Globe-trotting Grovers: Evenings at the Fish, Brad's 20th High School Reunion, Joint Birthday Celebration, and Yacht Club Shore Party

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, July 10, 2015

Evenings at the Fish, Brad's 20th High School Reunion, Joint Birthday Celebration, and Yacht Club Shore Party

Summertime in Bemus wouldn't be the same if its wasn't for the Italian Fisherman restaurant (or as we call it "The Fish"), and its floating dock and many concerts throughout the summer. Its what makes this itty bitty town come to life in the summer. Its transformed into a major tourist destination and tourists, mostly from Ohio, Buffalo, and Canada, come flocking in for the summer…. and we actually have neighbors, plus a couple house parties here and there, during this time too. Our house becomes the gathering place and the pre-party to the village evening concerts and adult play time.

A perfect little girls night with my Lakewood gals…. the Fish sent over their limo golf cart to pick us up.

IMG_6796 from jana grover on Vimeo.

Led Zeppelin cover band! They sounded great and what a beautiful night this was! Each weekend there are popular cover bands that play in the evenings, and on special nights there are laser light shows and fireworks!

Brad's 20th High School Reunion!

A lot of his friends from near and far, and a few that flew in for the occasion, we all gathered at the Fish this incredible evening of fun.

Reunion night! This was at the Boat museum in Bemus. Yes, Brad's class of 1990 is truly small, but this was just half of the students. Typically, even today, the senior class has only about 50-70 students. Small enough where everyone practically grows up together, knows each others families, and stays in touch for many years thereafter. Its a small but tight knit group. One of my favorites about the school system. The Senior classes are like family cohorts, everybody knows everybody.

Brad's friend Scott and his girlfriend from Colorado came for the reunion and stayed with us for a few days. We had fun entertaining them and showing them around. Boys of course always love when we have company and house guests.

At Southern Tier Brewery, concert and beer garden. The guys played Stones (bocce ball)

Brad and I at the Pink Martini concert at Chautauqua open air amphitheater. We love this talented band that play international songs….. so many memories with their songs.

Birthday celebrations…..

Our joint Birthday dinner with our friends at the Heirloom restaurant at the Athenaeum Hotel. Nice summer evening to go by boat and have some champagne.