Back to Work

 Wait these beach pictures don't give the impression of work?

They were taken by Justin, who randomly had the day off from school on Tuesday.

While I was home working.

The tables have turned.

I'm doing media buying for Larry John Wright Advertising again.

(I worked for them before I was married until Owen turned 1).

But this time I'm doing job-share w/my friend Becky.

So it's 20 hours/2.5 days a week.

It's a little bit nuts working with 4 kids around,

but I'm grateful for the job (that practically fell in my lap thanks to Becky).

The above pictures were from Garrapata Beach.

We randomly stopped there when we were first here in 2008 (middle of nowhere).

Justin took them back to give me some quiet working time (it was nice).

Today, I had to get out of the house (not used to being so cooped up).

We met Justin downtown near his school for lunch.

 Notice Sally in the background mid-Pokemon battle with Owen and Drew.

Free Time

No school or sports for the kids.

Justin and I don't have church callings (those come Sunday).

Justin's school is going good (not too stressful yet).

And I'm not working (that starts Monday).

So before all the craziness sets in, we're enjoying the free time.

Today Justin met us at the library after school.

After getting stamps for the summer reading program,

we got on the free downtown trolley and rode it until we felt like getting off.

Our stop was by Old Fisherman's Wharf where we tried to spy jellyfish

and bought some overpriced taffy.

It was a good way to spend a day.

Sally & Bach

I don't think Sally knew what she was getting into when she said

she wanted to go to a concert with me.

But I was happy to have her as my date to an open rehearsal of the Bach Festival.

The Sunset Center is such a cool, old building.

I loved the feeling inside.

And the musicians were amazing.

Sally was interested in it for about 10 minutes...had lots of questions about the people and instruments.

But then it was "getting boring" and she had to go to the bathroom.

And after her whispers (which were quiet by the way) got shushed by the lady in front of us,

I was done, too.

So during a stage change we snuck out and explored the nearby art exhibit.

It mostly featured art influenced by Bach and the nearby coast.

We pretty much had the place to ourselves and Sally started dancing

(she would never do that in front of an audience).

Then we needed dessert.

Her request was chocolate cake (specifically from a Chinese restaurant).

But I talked her into the fondue dessert at Lalla Grill.

It was so good.

Housemade marshmallows were my favorite.

Sally said it was the best day ever.

And also, "Just so you know my bootie loves to dance."

I'm Still Full

Danna, my friend who I met here almost 5 years ago,

came up for a week with her family en route to their move to Hawaii.

It felt just like the good ol days and we squeezed so much (food) in.

EARTHBOUND FARMS

(sharing soft serve above (which is so good, but avoid the frozen yogurt))

The herb garden is in the background.

The kids garden was new and improved.

So cute.

Love it there.

THE WEICHERS' HOUSE

Clint & Amanda hosted lunch at their cute house.

It's on property that overlooks Pebble Beach.

The kids hunted the beach there for golf balls.

Based on Sally's bulging shirt they succeeded.

Then most of the balls got hit back to where they came from.

He left a very dirty, happy boy.

Baby buddies.

 LOVER'S POINT

The Pace's came down for the day and we went to Wagon Wheel, then the beach.

Oatmeal pancakes and turkey avocado eggs benedict from Heaven.

Lover's Point: also a little slice of Heaven.

LAST DAY

(yesterday)

Lunch here.

A walk to Pavel's Bakerei (love that we can walk).

More playing here (where Lucien joined the girls' make-up party).

 Dennis the Menace Park.

The Farmer's Market (naan wraps).

 This is when the kids said good-bye.

Post good-bye bird holding @ the market.

Then that night Danna and I met up again for appetizers and dessert at Passionfish.

Appetizers were really good.

Dessert was not.

Service was horrible.

Danna is awesome.

The end.

Vintage and Modern

7/5

That play table and high chair have been around since Owen's baby days.

Which was 9 years ago.

So they're practically vintage.

The bed head, however, is new.

Independence Day 2013

^Parade watching in downtown Monterey^

Living History Day at the Cooper-Molera Adobe Garden

Free carnival in downtown Monterey

Jump-roping with rope made at Living History Day

A "bike parade" inspired by the parade we watched earlier that day.

Sally started out on her own, then Drew joined her.

They basically rode up and down a street near our house,

positioning their flags in different places on themselves and their bikes.

I was the only spectator.

Thanks to the Weichers we learned that fireworks were legal one city over.

We met them at a great spot near a lake where a bunch of people were doing their own fireworks.

 It was perfect and made up for no local fireworks show.