Carters Come to Cali

My parents got to come see us last October, which was great, but they only got to stay for a few days.  With my mom out of school for the summer, this time they got to stay for ten days!

They got here last Thursday night & we left Friday to spend the weekend at Yosemite.  Grayson & I had been wanting to go back every since we went last fall.  I got a new camera lens for my birthday in January & that made me want to go back even more.  And my parents hadn't been & wanted to go, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity!

Five minutes in Yosemite & you feel so small.  In a good way.

I should also mention that ever since a Reader's Digest article about 10 years ago that left my mom scarred, she has been terrified of bears.  An unnatural fear since most of the time she would only ever even see a bear at the zoo.  And I had told her about how when we went, I looked for bears the whole time & didn't see a single one.

And then when we'd been in the park for less than an hour, we run into this guy.

Thanks, bear.  Great start to this trip.  You just had to go for that snack that some not-so-bright campers left for you.

Our initial reactions were funny to me though.

me: With shaky hands I changed to my zoom lens & started taking his picture, of course.

Grayson: Ran back to the car to store the pop tarts he was eating.  Because the real catastrophe would be if the bear got his beloved pop tarts.

Mama: Ran back to the car & got irritated with Grayson for not unlocking it fast enough.

Daddy: Walk closer to the bear.  The apparently hungry bear.  Good idea.

Thankfully there were no more bear encounters after that.  A few almost-encounters when we came to an area that a bear had just left, but we didn't ever see any more.  I asked my mom if she felt like now she'd conquered her fear & was a better person.  Her answer: NO.

My brother got my dad some binoculars for Father's Day, & they were definitely put to good use all weekend.

Squirrel with a view :)  While we're on the topic of squirrels, I should say that it was a squirrel that alerted us of the bear.

Last time, we didn't get to go see the giant sequoias so it was great to get to go to that part of the park this time.

Snow in June!

After we got back from Yosemite, the week was pretty relaxed.  A day in Santa Cruz, a short trip to San Francisco (basically couldn't see anything because of the fog), a lot of trips to the pool & hot tub, a few games, & losing at putt-putt, as always.

Great visit with my family!  Grayson's dad & stepmom come in a week or so & then his mom & stepdad in September.  Then we'll be making the trip home for Christmas this year!

Now we've just got to get these people out here so I can meet Everly before she's grown!  She's 2 months old...about time she sees some of the world.

P.S. Our shop is having a little sale this week to celebrate our one month birthday!  Use the code ONEMONTH for 20% off through Friday!

Life Lately, In Photos

I haven't had much of interest to say here lately, but here's a little glimpse of the past week.

Last Friday night was a perfect date night...our favorite sushi place & then Divergent!  I wasn't expecting much from the movie, & when you have a book to compare to they almost always disappoint.  I was pleasantly surprised though & we both thought it was really good!

Our little box of herbs we planted a month or so ago are really growing now & we're finally getting to use some!  Last night we had this orzo & added grape tomatoes & some of our dill...definitely a new favorite!  Tonight we're having my favorite tacos for dinner, topped with our own cilantro. 

 

While we're on the subject of food, I made these cinnamon rolls a week or so ago, but substituted Cookie Butter for Nutella (because unlike everyone else on earth, I can't stand Nutella) & they were delicious & really easy.

To continue my recent flower craze, I bought some sunflowers last week & spent probably an hour photographing them...

This past week was Seeley's 3rd birthday.  She didn't enjoy the celebration nearly as much as I wanted her to.  Imagine that.  A cat not wanting to wear a party hat...

I always have to have some kind of project going on...here's yesterday's.  I was pretty happy with how it turned out, & it was really cheap to make!

One of the best perks this week: a tube of my favorite lipstick.  I got the beso for Christmas & love it, but I needed a more everyday color, so I got the dolce & love it.  I'll probably never buy another kind of lipstick again.  This stuff stays on all day, isn't sticky, & it doesn't hurt that it smells like icing!

Last night we went to one of our favorite parks around here to take some pictures.  Every time we go, there's the most perfect sunset.

 And we saw baby geese!

That's about it...ready for Easter weekend!  A little odd this year because we have no plans for Easter other than church.  But we'll find a way to celebrate!