Sunday, August 30, 2009

So the Mister came back to Carmel from the grandparent's house on Friday. That evening we enjoyed a little outdoor jazz festival. We attended last year when we were visiting out here and John really liked the music. Here is my attempt at an "artistic" shot from behind a flower--a hydrangea--my favorite. There was a man playing a flute, another playing a 7-string guitar, and another playing the drums.

John was in awe....He even tried to bust a few dance moves on the sly....

Anna was in awe too...

Kyle and John trekking it up the hill to Mamaw's house. John loved this hill and Kyle indulged him in running up and down it about 3 times. That must be why John luuurves his daddy! (because Mama can barely make it up the hill once)

The next day (yes, he's wearing the same dirty clothes) we went to the beach. This was the hottest day since we've been here. I think it was 90 degrees and I believe Debbie said it was hotter in Carmel than it was in College Station at one point. Now that's just wrong.


Of course, we took the golf clubs to the beach and John had a BALL! Literally.


Action shot of John chasing his golf ball with the club and the waves crashing powerfully in the background. Can you feel the power of his little 2 year old swing? I tell you, this was the highlight of his day.


The highlight of my day was sneaking out with Kyle during nap time to the Ghirardelli ice cream shop in Monterey to get a warm brownie sundae. YUUUUUM. And I know it looks like I'm glowing with happiness (which I am) but also I accidentally set the exposure way too light on the camera so it looks like I'm nuclearly radiating with happiness

The view outside the ice cream shop

After nap time Kyle and I took John to the park. We haven't been to a park in months since it is basically a burn hazard to touch the scalding equipment in the Houston heat. It was a pleasant treat for all of us to enjoy an outdoor park. And look what I captured....the elusive smile directly at the camera! As Kyle pointed out, this face will be Photoshopped on all future pictures this year because I'm not sure I can get another smile out of the man for at least 5 months.
Another John-ism from today: I was taking pictures again and John spotted me with the camera pointed at him. He directly stated with a scowl "No picture me!" yes, he sure loves that camera....

Mom and John racing down the slide


John luuuuved this game that Kyle invented on the slide bar/zip line thing


He would slide down to John, then catch him in his legs and carry him back.


This game was the BEES KNEES! and generated a lot of smiles. So I kept making Kyle suffer through it so I could get some smile pictures.


Our little Aggie....GIG 'EM!

Then mom tried it and realized it's not so easy to support your body weight on those things and threw out her back--pictures will not be posted of me gripping my back in pain



Today we visited a toy shop in town....WHOOOAAA! A train table--stop the presses. We parked our little butts here for a good 15 minutes.

During nap time today we snuck out for a quick outing along 17 mile drive for some more scenic pictures.
In this picture I am
A) losing my marbles
B) attempting a Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon stance
C) trying to be a limb-y tree
The answer is C but I fear it appears like an A but I am bold so I am posting it anyways




Thursday, August 27, 2009

Gettin' All Manual Up In Heeeahh!

Hold on to your britches, everyone....more pictures coming your way!


Today Kyle and I packed up the Anna Bear in the "Anna Purse" (as John calls it) and ventured off to Point Lobos for an early morning hike with some amazing scenery of the Pacific coastline.

Poor Anna is too little to look out over the top of the papoose but she did enjoy looking out the sides until the rocking motion of our hike lulled her back to sleep.

In photography news: Today I went all manual with that bad boy and played with the lighting and contrast settings on the camera. My dear husband was so patient with me as I took about 10 shots of each picture (adjusting the shutter and aperture for each one all in the name of practicing with the monstrosity of a camera). Yowza! I'm glad he and Anna didn't leave me on the trail by my lonesome.

But as I was looking back through these pictures I can only think that God is so good, people. At 9 AM on a beautiful, clear, cool day on the very edge of the Pacific Ocean how can one deny His creative hand at work in nature? Fer reelz. Spectacular!








My token Anna pictures for the day.....Happy Five Months, Little Miss. I can't believe you are already almost half-way to your first birthday. You were just born?!?!
Can you tell she's laughing at me because I brought out the camera again.
"You're kidding, right?! That thing again?! stop it"

Smiling with her stuffed elephant

"I'm holding this elephant for ransom until you stop taking pictures of me!"


Sweet little girl

I really think I could eat these little piggies. Wrap 'em up in some Pillsbury crescent rolls and have me some pigs in a blanket...yum-myyyy


Things I like about Carmel.....cute homes

with wavy "fairy tale" roofs

cute garage doors


perfect flower boxes in the windows


amazingly tended gardens


flowers on steriods



welcoming entries

creative home names...this part of the house is called "The Big House"

And the little attached guest house is called "The Dog House"....clever

unique flower/vegetation things
The Tuck Box! Oops, got a little excited here and overexposed this picture but whatever.


Tomorrow is Friday and my little man is returning to Carmel after a short stint at Mamaw and Grandpa's the past few days. I can't wait to see him. I've missed him terribly but I hear he has had great fun playing with Glenda, Jessica, and Brooke, helping Mamaw run some errands, eating lots of samples during a Costco trip, swimming in the pool with Grandpa. What an adventure! Thanks to Glenda, Mamaw, & Grandpa who have been taking great care of him while he's away from us. See you tomorrow, little man!

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