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, January 16, 2013

Jax's Polar Express 1st Birthday Celebration

On Saturday, December 22nd at 10:30am, three days before Christmas Morning (and Jax's actual birthday) our game room was converted into a Winter Wonderland of dangling paper snowflakes (from the ceiling) and white balloons on the floor.  There was a train track made from electrical tape, and our very own DIY cardboard box Polar Express train!  Jax's Polar Express 1st Birthday Party was in full gear!
We even had the most beautiful REAL snowfall, so our Winter Wonderland theme continued past the game room windows to the outside.  Our healthy and hearty finger foods and Hot Cocoa Bar upon entrance were the perfect compliment to the chilly wintery day.  Our new and old friends from our Mommy & Me classes and the neighborhood helped us celebrate Jax's and ours (the parents) milestone! There was a total of 14 kids and 14 adults..... can't believe we fit them all in our downstairs game room!

The cake

the food table
Marshmellow snowmen pops

The snack train
Hot Cocoa bar with snowmen sippy cups for each child
the birthday boy

and his own cardboard Polar Express train
happy family


Singing happy birthday to our little man:










Birthday boy's birthday wheels!!! His own matching BMW 


The party people:












opening presents



Jax turns ONE year old!!!!!!



Happy ONE year to our sweet baby Jax!  He's slowly graduating from baby-hood... he's a BIG boy with his walking and voicing his needs!  I cannot believe our youngest babe is now ONE whole year!  I feel so lucky that I can say that with our second child, our first year with him did not fly by as fast as other parents describe with their babies.  Instead, we had a wonderFULL year, did so many things, experienced, and traveled to so many places! In just his first year, Jax lived in 3 different houses, lived in 2 states, traveled to and within 3 states, went out of the country (Canada), moved from the West Coast to the East Coast, and rode cars, planes, trains, bikes, and boats of all sorts.   Jax spent the first half of his first year in California, and the second half in New York.  He played at the beach, on the lake, in the leaves, and in the snow.  In his first year, Jax visited many zoos, aquariums, museums, parks, playgrounds, theme parks, amusement parks and fairs, airports, shopping malls, and restaurants.  He went to Mommy & Me classes, library storytimes, and took swim lessons and actively participated in Baby Sign Language and Music classes.  He experienced a California winter and spring, a New York summer, fall, and winter.... including his first WHITE Christmas!  Every season, every state, every new adventure, activity, and milestone, made our first year with him SO fun and complete!  We successful slowed down the clock and enjoyed every waking (and sleeping) moment with Jax.  We were there to record and cheer him on when he first started rolling over, sitting, crawling, cruising, and finally walking.... just in time for his birthday party!!
Considering all the excitement and adventure, new sights and sounds every month, its no wonder he didn't start finally sleeping through the night until his 11th month!!!

At 1 years old, our sweet baby Jax weighs in at 19 lbs 2 oz (4th %) and is 29 inches tall (20th %). His head circumference is in the 78th percentile, LOL!  He is an active little guy.  It was just about a month ago that he started walking with a swagger, and now he is constantly walking, turning, almost running to keep up with Taj! He is a happy little guy, loves to cuddle all the time and loves his lovie Monkey and stuffed animal dog.  He demands to be independent, such as in crawling up and down the stairs, feeding himself, and putting himself to sleep.  With his weight you would never know what a good and BIG eater he is, although he has his moments when he gets super picky and loves to just fling his food on the floor! He continues to want to nurse morning, before his lunchtime nap, and just before going to sleep for the night.  Even though he is still breastfeeding, he can also go without it, and sleeps just as great through the night.   As I have mentioned many times, this boy is the most adaptable baby I have ever met.  Right from birth, he just goes with the flow, and no matter what changes, and environment, or people he is with, he is as happy as he can be!  I also think his separation anxiety is finally going away, as long as he's with familiar people giving him attention! LOL


Having a Christmas birthday isn't so bad after all...... for now, at least!  Jax celebrated his birthday for a week, with his party 3 days before his actual birthday, then he got presents Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and then right after his lunchtime nap, he had more cake and more presents!  LUCKY BOY, if you ask me!




Here's a look at some of more of his cuteness (surprise photos not previously featured on the blog) from his 1st year:







Thursday, January 10, 2013

Reminiscing....

Our youngest just turned ONE, and it seems like yesterday, that our oldest pipsqueak turned the big ONE. I had to post Taj's 1st year video alongside Jax's just for fun. What great memories, and what AWESOME last 2 1/2 years we've had! WOW.... .so many similarities yet differences. We are so very blessed. Love having these 1st year videos (all videos) to look back on.
I'm humbled to be these boys' mother.... I'm in heaven.

Taj Leon Grover 1st year:
 

 Jax Franz Grover 1st year:

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Happy 1st Birthday, JAX!!!

We love you soooooooo much!  It sure has been an amazing first year for you, my littlest love! You were able to experience so much in little time!  It truly feels like we were able to slow down the clock with you and enjoy every precious moment despite the constant changes around us!  With your big brother by your side, we were a lot more adventurous and confident with you.  It helped that you are also a very adaptable boy, and as sweet as pie!  You have the most easy going disposition, and everybody that meets you remarks how happy you are.  You bring daddy, Taj, and I so much inexplicable joy every time you look at us with your big blue eyes and long eye lashes.  Your smile and giggles always express how comfortable you feel, and that is our biggest reward.  We also can't get enough of the kisses you blow, the open-mouth kisses you readily give, and that adorable little dance you do the second you hear music! I'm so proud of all your accomplishments and milestones, and most of all, I'm completely in love with you! You complete our family perfectly.  You and Taj are like two peas in a pod, doing everything together, and enjoying each other's company..... always!  I don't know how daddy and I lucked out as much as we did with 2 happy, healthy, and handsome boys, but we sure count our blessings every day!  Our wish for you is to remain healthy and happy forever, and that you continuously go through life learning and growing with this much ease.  Your daddy and I will continue to give you and your brother only the best in the world, provide you with an adventurous and fun life, and expose you to as many wonderful things and travel experiences as we possibly can!  I know  you will excel in everything that you do, because you have a great happy-go-lucky attitude, so affectionate, yet very patient and sweet.  Thank you for coming into our lives, for making the holidays way more special, and for allowing us to be your lucky parents and proud big brother!

Monday, January 7, 2013

Snowmobiles, Snowmen, and Snow Angels!

We have snow

 LOTS of snow!

The lake is frozen..... 
(almost time for ice hockey and ice skating.... although most of our friends have turned their backyards and tennis courts into ice rinks for the kids)

 Snowmobiling....
 Taj's first time snowmobiling with Uncle Bender, he loved it!


 Our first snowman (ugh, snow lump actually)  The snow was too powdery and did not stick enough to make snowballs so we did the best we could :)

 Mr. Snowman (Taj's name for our snow lump) got buried in snow by last week's snow storm, but you still see his head and little arms!
 Jax tasting snow for the first time
Jax walking in the snow for the first time!

Jax's first snow angel


knee high walking in the snow
 Trying to shovel snow with his plastic sand shovel!
 Taj's first snow angel

 This is how we go on stroller walks in the Winter, weeeeee!
We HEART snow! Snow is Winter's sand!
Who knew how busy and fun Winter could be with all the different snow activities?!
We still have other things to try in the snow this season:  our new snow paints, the Ice Castle Festival, horse drawn sleigh rides, SKIING (the snow has been powder most days, perfect for skiing), going to an ice hockey game, Jamestown Audobon's Snowflake Festival, and this interesting snowmobile trail date night restaurant/ bar crawl! hmmm.... let the cold white fun begin!
Lilypie - Personal pictureLilypie Third Birthday tickers Lilypie - Personal pictureLilypie First Birthday tickers