Do you Really Need it?

Look how much sugar are in these drinks! And water? None.
It really should make one think twice about grabbing a sugar filled drink.

photo credit: Judy Vu

I saw this posted on this blog: http://adailydoseofdieting.blogspot.com/2010/08/sugar-soda.html

While we are on the subject, I am only 3 pounds away from my first weight loss goal! Yay!

Earthbound Farms

We love going to Earthbound Farms in Carmel Valley. It's beautiful and fun for the kids. We hadn't been there in a while so one day after swimming at the Carmel Valley Pool, we stopped there.

Micah and Gavin

My little Indian, Gavin.

Micah loved the shiny rocks embedded in the stepping stones. I love Gavin's interest in Micah here.

Micah LOVED seeing the chickens wandering around. He just loves birds of any kind. If I had space, I'd consider buying chickens.

Sweet Linnea sharing the painted images with Micah inside the tee pee.

My Boy

Micah was being really quiet in Linnea's room so I went in to check on him.
This is how I found him. (:

Summer Swimming

Gavin and Linnea had swimming lessons out in Carmel Valley this summer. It was quite a drive--25 minutes one way--but the valley is beautiful the weather is sunny so it was worth it. They turned into little fish in the water, and look like little Indians out of the water. (I wish I could tan like them!) Micah enjoyed some time in the water as well and loved the playground next to it. Jacen came out with us a few times when he wasn't at Grampa and Grama's house or Chris' house. Fun summer swimming times!

Gavin jumping in from the diving board. The first time we went to the pool he was really nervous about jumping off the diving board. His cousin, Carter, helped him feel more comfortable and offered to help him. Jacen stayed in the water on the side to help him if needed. Gavin tried it and then he was hooked. He LOVED the diving board and even learned some tricks on it.

Peek-a-boo Jace! He would pop his head in and out of the water--first playing with Micah and then trying to dodge the camera.

Lovely Linnea taking a break in the sun.

Jacen's famous hand!

Micah--I have such a hard time getting him to stay still long enough looking at the camera. He loved swimming and then the rest of the time we went to the park next to the pool.

Dallin (Tera's 5 year old)
Making a Splash!

Carter (Tera's 9 year old)

Gavin is taking a break eating carrots and hummus.

(I feel bad that I don't have a picture of Maila to post. She is Tera's 7 year old girl and we enjoyed summer swimming with her as well. I only had one picture but her eyes are closed from the brightness of the sun! She's a sweetie though and loved spending the time with Micah especially!)

Dolphins

Today Linnea, Micah and I went for a nice Sunday morning walk down to Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach. It was a beautiful morning with just the right amount of sun but still with a mist that is so common here. We saw a bunch of people watching the water from the beach so we stopped to see what they were watching. There were three dolphins swimming only 20-30 feet off the beach! I was SO excited! I have lived in the Monterey area for 12 years and am always walking or running the coastline and have never seen dolphins. They were jumping in and out of the water and coming up head first and then we'd see tails as they dove down. They were having so much fun, looking like they were playing. It was captivating and we had a difficult time leaving. I kept looking back to catch a glimpse of them again. I told Linnea as we were walking away, up in the golf course, that I felt like that was a gift from Heavenly Father--being able to see those dolphins. Linnea said that if it hadn't have been Sunday, she would have swum out to them. She totally could have! They were so close! But I'm sure their are laws against that sort of thing. Someday....

I'm so grateful for this beautiful planet that we live on and all the creations we get to share it with. Dolphins are one of my favorites! I'm remembering now that when I gave Linnea her birthday interview and asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, she responded that she wanted to be a dolphin trainer. How fitting that she could be with me to observe them in the wild and marvel with me at their magnificence.

Happy Anniversary To Us

Today is our 11th anniversary!
I was cleaning in the garage and came across a poem I wrote for Albert when we were engaged. It's pretty sappy so you'll have to bare with me. (:

Love is the breath we breathe;
Love is the light in our eyes.
Love is the speech we utter so softly;
Love is our laughter, tears and sighs.

Our love shines through the darkest night;
And puts the stars to shame.
And when the sun arises,
Our love dances on every flame.

Oh, if I could capture this love
And hold to it forever...
To feel its breath and light and smile,
without ever a cause to sever.

But why must I grasp this feeling?
Why must I seize this day?
Our love is eternal.
We'll love forever and ever this way.

I am so grateful for my sweet husband and love the man who he is. Looking back, I'm sure I didn't know what I was getting into at the young age of 20 but I wouldn't have changed a thing. We've been through a lot together and all the ups and downs have only strengthened our bond. So, here's to eleven years....with an eternity to go.

Park Fave

We've been out at a new (to us) park in Carmel Valley nearly every day the last couple of weeks.
It's a great park and sunny when it's cloudy here. The pool is right next to the playground so the other kids can swim while I take Micah to the playground if we don't feel like swimming.
Their are TONS of dogs there--very fun in Micah's book.
Their are also TONS of birds there--very fun in Micah's book as well.
His all time favorite thing at the park is this dog water dish. He could spend hours playing in it...and does.

His face looks like it could use a wash up job. Don't worry, he'll probably dip his face in the water any time now.

A Summer Afternoon

Things come to a point when the television is driving me crazy and I've memorized a certain Wizards of Waverly Place that had been DVR'd. We HAVE to get out.

So we headed to the Point Pinos Lighthouse.

This is the oldest continuously running lighthouse on the West Coast.
Below Linnea and Gavin are fascinated by a typewriter. Linnea really wants one.
We also read through the notes of some of the lighthouse keepers and read adventurous true stories of danger on the sea.

Gavin wanted to sleep here. I think his own bed is more comfy.

The main bedroom for the lighthouse keeper.

After enjoying the lighthouse, we spent sometime outdoors.
My kids LOVE climbing trees.

Micah and I

Micah feels very adventuresome here.

We headed to the tennis courts and had some fun with tennis...even Micah.

And ended with some playing at the park.

Scout Camp '10

This is the before picture (thanks to the Ellison's). The boys are clean and happy.
(Jace in blue.)

Happy Birthday Linnea!

We started out Linnea's birthday with her favorite breakfast--chocolate chip pancakes (flower shaped for her) with cocoa (don't forget the whipped cream) Micah loved the candle!

On her birthday she was busy working on her quilt she is making.

We go out to eat for each person's birthday (Great-Grampa's treat). Linnea picked Chilies and ordered pizza.

After dinner, we came back home for cake (chocolate) and ice cream (mint chip) and presents.
Great grampa and Tera and Jared and their family celebrated with us that evening!

The following Saturday, Linnea's two ten year old cousins came from out of town to spend the night and have a birthday celebration with her.

For lunch, macaroni and cheese, cantalope, strawberries, apples, chicken nuggets and juice squeeze.

We drove to Capitola to Beach Bear Co. Micah LOVED all the animals at arms reach.

Gavin picked a blue dragon and here he is giving it it's bath.

Micah picked an elephant and we are watching it being stuffed.

It was such a fun place to have a birthday! Afterward, ice cream in this cute little beach town.

Back home for presents.

We love our big girl! Double digits!

Birthday Interview

"What do you want to be when you grow up?": Dolphin trainer.
Favorite colors: Lavender, red and yellow.
Favorite animals: dolphin, frogs, penguins.
Dream vacation: To go ride a dolphin in Florida or Mexico.
Favorite song: A Child's Prayer
Favorite thing to do on a Saturday afternoon: go skateboarding
Favorite toy: stuffed animals
Favorite Chore: folding laundry
Least favorite chore: cleaning the kids bathroom

Favorite T.V. show: Wizards of Waverly Place
Favorite Author: Beverly Cleary
Something you want to do when you're 10: Have a vacation all by myself.