Sprinker Fun

Yards are the greatest! Clara was a little shy so Kelly had to show her how it was done.

We are Welcome

Oh I do hope people continue to give me beautiful flowers! We felt wrapped in love with a warm welcome from our ward and neighbors. Food, flowers, cookies, dinner and not to forget them moving all my food storage! How could anyone complain? We couldn't ask for a nicer place to live and nicer people to be with.

Princess Stickers

Grandma and Grandpa Anderson knowingly gave an amazing coloring book. Catered to Clara's interests. Stickers and Princesses

Redwoods and Eureka

We went from the Palace to the Econlogde where Mom sarcastically said "Wow, this artwork is inspirational!"But going from the city to the Redwoods was amazing. It was cathedral-like. Ancient and sacred. They litterally dominate! And then you realize that you aren't even seeing half of the tree. The rest is up up up above layers of branches. I loved it. The photo of clara showing belly button is the chandeler tree. we drove through it and it was still alive! I can't believe that.... later that day we ate mexican at Jalisco Cafe. Yum!

Bee-Bop Birthday

I think Clara had a great birthday. We had to travel from San Francisco to Eureka but along the way stopped at a cute fifties burger place called Bee-Bop. Dad humored me and we sat inside.

San Francisco

Ben says that when you stay at a hotel called The Palace it could go either way. Really terrible or fantastic. Our stay in San Francisco was awesome! Aunt Connie hooked us up with a room that had a separate living room that really fit our needs. The breakfast was the best I have ever had in my life. I am not kidding. We saw everything from a hop on hop off bus. The tour guild was a goober though. Ghirardelli square was fun and I talked to some Swiss tourist on the cable cars. The view we had when we ate lunch at fisherman's wharf was beautiful. It overlook the bridge and the fishing boats. What a wonderful place to visit.

Yosemite and Central Valley

We stayed only three hours in Yosemite but I know if we would have stayed a week it would not have been long enough. It was so so beautiful. I decided three hours of Yosemite is better then not seeing it at all.

I loved driving through central valley. Who ever thought that I would get so excited seeing carrot fields, plum orchards and citrus trees. There was everything you could think of plus distribution centers (that I have an deep appreciation for because of my operations management class.) The strawberries were the best I have ever tasted. Tender and juicy.

Open-Mouth Kiss

John is so affectionate. When I am holding him and busy with something else he will swing his head around to say "Hey, how ya doing Mom? Whats going on?" When Dada comes home he books it to Kelly. Then when he is in Dads arm's gives this look that says "I conquered. I am pleased. Very pleased."

Chipotle

Growing Up

Looking back at what we were when we moved to California is so weird. These girls were like this!

It Started out as a Neat Ballerina Bun

I have been really into Clara's hair. It started out as a neat ballerina bun but time simply takes its toll. Plus she has a firm part that won't be stopped.

I just finished reading The Informed Eye by Bruce Cole. However, I feel only slightly informed now. In it he talks about The Studio (1934) by Picasso .The link doesn't go straight to the painting. It is under "post 1800 western" and it is the second icon. The expecting female muse that looks like a seal has four locks of hair falling down almost touching the ground. I don't know why but when I saw Clara's three locks falling down it reminded me of it.

My Third Apartment

We have been really happy here. This apartment had a ton of windows which was so good. It was so light all the time. I am sad to leave California but glad to have the opportunity to live in Oregon. It should be a ton of fun.

Watermelon

Not very flavorful but kinda pretty curls.