A Few of My Favorite Things

How quickly time passes. It has been over a year now that we have moved to Carlsbad. In honor of this milestone, I looked through some of the pictures we took this year and came up with a few of my favorite things about living here. This post has taken a while to publish because I was going to take a few more photos to add to the blog. It never happened and I had to move on. So, as you read on, also try and imagine the hot pink utility boxes around town, the sparkeling lagoon I pass every time I go to the freeway and the San Diego Temple--only a 20 minute drive away. That should complete my list. Here are a few of my favorite things (isn't that a song)... We get lots of visitors--and LOVE THAT! In this picture we are with the Price family at La Jolla Cove.

I love the strawberry fields and flower fields in the spring. Both with an ocean view.

Beautiful beaches within minutes in every direction.

So many fun, new, and not so new places to eat. We were stoked to discover that the Oceanside Pier has a Ruby's Diner at the end of it-like the diner in Newport Beach that I went to all the time in High School.

This has got to be one of our very most favorite thing about our new home. Every evening during the weekend we can go outside and see as many as seven hot air balloons floating above our backyard waiting for the sun to set.

We LOVE being close to our family. COUSINS, COUSINS, COUSINS!!

So much to do. In this picture Mark and I are enjoying a free concert on a boat in the San Diego Harbor with some friends.

An Unfortunate Haircut

Oh, the poor little guy. If he was any older or any less adorable, this haircut might have given him serious issues. But instead, luckily for him, I am the only one who won't sleep tonight. I know it's terrible. You should see the back. It doesn't look much better. This doo is actually the product of three different attempts over the course of a week or so. The first two tries were successful only as long as the roll of Smarties lasted. This third and most horrendous stab was done after he actually asked me to put him on the counter to cut his hair. I wasn't prepared with Smarites and this is what we got. Moral of the story... I think it is obvious.

Holy Mackeral!

Our friend and home teacher Randy, and his wife Laura, took us out fishing on their boat on Saturday morning. We had such a great time. We loved being out on the ocean, learning the difference between seals and sea lions, seeing the kelp beds and the Point Loma light house. We even saw a submarine that was above water (behind a curtain) being serviced. Abbie and Emma caught a few fish near the bait station just outside the launch ramp. Fisherman who are heading down to Mexico to do some serious fishing load up here first. The girls were happy just catching the mackerals.

Watch out, Emma is behind the wheel!

Emma getting some fishing tips from Randy.

Now Abbie is behind the wheel. She went for some serious speed. Mark's face sums it up!

The Trouble with Bananas

Am I the only one out there, or is it almost impossible to guess your family's banana consumption? I am either purchasing bananas three times a week because my family is eating them like crazy--in lunches, smoothies, snacks, etc. Or I decide to buy a bunch more than usual and they sit and sit like the brown bananas above. Don't get me wrong, this really isn't a rant. I dont mind throwing extra bananas in the freezer, or making an occasional banana nut bread with yummy chocolate chips (as is baking in the oven now while I type). I just wondered if I am alone in my inablity to guess. It drives me bananas!!

First Day of School

One of life's ironies...we live in a place like Carlsbad, and end up with the shortest summer vacation of anyone we know. After just eight weeks of a purely wonderful break from school, the kids were ready to CHARGE!! Abbie to fifth grade and Emma to first. Man, are they growing fast *sniff*.