In May, Lola and I spent the weekend in San Francisco. We stayed at Amy and Adam's apartment, and while we were there, Lola swiped a greeting card off their bookcase and refused to put it down.
CHICKENS!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Santa Cruz Surf Trip
Oh dear, how can it already be July? I recognize that I haven't really updated the blog in almost two months. May and June were CRA-ZY. Good times, but the social calendar really impacted my ability to take time to write. That, and Lola's sleep schedule has changed (again) and we're now in this place where she goes to bed around 9 PM and wakes up at 6 AM. While it is AWESOME that she doesn't wake in between those hours, this later bedtime results in less "me time," which then results in less time to blog.
Anyway, enough whining from me. I know you're really here for the photos, so let me get started.
We decided to return to the same campground that we went to last year. The weather was PERFECT. It was 75 degrees every day ON THE BEACH. What made the weather even better was knowing that it 95 degrees at home. :)
For this trip, we invited our nephew Jacob to join us. Little did he know, we invited him along so he could watch Lola. Little did we know, his babysitting skills involved digging a hole in the sand and sticking our kid in it.
Like an inescapable pack-and-play.
Genius.
Like most camping trips, or should I say, like most of our camping trips, something always has to go wrong (i.e., peeing on myself, or forgetting the air mattress.) This trip was no exception.
This year, on our, the second night, the fog that is so famous in this part of California rolled in -- right into our tent. We still aren't quite sure what happened, but I can tell you the result: Josh and I were up all night, trying to avoid the water that was dripping off the tent ceiling and landing directly on our faces. No matter where we moved in our giant tent, the water followed us.
Somehow, Jacob and Lola were exempt from this weird phenom. They slept beautifully, and awoke in the morning to only slightly damp sleeping bags. Josh and I were exhausted. We were so exhausted that instead making our breakfast by the campfire, we drove into town and ate at a cafe.
It was that bad.
The following night, the drip disappeared, but in its place, a pack of raccoons appeared. They became obsessed with the surf boards, which were directly behind the tent wall, and wouldn't stop running back and forth across the boards, scratching themselves and gibbering in their raccoon-talk. I found myself whisper-screaming, "SHUT UP!" to the pack of thieves. In the morning, I half-expected to find the surf boards hanging from the trees. Instead, we were just exhausted.
But of course, not too tired to spend our last few hours of vacation on the beach!
Anyway, enough whining from me. I know you're really here for the photos, so let me get started.
We decided to return to the same campground that we went to last year. The weather was PERFECT. It was 75 degrees every day ON THE BEACH. What made the weather even better was knowing that it 95 degrees at home. :)
For this trip, we invited our nephew Jacob to join us. Little did he know, we invited him along so he could watch Lola. Little did we know, his babysitting skills involved digging a hole in the sand and sticking our kid in it.
Like an inescapable pack-and-play.
Genius.
Like most camping trips, or should I say, like most of our camping trips, something always has to go wrong (i.e., peeing on myself, or forgetting the air mattress.) This trip was no exception.
This year, on our, the second night, the fog that is so famous in this part of California rolled in -- right into our tent. We still aren't quite sure what happened, but I can tell you the result: Josh and I were up all night, trying to avoid the water that was dripping off the tent ceiling and landing directly on our faces. No matter where we moved in our giant tent, the water followed us.
Somehow, Jacob and Lola were exempt from this weird phenom. They slept beautifully, and awoke in the morning to only slightly damp sleeping bags. Josh and I were exhausted. We were so exhausted that instead making our breakfast by the campfire, we drove into town and ate at a cafe.
It was that bad.
The following night, the drip disappeared, but in its place, a pack of raccoons appeared. They became obsessed with the surf boards, which were directly behind the tent wall, and wouldn't stop running back and forth across the boards, scratching themselves and gibbering in their raccoon-talk. I found myself whisper-screaming, "SHUT UP!" to the pack of thieves. In the morning, I half-expected to find the surf boards hanging from the trees. Instead, we were just exhausted.
But of course, not too tired to spend our last few hours of vacation on the beach!
Friday, June 10, 2011
For Amy and Adam
Last night, Lola made up a little ditty and I was able to catch some of her song on video this morning.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Yes, Another Cannoli Video
This month has just FLOWN by us. I have so many things to post, photos for you to see, and videos ready to be watched.
But, I'm really tired.
Instead, here's a snack. A big Thank You to Papa Lou, too.
Cue the cannoli!
But, I'm really tired.
Instead, here's a snack. A big Thank You to Papa Lou, too.
Cue the cannoli!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Truce
As you may or may not know, Josh and I have different perspectives on Lola's potential participation in organized activities.
That sentence seriously sounds like my kid is going to be a crime boss.
In fact, we've had countless arguments over what sort of extracurricular activities Lola will or will not participate in. Our agreed upon rule: Once she is old enough to voice her opinion, she can do whatever she likes, so long as she is in a safe environment.
The problem is, she hasn't figured out what she likes quite yet.
For a long time, I advocated signing her up for a Parent-Tot gymnastics class. I used to teach those sort of classes at the local community center, and I loved them. The babies and toddlers were so adorable and they all loved to hang on the bars, attempt to walk across the balance beam, and play parachute at the conclusion of each class.
Josh hates gymnastics.
He believes it provides a platform for body issues and injuries, as well as those squeaky voices that only Olympic gymnasts seem to possess (Thanks a lot, Mary Lou Retton.)
I worked long and hard to convince him of all the benefits, but didn't really get very far. Also, the fact that all the Parent-Tot classes in our area were on weekdays, and thus, Josh would have to take her to these classes, which he refused to do, didn't help my case.
Finally, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Without discussing the matter with Josh, I signed Lola up for a swim class.
Each Saturday morning, Lola and I spend a half an hour at the pool. She LOVES it. She talks about her swim classes all week long in anticipation of that little half an hour. During her class, there are classes for older children taking place in the same pool, and recently, Lola has become obsessed with their swim goggles.
After a week of her saying, "I need goggles." (Yes, she did say that.) I bought her some at Target, and for the past three days, she has worn them everywhere.
In the bathtub (of course.)
With her pajamas.
And even when she wants to snuggle.
I think swim is something she likes, and Josh likes it too. I think we have a winner.
That sentence seriously sounds like my kid is going to be a crime boss.
In fact, we've had countless arguments over what sort of extracurricular activities Lola will or will not participate in. Our agreed upon rule: Once she is old enough to voice her opinion, she can do whatever she likes, so long as she is in a safe environment.
The problem is, she hasn't figured out what she likes quite yet.
For a long time, I advocated signing her up for a Parent-Tot gymnastics class. I used to teach those sort of classes at the local community center, and I loved them. The babies and toddlers were so adorable and they all loved to hang on the bars, attempt to walk across the balance beam, and play parachute at the conclusion of each class.
Josh hates gymnastics.
He believes it provides a platform for body issues and injuries, as well as those squeaky voices that only Olympic gymnasts seem to possess (Thanks a lot, Mary Lou Retton.)
I worked long and hard to convince him of all the benefits, but didn't really get very far. Also, the fact that all the Parent-Tot classes in our area were on weekdays, and thus, Josh would have to take her to these classes, which he refused to do, didn't help my case.
Finally, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Without discussing the matter with Josh, I signed Lola up for a swim class.
Each Saturday morning, Lola and I spend a half an hour at the pool. She LOVES it. She talks about her swim classes all week long in anticipation of that little half an hour. During her class, there are classes for older children taking place in the same pool, and recently, Lola has become obsessed with their swim goggles.
After a week of her saying, "I need goggles." (Yes, she did say that.) I bought her some at Target, and for the past three days, she has worn them everywhere.
In the bathtub (of course.)
With her pajamas.
And even when she wants to snuggle.
I think swim is something she likes, and Josh likes it too. I think we have a winner.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Renewal
I am in love with our Spring weather. Occasional rain, temperatures floating lazily at 72, and no mosquitoes in sight. It's been nearly three weeks since I turned off the heater, and I am hoping to go a few more before the air conditioner goes on.
We've spent the last few weekends outside, prepping the yard and the garden for summer. While my winter garden didn't really produce much, I did grow these beautiful peas.
Our summer garden is nearly all planted. On our latest trip down to Southern California, I was inspired by my sister-in-law's incredible salsa. To summarize its amazing-ness: she bought several varieties of peppers, roasted them with tomatoes, onions, and garlic, mixed in cilantro, and created a salsa so good that I ate it for dinner two nights in a row.
As a result, I am growing nearly all the ingredients necessary for Andrea's salsa.
We have:
Tomatoes (Early Girl and Beefsteak)
Tomatillos
Jalapeno Peppers
Habanero Peppers
Serrano Chilies
Hungarian Yellow Wax Peppers,
and a more mild red pepper, but I can't remember what it is called.
Then, in case I tire of salsa (even though I really don't think I will):
butternut squash
zucchini
strawberries
mint
basil
Next month, I'm going to plant the sugar pumpkins, and maybe watermelons.
Hooray for spring!
ps Those peas were delicious. We ate them right there in the yard. You know that they are good when (1) Josh eats peas, and (2) they don't even make it onto the table.
We've spent the last few weekends outside, prepping the yard and the garden for summer. While my winter garden didn't really produce much, I did grow these beautiful peas.
Our summer garden is nearly all planted. On our latest trip down to Southern California, I was inspired by my sister-in-law's incredible salsa. To summarize its amazing-ness: she bought several varieties of peppers, roasted them with tomatoes, onions, and garlic, mixed in cilantro, and created a salsa so good that I ate it for dinner two nights in a row.
As a result, I am growing nearly all the ingredients necessary for Andrea's salsa.
We have:
Tomatoes (Early Girl and Beefsteak)
Tomatillos
Jalapeno Peppers
Habanero Peppers
Serrano Chilies
Hungarian Yellow Wax Peppers,
and a more mild red pepper, but I can't remember what it is called.
Then, in case I tire of salsa (even though I really don't think I will):
butternut squash
zucchini
strawberries
mint
basil
Next month, I'm going to plant the sugar pumpkins, and maybe watermelons.
Hooray for spring!
ps Those peas were delicious. We ate them right there in the yard. You know that they are good when (1) Josh eats peas, and (2) they don't even make it onto the table.
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