The Return of the Ring

Courtney and Nate's wedding was not without drama. Moments before the ceremony on Pfeiffer Beach, Marimar realized that Coco's wedding band that she had been holding for ring bearer, Santi, had disappeared somewhere between the car and the cove on the beach where the nuptials were about to begin. We decided to continue with ceremony using the engagement ring instead of the wedding band. We scoured the beach on the way back, but no one could find the ring in it's purple pouch. It was lost.

As we preparing to head home on Sunday, we ran into our babysitter, Elizabeth (who came down with us from San Francisco), at the restaurant where we were eating breakfast. She mentioned that she was headed to Pfeiffer Beach based on a recommendation from a park ranger. Lulu told Elizabeth about the ring debacle and asked her to keep an eye out for it. When they went to the beach, Elizabeth happened to mention looking for the ring to her boyfriend while they were paying the entry fee. The guy in the booth gave them a strange look when Elizabeth said, "ring in the purple pouch." He reached into a drawer and said, "Is this what you are looking for?" Indeed. There was the ring! Someone on the beach had found it and given to the dude at the pay station. She contacted us right away and we were able to pass the word on to Coco and Nate.

Elizabeth dropped of the ring at our house on Monday night. The next day, Maya and Mommy met Coco and Nate to go for a hike in Tennessee Valley in Marin. Here are some pix of the Nate being FINALLY able to put the wedding ring on her finger:

Coco and Nate's Wedding

We were so excited to be a part of Nate and Coco's beautiful wedding in Big Sur. Lucky for us, Marimar, Oscar, and Santi came early to visit us a few days before we headed down to Big Sur. It was nice having some dedicated time with them. Maya loved playing with her older cousin, Santi.

We all made our way down to Big Sur on Thursday. On Friday, Nate and Coco were married in an intimate ceremony with just the immediate family on Pfeiffer Beach. That was followed with an amazing meal at the Post Ranch Inn. The celebration continued with a larger group of family and friends at Nepenthe on Saturday night. All of the events were so much fun and a great expression of Coco and Nate's relationship.

Unfortunately, we didn't capture much of the weekend because there was a great photographer there. Here is the blog entry from the photographer that gives a better sense of what it was all about. We've just included a few random snapshots (we'll add another entry later when we get our selects from the photographer)...

Maya and Santi displaying their complete domination of trees in Muir Woods.

Nate and Coco at dinner after the wedding on Friday. They're married!

Enjoying the view.

Marimar (six months pregnant - yay!) and Oscar.

Nate's parents, Gary and Cindi.

Santi and Maya at the Saturday celebration at Nepenthe.

Coco spoils her niece and nephew with gummy bears.

Maya and Mommy at Point Lobos State Reserve at the end of an amazing weekend.

Maya runs from the waves while watching seals and otters at the beach.