset one last time before the snow comes, and to be able to cruise around on the lake on the boat admiring the colorful autumn nature.

last family boat pic of this season, before the boat went into winter storage (last week)

last bonfire with our friends....

Another glimpse of the sunset and our boat and boat lift which is now gone

Last weekend, we went with friends to Elicottville's Fall Fest, minus the kiddies who stayed home with our sitter for 7 hours!!! We drove out with Amanda & Josh, and Kristina & Greg and had a blast playing on the green slopes, ski swap, bar hopping, and ending with a fabulous dinner before driving back. It was fun to play!