Kung Fu meets Karate Kid - Happy Birthday to Ben!

Surprise!
October brought Ben's birthday with friends and neighbors. It was a a "Kung Fu" meets "Karate Kid" themed gig and what fun we had. He celebrated with friend Erik Martin who was also born on Halloween. They were surprised by friends from all over. They didn't know it until just prior to party time, but they had to wear Karate Suits to the party and were greeted by friends in costumes and food galore!

We had Vietnamese Pho, egg rolls, Japanese curry and Asian cabbage salad. Accompanied by "Rising Sun" Japanese flag cupcakes and a a fortune cookie ice cream cake.

The happy couple cuts the cake - oh these two!

There was a great debate over which tier of cupcakes was more elegantly frosted.

Top or bottom? What's your vote?

The ladies turned out in great costumes!

Opening gifts with the birthday glasses on. A small group tradition.




Randomness.


Friends came from all over!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIK AND BEN!

Honeymoon Haven...

Our first night at the Doubletree Resort, and cruise to the Mexian Riviera with Carnival Cruise Lines was just that - a Haven!

The first night we got a steal of a deal on a room but when we arrived it had 2 double beds. We told our "bellhop," "What the heck, we can do seperate beds one more night. We've done it for this long." :)

Just a few minutes later he returned with a luggage rack and upgraded us, for free, to the Penthouse Suite! It was incredible.

Then the next morning we boarded a plane for Long Beach after only a few hours sleep. Our cruise was late boarding, but once aboard all we did was lounge, eat, lounge some more, and got to see a few sites, including an incredible horseback ride!

What a dream this was!

Ben was thrilled and so was I - we'll take the Penthouse suite for FREE any day.

Headed to Long Beach, and waiting for the cruise to load!

Getting on the boat! So gorgeous. And we were seriously sunburnt from being on the sidewalk waiting to load all day. :)

Our first dinner and towel animal was the most incredible treat!

Our first stop was quite an adventure. We walked, and walked, and walked. Then had one seriously delicious meal.

Back to the ship. Welcomed by a towel animal and an incredible meal.

Our second stop we went on an excursion with an incredibly funny bus driver and some slow moving horses. What a day!

We met a couple from CA that got married on June 14 too!

Then we were welcomed by yet another cute towel animal.

Our Mazatlan day was spent on board the boat, enjoying a quiet day on a quiet ship.

Dinner in the formal dining room was the highlight of our days. And of course the towel animals were cute too!

Showing off our **BLING**!

This day in Cabo San Lucas we went into town and did some shopping. We ended up with some beautiful porcelain pieces. And much to Alex's delight, a much desired and colorful butter dish.














More delicious food, served by wonderful people. Our favorite dessert was the chocolate melting cake!

A towel elephant welcomes us home.

On this night the crew made an incredible food display and we were wow'ed. Good thing we like food.




















Then off to BINGO and a show!

Our final night, saying "goodbye."

On our way home!

We were so ready to get back to our dogs, families, and home as "The Jacobsons."

Fabulous Fortunes

Our first date...

Our first date began with lunch, then a video shoot for newlife youth, and resulted in a a dinner date, and time of worship, and late night conversation.

One of the highlights of the evening was when we had completed our LARGE meal at The Mongolian Grill and we opened our fortune cookies. Ben's held the fortune, "The evening promises romantic interest."

There was a semi-akward momment when both of us didn't know what to say, then we both errupted into laughter.

It didn't take long and yes, the evening was very romantic.
Fortune cookies have become a tradition for Ben and Alex.

We also incorporated their fortune cookie tradition into the wedding. The wedding favors were fortune cookies stuffed with their original fortune ("The evening promises romantic interests") and other love quoatations. The tags read, "Sharing our good fortune with you. Love, Ben and Alex."