Can you spot the butterflies in this blurry picture?

Closer up

That one tree has around 3,000 monarchs all over it.

Happy Friday!

Because it Took Two Months of My Life

I have to let you know I read this book.

I don't even know if I recommend it or not.

I liked the story line, the time period (10 years of a girl's life from age 14-24 which included WWII), the location (England, Cornwall which I now want to visit), and the ending.

But if it took 2 months to read that means it was too easy to put down.

And it also means I have 3 kids.

Do you do goodreads.com? It's fun to see what people are reading and one more way to waste time online.


And because it was good beach weather yesterday...

Point Lobos in Pictures

see Justin listening to Arabic?

Veteran's Day (11/11)

This place is now at the top of my list.

It's amazing.

I'm already trying to figure out when I can get back there next.

Thanksgiving weekend maybe? Cause we're getting...visitors!

TLA

I'm no good at PDA.

I feel weird putting lovey dovey things on my blog or being mushy in public.

If you've seen us hold hands you are lucky. Seen us kiss? Super lucky (or UNlucky).

We celebrated 8 years yesterday. Our anniversary is the same day as the Marine Corps. Must've been meant to be...you know, Justin & me...Justin & the Marines.

We went to Stokes Bar & Grill and ordered the chef's plate appetizer. The chef chose which 4 tapas to serve. We ignored the anchovy draped across a potato chip, enjoyed the crispy potatoes w/house-made aioli, liked the orange broccoli and asparagus.

But that prosciutto.

Justin I just want you to know, there's nobody else I'd rather gag some extra fatty prosciutto down in front of than you.

It Makes it Bearable

Santa Lucia Preserve

Have I mentioned how excited I get seeing new places for the first time?

Today we went out with a Parent's Place group. The redwoods and the smell were the best (even though it smelled a little like someone was getting a perm, it was a really good perm).

Not trying to make anyone jealous, I'm just loving the beautifulness that's nearby and want to take advantage of everything because, well remember I love seeing new places? And also, who knows where we'll move next. We could be stationed in the ugliest, smallest place in the country with no shopping or exploring nearby and I'll be needing these pictures to cheer me up.

And getting out makes the long Justin-less school/study time bearable.

Me, Me, Me all the Way Home

Sis-in-law Bethany w/husband Nate holding newborn Owen, November 2003

That is to satisfy the 4th picture from 4th folder tag from Joanna

Then there's the

6 non-important things/habits/quirks about myself tag from Katie

1. My left eye is far-sighted and my right eye is near-sighted. I got glasses in 5th grade when my right eye was still perfect. So I had one clear lens and one coke-bottle lens with one extremely magnified eye.

2. I used to be in love with David Copperfield. My favorite was the special where he walked through the Great Wall in China. Grandma Martindale recorded it (in those VHS days) and I got so excited every time Axel F came on during his levitating lady act . I wanted to be his levitating lady. Justin & I saw his show a few years ago in AZ but the magic was gone.

3. I hate tweezing my eyebrows (but I don't have a choice).

4. I was the primary pianist at church when I was 11 years old. I'm happy to do the same thing now. Can I tell you how well I played during the program? What you didn't notice? That means I didn't mess up (k maybe a couple times) and I wasn't too loud. Just have to pat myself on the back because you don't know how hard it was fighting the urge to just pound out those songs.

5. I love a good pirate joke.

6. I tried to be a vegetarian once but I just couldn't resist the beef jerky everyone was eating at Lake Powell.

And last...
The one about us from Elizabeth
(I made it the one-word answer version...so you might have to fill in some blanks)

What's your husband's name? Justin
How long have you guys been married? 8
How long did you date? 6
How old is he? 30
Who eats more sweets? Justin
Who said I love you first? Justin
Who is taller? Justin
Who is the better singer? Justin
Who is smarter? Tie
Who does the laundry? Me
Who pays the bills? Me
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Justin
Who mows the lawn? Justin
Who cooks dinner? Me
Who drives? Justin
Who is the first to say they are wrong? Justin
Who kissed who first? Justin
Who asked out who first? Justin
Who wears the pants? Me

Scary

What's more scary...

These pajama pants?
(you should see the coordinating shirt)

That I like them?
(well, not the print, but the fabric and cut).

That I posted this picture of them?

That this is how we blew Justin's
saved up Pepsi points*?
(*from bottle caps...he had a lot donated from class friends)

That Justin saves Pepsi points?


Happy Halloween!

PS Lindsey made my header again. I'm sure you know by now that if it's cute, she made it. If it has a cheesy black lace border...I made it.

My Happy Place

Just had to crop out Drew cause he wasn't in a happy place during this picture.

But the place is Earthbound Farms in Carmel Valley.

This will be my new escape
when the fog and cold in Monterey is too much.

It's 15-20 minutes away
and has a totally different (warm!) climate.

So pretty.

Yummy food.

And in the fall there's a corn maze (more like a corn path)

And of course...pumpkins

10/27

The Big 05

Owen decorated his own cake...

(with the help of Drew & Porter)
...including the approximately 30 candles

That Halloween candy from trunk or treat
the night before came in handy.

I was so glad I remembered this
birthday cake decorating tradition because...

First he wanted another puffer cake
like the one my mom made last year.

That wasn't going to happen.

Then he wanted Pikachu.

I was trying to figure out how to do that...

When I remembered the tradition!

Can it be called a tradition if we had only done it once before?

'06

And it's not a cop-out!
Owen likes it and he's saving himself from one stressed out mom.

Earlier in the day...

Owen got to be in the Primary Program.

If you called to wish him a happy day,
you most likely heard him randomly say his part,
"Jesus Christ is my Savior."

SO anxious to get home after church for presents...

Favorite birthday quotes:

"I'm listening (i.e. obeying) cause I'm 5 now."

"I don't want to wear my new underwear
cause I don't want to get them dirty."

Do you like how he got undies as a gift?
Hey he needed them, and it was one more thing for him to unwrap.
And he obviously thinks they're special.

He was one happy, helpful, fun kid all day.

Toy Story for Life

2005
NC: Justin's work Halloween party (pregnant w/Drew)


2006
NC: after ward trunk or treat

2007
We were visiting AZ for Halloween.
If we were home I'm sure Buzz would've been worn.

2008 (10/25)
CA: before ward trunk or treat

Owen was 2 years old the 1st time he wore Buzz. It's short on him now, but with those boots hiding the pantsuit he can wear it at least a couple more years... just might have to deal with a little wedgie.

PS Just wanted to clarify that Owen WANTED to be Buzz again. I was all ready to mix it up when the Halloween box came out and he re-discovered the costume.

More Pumpkins

10/24 - Pumpkin Carving with friends

Leftover caramel?

Don't Bother Me I'm Vacuuming

It's been 3 months since I've owned a vacuum, so I can show off my new one if I want.

I've been using a hand-held this whole time (moving company just barely approved our reimbursement for the one that went "missing" in the move).

I didn't buy one earlier cause I was afraid our old one would show up.

So ya, back to vacuuming... (and I'm happy about that!)

5 Nice Things About...

...the Birthday Person

It's the birthday (Owen's is Sunday) tradition in kindergarten.

It turns into 20 nice things though
cause every kid wants to say something.

Most of them said some form of,
"he's nice" and, "he shares."

My favorite was an apparently smart girl that said,
"Um well I have been noticing him doing funny things lately."

And a BOY that said he's cute.

Up Close

These are my teeth.

See that dark circle at the root of the last one?

That's an infection where the nerve has died.

That's where I got Part 1 of my root canal this morning.

I just want some sympathy.

Because after the root canal is done, I still need:
2 replacement fillings
2 new fillings
1 night guard (I grind my teeth, front teeth are starting to chip)

Aside
I was the FIRST patient my orthodontist ever put braces on (family friend).
It was special...back in the day before rubber o's.
And because he was the first I got to have a roomful of people observing him/me.

Another Aside
I actually had braces twice.

Then a permanent retainer on the bottom...

And my teeth STILL shifted even w/the retainer in.

I. hate. my. teeth.

It's Watching You

10/20 pumpkin carving @ the overfelt's

Now That's Not Nice

Luckily we had a spare.

Can't we at least play fair?

It rhymes.

Fall Photo Op #1: Hacienda Hay & Feed

Because you know the pumpkin picture taking has only just begun.

This was at the end of Owen's TWO-week fall break (it's not year-round school, but they have a shortened summer break, with 3 long breaks throughout the school year). I go to a place called Parent's Place w/Drew & Sally, which is preschool & playtimes that include parents and younger siblings. This PP gathering was for the whole family.

Owen & Cal Dumped Water on their Heads at the Beach Yesterday

In case you couldn't tell.

And also, that was the longest title ever.

A Spectacle

Us and the Overfelts - 10/13

Ever wonder how many people you can fit on a surrey?

It wasn't the relaxing beachfront bike ride I had imagined.

It was more of a workout.

But it was a fun/ny workout.

I want to buy me one of these...forget the running.

It Felt Like a Sunday

Family, food, and games.

even though I stayed home from church w/sick Drew...it still felt like Sunday with these 3 things:

The Family - my sis Tami & bro-in-law Jay were visiting Jay's parents in Oakland...they carpooled here w/cousins Chad & Cherisse's family. Our first family visitors to our house!

The Food - My favorite version of the so popular Cafe Rio style sweet pork burritos.

The Game - Settlers. None of our guests had ever played before! And Justin couldn't be nice and let one of them win.