Remodel

In addition to planning 2 weddings this summer, we are remodeling our house. Both bathrooms and the main living/kitchen area are getting overhauled. So far, our master bath has been demolished and the plumbing for the new fixtures is in place. Both of the pony walls in our main living room and the arches have been removed. Some of the electrical was completed this week. New cabinets for the master and for the kitchen island and dining room built in are due to arrive this week. Master bath tile is due on 7/29. We are not sure how long this will take, but we know it will be great when it is done. It is a little dusty at our house now.


Master before

Master after 7.13.08

Master 7.13.08


Main living before

After 7.20.08

Married by the Mayor!

Link to wedding photos: www.trishtunney.com/julieandlynda

We were married by the Mayor today. It was the most amazing day. I think it was worth the 10 year wait. We were so nervous and excited. Adding to the excitment was trying to get ready for the wedding with half our house torn up due to the remodeling we are doing. But we managed to get ready, keep everyone clean and not forget anything.


We got to City Hall about an hour and a half early to meet our photographer take pictures with our family (the shots below were taken with our camera- we can't wait to see the "real" pictures).

We finally headed up to the Mayor's office about 10 minutes before our appointment time. We were giddy!

The Mayor was incredibly gracious and chatted with us before he started the ceremony. He even joked about taking our rings for his own wedding, but somehow I think his are probably a little fancier than ours!


Dylan got to sit at the Mayor's desk, which he seemed to like most because it made a good road for his cars.


We walked down the staircase in City Hall after our ceremony.

Celebrating at our mini-reception at Buca di Beppo

Cutting our cake at the Pope's table

We are married! Really, really MARRIED!

Swimming Lessons

Dylan started swimming lessons on June 28. He is still getting used to being in the water. He really enjoys bouncing up and down and likes kicking in the water. It is also good one on one time with Mommy. He still needs more convincing about getting his face wet, but it will come. Spinning in a circle seems to be a hit, but maybe not so much with Mommy the morning after the Fourth of July.

Fourth of July Blast!!!

We had a great Fourth of July. We celebrated with some of our favorite friends and family. We had a BBQ and blew stuff up. Dylan really had fun at the party and he enjoyed some of the fireworks (some were too loud), but the cupcakes were a real hit. He went to bed on time like the sweet boy that he is, and his moms's had fun with fireworks after dark.

Family Pride

This year we marched in the Gay Pride Parade with Dylan. We marched with the marriage equality contingent. Dylan thought the whole thing was pretty exciting and enjoyed waving his flag. It was a very memorable and emotional day for us.

Getting Our License!

On June 17 we went to San Francisco City Hall to get our marriage license. It was the first day gay and lesbian couples could get their licenses and we had a 10:30 AM appointement. Jason met us at City Hall and took pictures. We also were met by our friend Steven. It was very exciting and we were interviewed by several reporters (we ended up in USA Today!) It was a great day. Dylan seemed to have a good time too, but I think the part he liked best were the free cupcakes from the ladies with the Unitarian Church.



AP photo

Inside City Hall

Talking to a reporter

Leaving City Hall- We got lots of cheers!

In Front of City Hall

WE WON!!!

We were there at 10am for the announcement of the ruling- what a great day for California, what a great day for our family! See below for information on the ruling and some pics of us from this morning. Thank you all for supporting us! Love, Julie, Lynda & Dylan

California’s Supreme Court ruled 4-3 today under the state Constitution that same-sex couples may not be excluded from civil marriage. In a decision written by Chief Justice Ronald M. George and joined by Associate Justices Joyce L. Kennard, Kathryn Mickle Werdegar, and Carlos R. Moreno, the court ruled there is a fundamental right to form a family through marriage. It recognized that this is a basic civil right that applies to “Californians, whether gay or heterosexual, and to same-sex couples as well as to opposite-sex couples.” Using its highest level of constitutional review, called strict scrutiny, the court ruled that the marriage ban violates the equal protection guarantees of the state Constitution by discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation. Providing two systems of family recognition, one called domestic partnership and one called marriage, “realistically must be viewed as constituting significantly unequal treatment to same-sex couples.” The state does not have a compelling interest in “limiting the designation of marriage exclusively to opposite-sex couples, and in excluding same-sex couples.” Excluding lesbian and gay couples from marriage “works a real and appreciable harm on same-sex couples and their children.” Ultimately, the court held that lesbian and gay couples are entitled to the same dignity, respect, and stature as other couples. The language limiting marriage to a union between a man and a woman is unconstitutional and must be stricken from state law, and current marriage laws must apply to both same-sex and opposite sex couples. The California Supreme Court directed the lower court to issue an order directing state officials to allow same-sex couples to begin to marry. The court’s decision becomes final in 30 days unless that period is extended by court order, and the lower courts in California have a few procedural steps to complete. Very shortly, exact date to be determined, same-sex couples will be able to marry.