Creatures of the Deep

On day two of our vacation we went to the fabulous Monterey Bay Aquarium.

We watched the sea otters play.

We admired the kelp forest.

We saw strange and wondrous sea anemone.

Nate especially liked the sardines

We learned that due to the cycling temperatures in the bay we are likely heading into an anchovy regime. When the temperatures in the bay are cooler the anchovy reigns supreme. When those temperatures are warmer the sardine is king.

We also saw the secretive seahorses and their cousins the seadragons.

The seahorse exhibit was pretty impressive. They had some teeny tiny seahorses smaller than this letter Q.

Oh, we love those jelly fish.

I took those jelly fish pictures. I didn't steal them off the internet. Pretty nifty huh?

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is pretty spectacular.

Point Lobos

As an early anniversary celebration, Nate, Beckett, and I spent our final few days in California in Monterey and Carmel.

For our first outing we went hiking at Point Lobos.

Nate especially admired the Monterey Cypress trees, native only in this small area of California. With their weather-beaten, gnarled trunks, and flat canopies, these long-lived trees definitely have a unique appearance.

Beckett rode in his baby backpack for the first time at Point Lobos. He was a real task-master and complained every time we stopped to admire the view.
We enjoyed our visit to Weston Beach, named for the modernist photographer Edward Weston.
Here are a couple of Weston's photographs of Point Lobos.

In the tradition of Weston we focused on closeups at Weston Beach.
Then we went over to China Cove. Apparently many movies have used this location. Let me know if you know which ones.

The view overlooking the cove.

You take this long staircase down to the ...

sandy beach.

We loved Point Lobos so much that we almost went back a second time to do more hikes and repeat our favorites.

Sacramento, Danville, Cupertino ...

Nate, Beckett, and I spent the last week gallivanting around northern California. We began with a few days in Sacramento. Where we ...

Played at Grandma's:


Hung out with Brooke, Aaron, Keon, and Daysha:

What a fun family. Keon loves his Uncle Nate. He practically started crying when we had to leave.

Celebrated Nate's Birthday:

Dorothy helped carry on the donut tradition.

And Beckett got his first real taste of the outdoors:


Then we packed up and headed to Danville. While Nate was in San Francisco for conference, Dorothy, Beckett, and I hung out with Grandma and Grandpa J.

Beckett made some friends:


We enjoyed the outdoors:

Grandpa J has a spectacular yard.

The views from the neighborhood aren't too shabby either.

We spent a few lovely days chatting, watching the Olympics, taking B for walks, and shopping.


When it was time to leave Danville, the three of us made another stop in Cupertino to see Nate's friends Chad and Jen and their girls.

Grace had never held a baby before.

Emma takes her turn.

Jen and Chad, thanks for the visit.

Believe it or not, our trip to CA was not yet complete.

Visiting the Relatives

My mom, Beckett, and I went out to visit my sister and her family last week.

(Please note: Andrew doesn't usually look so droopy. My camera makes him blinky)

We went to dinner with my Gramma at Sweet Tomatoes. Here's Gramma Great with the Little B and with Paige and Andrew.

I got to steal away one evening for a night with some old friends. Beckett got to come too. He was the only kid invited. It was so much fun to see Kristen, Mel, and Sue. I miss the days when we would all run together.

We went to a party with all my mom's brothers and sisters. Here's my mom with her sister Sharon. She's headed out to Tallahassee, Florida to serve a mission with her husband, my Uncle Howard.
The Brothers and their wives:

Karen and Roger

Annie and Clark

Uncle Scott was in Las Vegas so Paige and I posed with Aunt Pam

While we were visiting Andrew celebrated his birthday. He turned one! We had a little party.
Andrew didn't get to eat his cake because it's likely he has some allergies. So my mom made him a baby peach cobbler. Look how cute it is with the candle.
But this is how Andrew felt about the cobbler:
The gross birthday dessert didn't ruin the party for Andrew. He enjoyed all the attention and presents.
On Sunday I sneaked away for an hour or so to go see the Edward's new house. They live about 10 minutes away from my sister. What a good looking family.
Beckett, of course, was his adorable self.