Sea World

In August we took a family trip down to San Diego. The first day we went to Sea World, which was Nina's idea of heaven. She has a recent obsession with fish (ever since we bought "Finding Nemo") as well as Elmo. Well, there were plenty of fish and a whole area of the park was "Elmo" themed.

Here is Nina after the day at Sea World in her "Shamu Shoes". Poor girl got her first sunburn. I guess I forgot how strong that San Diego sun is!

Waiting outside the "Pet Show".

Checking out the star fish at the tide pools.

Riding the Elmo ride.

Watching a dolphin show.

The end of summer

Let's see if I can remember back to the end of summer...now that it's October. Bakersfield gets hot in the summer. Usually up to 110 in July and August. Luckily this summer it was cooler and we only had a handful of days above 100. It was still warm enough to get creative in finding ways to keep cool. One of Nina's favorite ways was to run around the backyard while we sprayed her with the hose. Who really needs a fancy pool when you have a hose, right?

Here she is after it's all said and done. Drenched and feeling a lot cooler.

In July I was lucky enough to have my sister, Betsy, from Iowa, visit with her two girls. She mostly stayed at my parents house, so Nina and I went and stayed as well. Of course, I forgot my camera, but here are some fun things we did: spent an afternoon at the beach in Ventura, went to Disneyland, had a baby shower for Tom and Mayer, and spent some quality time playing together and catching up.

Here is Nina with Tricia. These girls just loved each other!

My cute sister Betsy, Daphne, and Tricia trying out our favorite restaurant in Bakersfield: Sequoia.

Me and Nina just chillin'. No need for a shirt when it's so hot outside.

I love all the flowers in the spring and summer. Nina loved the pink tree in our front yard.

Fresno Zoo

We took a day trip to Fresno to check out the Fresno State campus, where Tyson will be attending school this fall. We decided to check out their zoo while we were up there and were pleasantly surprised. It was flat and a lot of it was shaded, which is a nice relief when the temperature is in the 90s. There were a lot of animals there and it will definitely be a place we will have to frequent in the future.

Nina found the various statues just as exciting as some of the animals. Oh yes, and she did insist on wearing her pearls to the zoo. She must have been informed that it was a classy affair.

The elephants were great and all of the exhibits had many different areas to view the animals.

We were checking out the birds in this shot.

4th of July

4th of July was low-key this year. A small BBQ with me, Tys, Nina, Grandpa and Grandpa, followed by watching the fireworks from a local country club and then the fireworks in our neighborhood. Nina and Grandpa watched the fireworks from a safe distance. I don't think she was too keen on the loud noises they made. All I can say is that I love being an American. I feel so lucky to have the freedoms we do.

Father's Day

Ooo, Father's Day was a good day. Tyson got what he wanted: a ticket to the Iowa football game vs. Arizona (I got one too, because he needs someone to go with). We went to church and then we were lucky to have a lot of family come up that evening for dinner: my parents, Tom, Mayer, Kevin and Jennalyn. It was a great day to honor the wonderful men in my life. Tyson is the best father anyone could ask for. He loves and adores Nina and she loves and adores him in return (you can tell by her expressions in the pictures.) We love you Tyson and are so grateful for all that you do for us.

Here is Nina giving Tyson the jar of goldfish she made for him. She decorated the jar with stickers and I wrote some cheesy saying on top, like "You're a great catch Dad" or something like that.

Kevin and Jennalyn...we miss you guys. Come work at Dreyer's next year!!!!

Me and Tyson..we don't get very many pictures together so I thought I better document it.

Tom and Mayer and baby Billy Jay. We can't wait to meet the addition to their family.

My parents, the best you could ever ask for, really.

Nina trying on Grandma's shoes. She did a good job walking in high wedges. Maybe the tongue aids in the concentration it takes to walk in those things. What a little girly girl she is.

This just proves how much Nina loves Tyson. She is always giving him kisses (of which I do get quite jealous). She walks him out every night to his car when he leaves for work and gives him a kiss. She is just a sweet, affectionate little thing.

Two peas in a pod

Dress-up

Nina's at that stage where she could play dress-up all day long. She gets excited about laundry day because she loves unfolding anything she can get her hands on to try it on. It doesn't matter how many things she is already wearing, there is always room for more. Oh, and everything goes on the legs, never over the head. She doesn't stop at just clothes, she loves hats, necklaces, bracelets, and anything else she can attempt to put on. It's really cute and it makes her so happy to pick out something to wear and prove her independence by putting it on.

Shirt on the legs in this pic.

Gotta pull 'em up nice and high.

So happy to wear a hat, at least for a few minutes.

Re-inspired...for now!

It's been a while since my last post and to be quite honest, I have simply had no desire to do it. It may be that my computer and internet are very slow, which frustrates me, or that I have just been overwhelmed by all of the things that have happened that I want to write about. Anyhow, this morning I was reading some entries from my mom's journal (thanks Beth) from when I was a young kid and I just really loved and appreciated everything that she wrote about me and my family and I want my kids to have the same thing for them. So seeing that my mom and stepmom were part of my inspiration and rededication to my blog, I may as well talk a little about mothers in this post. These pictures come from Mother's Day, back in May. It was a great Mother's Day. After church we were able to head down to Castaic to spend the evening with my parents. We had the special treat of having my Grandma Wood there as well. We also got to visit the cemetery where my mom is buried. It was a really special day. I always love a day that focuses on people who mean the most in our lives. There have been so many wonderful women in my life that I am so grateful for. I feel like I was blessed with the best mom growing up and now I have the best stepmom for the next chapter of my life. I am also very grateful to be a mom. I always say that Nina is one of the best blessings in my life and it's true. She has given my life so much meaning and has taught me so much.

Here is Nina sniffing the tulips my parents sent me for Mother's Day. Gorgeous, right?

Here we are at the cemetery. For some reason Nina was just not liking the whole experience.

Nina and Grandma Beth just love each other. Beth spoils Nina rotten and pays so much attention to her. They will sit and play for hours and when we are home Nina asks about Grandma all of the time.