Garden Update

My beautiful hydrangea is now in full bloom. It has about 10-12 large cluster of blooms on it. The other picture is of my passionflower. Each year it has bloomed very nicely. I thought it was going to skip this year, but alas, here is proof that I was wrong.

Hair Cuts

I would not normally take pictures of myself or of something like a haircut, but because I cut off quite a bit I thought I would show you what it looks like. Of course, it will only look like this for one day, because I will never be able style it the same way again! K1 also got a haircut. Isn't she cute!




Here are the close ups...

Life on the Farm

I grew up on an almond farm in the Central Valley. I love taking the girls back to my parents (their grandparents) house to experience life in the country. The girls had fun "helping" grandma in her flower garden, and K1 spent lots of time with Grandpa in his vegetable garden. I don't have any pictures of that, unfortunately.




Here is K1 on the loader with her uncle. She thinks this is so much fun. I remember how fun it was to ride on the tractor or in the big trucks with my dad when I was little, so I am not surprised she enjoys it!

Monterey

Last week, we had the privilege of going to Monterey Bay Aquarium with Bridget. Here are a few pictures from the day.



The girls had a great time there. A2 thought she could just jump in the water to touch the fish. However, when we got to the touch tanks, she had no desire to touch anything. We did get the turtle costume on her though.




Fortunately, I did not have my camera with me at lunch when K1 got so upset about not being able to see the seals on the rock, she "spit" up at the table. Life with kids....always an adventure!

Taking a break

It's over. After 3 fish die within 2 weeks, something is wrong. And since we will be here and there throughout the summer, we are taking a break. K1 now tells people that they got sick, so Mom put them in the lake and they will grow big there. I told her we would get a new Tami and Gomi after we get back from our travels.

I am thinking about getting beta fish. Less maintenance, plus you have a nice, green plant to go along with it.

I'm it

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4. "about to read and think about can heal your relationship with" from "You Can't Make Me (but I can be persuaded)" by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can. What can you touch? The new pictures we got taken of A2 today

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV? the NHL Stanley Cup finals, of course

4. Without looking, guess what time it is. 9:22 pm

5. Now look at the clock. What is the actual time? 9:35 pm

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear? my husband's car alarm just beeped, which means he is home from the gym

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing? about an hour ago I went outside to straighten out the toys on the porch

8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at? I was emailing college friends

9. What are you wearing? barefoot, brown shorts, navy blue shirt

10. Did you dream last night? Don't remember last night, but Saturday night I had a dream about people emptying port-a-johns. Don't know where that one came from..

11. When did you last laugh? couple of hours ago when my husband was tickling me

12. What is on the walls of the room you are in? calendar, bulletin board, pictures of family and friends, and pictures of tulips which I took

13. Seen anything weird lately?

14. What do you think of this quiz? interesting set of questions..fairly random

15. What is the last film or video you saw? I saw part of "Ever After" on Saturday

16. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy? land in CA and BC so my husband and I could build spec homes, a sailboat, pay off any family debts, and put the rest away for our children

17. Tell me something about you that I don’t know. I have to have a biopsy on a mole on my back tomorrow and I am a little bit scared, though the doctor said not to be.

18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do? I will say abortion too

19. Do you like to dance? yes

20. Comment to George Bush: I have no desire to be in your shoes!

21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her? Have two girls already, don't know what I would name the third

22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him? It was going to be Luke, but now we have a nephew Lukas, so I don't know...we will cross that bridge if we come to it.

23. Would you ever consider living abroad? yes

24. What do you want God to say to you when you reach the pearly gate? “Come in, my child"

25. 4 people who must also do this quiz on THEIR blog: hmmm, since Brett sent this to me and I am so new at this, I guess that only leaves...Bridget

Outdoor fun

K1 and I were watering the plants this afternoon. However, more water from K1's bucket landed on the ground. A2 took full advantage and sat right in it. I stripped her down and here are the results. K1 joined in, but I think A2 had more fun. A2 enjoys playing with the watering hose. She would make a great firefighter, don't you think?

K1 has been "collecting" snails outside every morning and afternoon. And last, here is a picture of my hydrangea which I finally got to bloom after about 5 years. Each year it would leaf out beautifully and then something would eat it (usually the deer up on Black Road), or it would wither away. I finally found the perfect spot for it!

Sorry about the way the pictures posted. I will try to figure it out better next time!

Music in the Park

During the months of June and July, Vasona Park puts on Vasona Vibrations which is a free concert series from 5-7 on Saturday evenings.

Last week, Nathan took the girls while I was at our school's staff party. He enjoyed the concert and the girls always love being outside. They were dancing away to the music.

I took the girls this evening while Nathan stayed home to watch the NHL playoffs. I enjoyed both of the groups that played this evening and again, the girls had a great time. We took our pizza and grapes over to the park, and enjoyed dinner while listening to music.

Good night

Friday Excitement

Most often, Friday consists of doing laundry. I actually have two loads in the dryer right now, but that is not the excitement. No, this afternoon our neighbor upstairs (not right above us, but above our neighbor) decided to wash some shirts in his sink. He left the water running and went to the back room to do something. Needless to say, he forgot about them and one of the shirts plugged the sink. I went outside to throw something in the garbage and I saw water coming from our neighbor's (downstairs) door.

Nathan went upstairs, knocked on the door, and the neighbor realized what had happened. There was about an inch of water covering his kitchen floor. We helped clean up the two apartments as best we could. That is our excitement.

Now, time to take in the laundry.

Everyone Poops

by Taro Gomi

This book was read at our wedding reception by one of my husband's dear friends, Joe. Since Joe is also a teacher, he thought he would give me a book that I could use as a quick science lesson with my grade four students. So, in front of over 300 people - family, friends, students, teachers, and the like - he read it. Some laughed, some stared in disbelief. I thought it was quite funny.

Of course, he gave us the book along with another titled The Gas We Pass. Well, today K found Everyone Poops. on our bookshelves. She took it down and asked me to read it. Needless to say, she can now narrate most of it by herself. So, she will sit down on the chair and read away.

Joe is getting married in one month, so if anyone has any great ideas of what I could bring to his wedding (he and his fiance are both teachers!). Let me know!

yet again

I can't believe it, but yet again we lost another one...fish, that is. I saw it coming. This one did not commit suicide, but just whittled away. How hard can it be to keep a fish alive? Obviously, it is very difficult for our family. Or, I guess I should say me, because I am the primary caregiver. This I can say...I am thankful they are only 12.5 cents each to replace, and since the first two were given to us, we have put 75 cents into the pet budget thus far.

Fish.