We headed up to the mountains last weekend for some cool weather camping. The campground we had planned to camp at was completely full, but we were lucky to find a remote spot deep in the pines a few miles up a dirt road... it was perfect. The Farr family joined us for the stay, and we all had a great time together.




Aubree checking out the view.

Kate loved exploring the dirt, pine needles, and rocks. I let her down and she was happy as a lark.

The first nights dinner was dutch oven style mediterranean chicken, fire roasted butternut squash, salad and bread. It smelled soooo good while it was cooking. The second night the Farr's treated us to some sweet pulled pork tacos, with all the fixings. There's nothing like good food on a campout!



The girls created their own sheltered retreat, complete with a stone & stick path and a baby changing area.























OK, so Maya isn't yet a professional photographer.... but this is my only proof that I was actually there. Gotta love the hammock!

Fishing is always better when you catch some. Aubree caught 2 the first day and 3 the next day. These beautiful rainbow trout were good eatin'.

Aubree's first fish! With a little trick photography this 7 incher looks huge!

Brian Farr cooked up the fish. He seasoned it with some creole seasoning and a little oil, then wrapped it in foil and cooked it on the grill. Mmm, Mmm, tasty!








Yes Kate, I see you eating that rock.

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West fork of Oak Creek Canyon hike.

Maya rock-hopping along the creek bed.

Jeff used his MacGyver skills and put together a make-shift hammock for Ella. She was in heaven, can you tell?


We found a natural waterslide on our hike of the West Fork of Oak Creek. This was one of the highlights of our camping adventure.

Aubree and Maya in the back yard... picking corn.... and just being sweet and silly. It is good to have Aubree home for the summer. They are really enjoying the long days of just plain good kid fun.

align="center">Stake Garden

We went to the stake garden today to harvest some fresh vegetables. Corn, cucumbers, zucchini, crookneck squash, peppers, green beans, and okra (yes, I'm going to try out the okra-- I was told that you can chop it up and add it to soups or stews and it will act as a natural thickener). The tomatoes and melons are not quite ready yet. The girls had a good time running around the "farm" and looking for vegetables to to add to our basket.

It was a hot day (already) even though it was only 10 in the morning. The girls refreshed with a dip of their hands in the nice, cool and irrisistable irrigation water.

"Tractor gonna get me!!!!" was the tune of the trip. There was a tractor working in the neighboring field and Ella was terified of it. She cried and cried and cried... and falling into the mud didn't seem to calm her down at all.

We found a bird's nest built on one of the corn stalks and to our surprise there were a couple of baby birds nestled up inside of it. One had its beak wide open and up in the air, as if it was waiting for its mama to return with a meal. It kind of reminded me of Kate.

A trip to California

We traveled to California for my Grandfathers Memorial. It was held on May 1st, 2009. It was good to be with all of the family and celebrate his life through his remembrance. We love you Grandpa! And we will forever remember you!





















We decided to stay a few extra days to spend time with my grandma and family, and also to breath in the fresh air of the beautiful california coast. I miss this place.... It brings back so many memories of my childhood. "We could never have loved the earth so well if we had no childhood in it." (George Eliot)

Even though it was raining (on & off) and chilly, we couldn't stay away from the beach. When you only have a few days, you've got to enjoy it when you can.... And we certainly did.

Maya was cold, but couldn't resist getting her fingers into that sand!

There is nothing like playing chase with the waves on the beach. We could play it for hours. (The waves never get tired of chasing you!!) Aubree said this was the best time she had ever had at the beach in her life. Can you tell by the smile on her face?

The Point Pinos Lighthouse is the oldest operating lighthouse on the west coast, operating since 1855. It is located in the county of Monterey, in Pacific Grove. It sits on a beautiful rocky wave-breaking coast line.

While standing infront of the lighthouse, Aubree recited her poem "I'd Like to be a Lighthouse" by Racheal Lyman Field.

I'd like to be a lighthouse, all scrubbed and painted white.
I'd like to be a lighthouse and stay awake all night.
To keep my eye on everything that sails my patch of sea.
I'd like to be a lighthouse, with the ships all watching me.

When it came time to recite it for her 1st grade class, she brought in this picture and told the class about her visit to the lighthouse. She recited the poem with motions and scored 22points out of 20! That's my girl!


On Saturday, May 2nd (our 11 year anniversary!), we went with the family to Lover's Point. We brought a picinic and had a great time playing on the beach. And although it was not as cold as it was the previous day, it was still a bit chilly. The kids didn't seem to mind... most of them ended up in the water in their clothes!

Ella was scared of the water but had a great time in the sand.

What a good-looking bunch of kids! Maya, Aubree, Ella, Brooke, Garret, Colten, and Wyatt.

Casa De Fruta- A sweet family tradition.

It was a place I visited as a child, and now Jeff & I take our kids there. Casa De Fruta has the sweetest & freshest variety of fruit that you will ever find. Not to mention the dried fruit assortments and chocolate treats. We were lucky to be there at the peak of stawberry season. Casa De Fruta is located on the 152 near Hollister and Gilroy.

Get out of the way!!! The train is coming!!!!

I can't tell you how many strawberries these girls ate! They were fresh from a local farm and so good, and succulant, it was hard to stop!

I love these sad faces. What actresses!

About to be thrown into the boiling pot....

I'm glad, the earth is painted green, green, green. So green! (Ok, so that is one of Aubree's piano songs but it fits the picture)

Chuga-chuga-choo-choo.