Happy Birthday to Me

And what a birthday it was! It is refreshing to know birthdays can still be exciting post adolescence. The festivities included a half day at the beach, a long Owen nap in the afternoon (freetime for me), a lovely dinner out, and decadent chocolate cake...not to mention a showering of well wishes (thanks to Facebook alone). I have such great family and friends!

Hotel Solomon

Coming to the Bay Area? Need a place to stay? We offer very affordable rates. We also provide free cable/internet access and a continental breakfast (cereal, mostly). Our luxurious (kind of) pool and hot tub add to the amenities.

Seriously, we love having visitors! And August has already brought two sets of visiting friends and family. Take a look!

Mark's parents and nephew (Chase) came to visit just in time for Owen's birthday. And we made our first trip down to Monterey while they were here.


Our day was mostly spent at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. A very cool aquarium! And although Owen liked every little thing we saw, my highlight was the jellyfish exhibit. I have been fascinated with jellyfish ever since I wrote a research report on them in elementary school. They are amazing creatures!


Then came our Connecticut friends, Justin and Randi. We spent a beautiful day in San Francisco seeing the sights. And believe it or not, we spent the majority of our day at a rooftop park. Coolest slides I've seen in a long time. Owen was LOVING it! We also managed to see the MOMA, Golden Gate Bridge, and Wharf.


As always, the beach came into play. It involved burying Owen in the sand, relaxing in the sun, and hanging out on the boardwalk.

Tempted yet? Call me.

Birthday Boy

Guess who turned two this past week?


HAPPY BIRTHDAY O!

Flower Class

On Saturday I took a floral class offered by a very talented girl up in San Francisco (psst...she's done flowers for Martha Stewart Weddings magazine). She taught us the techniques of working with more modern flower arranging. The class was amazing. I can't wait to start playing around with some beautiful buds!

Here's a sampling of what we made:



Want to see the class in action? Go here.

The Hulk

I think it's time to let you in on a little secret. (whispered) Owen has a FIERCE case of the Hulk. This may not be news to some of you. I've mentioned before that he was a struggle in Italy, but there were other circumstances that brought out that beast. And then yesterday. Yesterday he made me cry.

It began a couple months ago. At least that's when I started to notice that my sweet little one wasn't as sweet as I once believed. First came the frustration. Then an escalated pattern of grunting, crying, and the like. Soon Mark and I said to ourselves, "Oh, it looks like our little guy is having a hard time expressing himself. How cute. But he'll talk soon enough." Then came the incessant head banging. Anger, and a quick search for the nearest hard place to bang his head. Not enough to really hurt, mind you, but just enough to cause a minor bruise. We tried our best to ignore the dramatics and pay attention to the cues so a tantrum wouldn't dare show its ugly little head. And that's when he kicked it up a notch. High-pitched shrilling screams were followed by thrown objects. So Mark and I said to ourselves, "This is more serious. Perhaps our little guy needs time out from the situation to calm down. Yes, time out," we both agreed. Thus began the hitting, headbutting, and hair pulling. If we tried to pick him up, we'd make sure to grab hold of his arms to avoid a hit, headbutt, or pull of the hair (usually reserved just for me).

And then yesterday. After a couple of particularly hard days I was tired of dealing with the twos. My spirits were already low. And a tantrum began. Only this time he managed to add something more. After a particularly hard hair pull, he just sat there and laughed. Laughed at my futile efforts. Laughed at my weakness. Laughed at me. So I cried.

And wouldn't you know, today he has been just shy of angelic. He's probably harnessing his special powers for the upcoming weekend when we are with large crowds of family. Then, and especially then, he will unleash the beast.

Summertime

Summer is in full swing, and I couldn't be any happier. The weather, the family and friends, the outings. Here's a rundown of it all.


Owen and I spent a week in Utah with family, while Mark traveled to Germany for the launch of two new products. Owen liked hanging out with his cousins, Chase (pictured above), Ryan, and Cooper too. We went on a lot of outings, but one of our favorites was the Hogle Zoo. We got to see a rare white alligator, which is one of only 10 of its kind in the world. So cool!


We also enjoyed a visit with our long time friends, the TurleyBensons. We celebrated Father's Day together and made some awesome candy bar posters for the resident father and fathers-to-be. We went to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk for arcade games and deep-fried Twinkies. But mostly we just lounged by the pool and ate summer treats like homemade "Benson Berry" ice cream.


And of course, we've made good use of the beach since the weather has been so f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s! We went to Rio del Mar with our friends, Kim and Caleb. Sunshine and sand castles. Warm weather and water. Need I alliterate longer?


And this fine foot photo comes complete with story. During our day at the beach, I looked down at Mark's flip flops and noticed one of them read Roxy...as in the girls' brand...as in my flip flop. Wait, why is Mark wearing my flip flop? Turns out Mark had been wearing one of mine and one of his the entire time at the beach. Apparently he was in such a hurry getting out the door that he didn't even notice he grabbed two different sandals. And he still didn't notice after wearing them for a couple hours! I can't figure this one out. What's even funnier is his refusal to acknowledge it even happened. Needless to say, he's not going to like this post!

Out of the Box

Remember that promise I made about resolving the television situation by 100 days?

I am proud to announce that the unsightly television box is no longer behind the couch! Just in time for Father's Day (the 100th day), our new television was perched atop a lovely new media console. And I must say the two make quite a pair. There are still some decorating touches to add...but the deed is done.

Do Not Open Until...

We got a new TV, but you'd never know. Check out this photo of our family room. See the new television?

Nope. It's not the one sitting in the cabinet. That old thing is eight years old - ancient in terms of technology. Look again...in the lower right corner of the picture.

Yep. That lovely Philips box peeking out from behind the couch houses our new, fabulous, too-large-for-the-average-viewer flat panel TV.

We purchased it on March 8th. MARCH 8TH! That was 80 days ago to be exact. "So why is it still sitting in a box behind your couch," you may ask. "Are you waiting until the 89th day to return it within the 90-day period? Are you delaying until it becomes outdated and obsolete? Are you mad?" All good questions.

Sometimes I forget we even have a new TV. Do you know any males on this planet who go out and buy a 1080p LCD High Definition TV just to have it sit behind their couch in a box? Well, apparently I happen to be married to one of them. And I won't even go into the details about this preposterous situation. Just know that I am making a pledge here and now to resolve the situation before 100 days have passed. It's time to take matters into my own hands. (Dear Husband, if you're reading this, consider it done).

Triple Digits

Mark decided it was high time to christen the pool since we've been having such fine weather. Here's how he did it:


A Disclaimer for Mark: The skin shown in the photograph may appear ashen, colorless, or just plain pale due to the quality of the camera. It definitely has nothing to do with the fact that the skin is naturally pallid and lacks sun exposure. Definitely.

Italia

Sifting through 800 or so pictures of Italy was no small task. And picking out a few good ones wasn't exactly easy. Don't get me wrong, the scenery was great. It's just that I am dealing with a non-photogenic husband, an ornery toddler, and a terribly tired-looking and overly pale version of myself. Those factors don't exactly add up to quality photos. With that said...I give you ITALY.


Rome's Trevi Fountain was amazing. I could have stayed there all day and been perfectly happy.


Did I mention Pinocchio was everywhere? This life-sized replica sat outside a peculiar little wooden toy shop.


Have you ever read the children's book Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!? Luckily I've read it. Otherwise I wouldn't have thought these birds were half as cute.


Behold the bounty. Gelato never looked (or tasted) better.


Do you see anything wrong with this picture? No joke, this was found in the menu at one of the restaurants where we ate. And I didn't order it.


And would you get a load of this? There were so many delightful goodies on display. It was hard to choose just one...so I chose four.


Ah, Venice. This city had a style all its own. I loved the bold colors, narrow waterways, even the laundry hanging out to dry. And this was one of the few times we saw sunshine on our trip!


This was the highlight of Owen's trip. As soon as we'd let him go, he'd run and run and run and...well, just look at his face. Sheer joy.


Viva Italia!

Made in Italy

I'm a little slow in getting pictures of Italy posted. Anyway, here's a glimpse of our wares (OR a few of my favorite things).

While in Italy, I really wanted to get a fun pair of Italian-made shoes. I found these in a shop in Venice. They are the greatest shade of red. I only regret that the photo does not show the pretty little detail in the back.

Mark's sister helped me find this beauty. She took us to a handful of ceramics mills who sell their products for much cheaper than you could buy them in the U.S. (despite the current exchange rate). I had been looking for a nice cake stand, and now I need an occasion to bake a cake!

This one's for Mark. We had no intention of buying knives on our trip. But Mark's mom was serious about getting a new set. So we went knife shopping, and lo and behold, walked out with this eye-catching set. Great knives, beautifully displayed. You might want to know that the base is Italian leather and the knife handles are made of Egyption buffalo horns. Fancy shmancy. Of course Mark wanted it for "design purposes". I can assure you he didn't buy it for the pure satisfaction of helping me with dinner. Still, I love it.

And this one's for Owen. Apparently Italians love their Pinocchio, for he was all over Italy. They also love their Venetian masks in honor of Carnival. So we decided to combine the two and buy a handcrafted Pinocchio mask in Venice to display in Owen's room. Very cute indeed.

Fortunately, Unfortunately

We're back from beautiful Italy! It's just taken me a couple days to get back to life in the Pacific Daylight Time zone. I don't have pictures to post yet, but I'll be sure to include them later this week. In the meantime, here are a few highlights of Italy (my first trip off the continent)!

Fortunately, we flew to Italy and back with Mark's parents so they could help us with Owen, if need be.

Unfortunately, need be.

Fortunately, we were able to spend time in many beautiful places. We started in Rome and worked our way up through Florence and the Tuscany area until we reached Venice.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to see my much-anticipated Milan. I guess I'll just have to go back for another visit.

Fortunately, I packed my coat, leg warmers, and umbrella in case the weather was cool.

Unfortunately, I had to use the aforementioned items everyday. So it looks like I'm wearing the same outfit in every single picture. Lame!

Fortunately, Owen had some buddies to hang out with during the trip. His older cousins (Cameron, Olivia, and Jasper), who are currently living in Italy, did a great job of playing with him. They also came in handy when we needed to corral Owen or coerce him back into the stroller. We wish they lived closer so they could play (help) more often.

Unfortunately, no amount of playing could help poor little Owen. Forget that he was on a completely different time schedule in Italy. Forget that he skipped out on his 2-3 hour nap nearly every day we were there. Forget that he didn't have his American diet of pb&j sandwiches, cheddar cheese, cereal bars, etc. Nor did he have his own bed nor his own things. All that aside, the kid cut three new teeth while we were traveling! And he just happens to be in the midst of some "terrible twos". So there were some bad days. Very bad days. But understandably so. I felt bad for Owen...and for everyone else around him.

Fortunately, we bought some lovely Italian items while in the country. I'll post pics of some of my favorites later.

Unfortunately, the exchange rate was awful! So upon purchasing our lovely items Mark and I agreed NOT to calculate the euro to dollar amount. It made for much better shopping.

Fortunately, we were able to spend time with family while seeing a country rich in history and beauty. I loved, loved the paintings, sculptures, and architecture we saw. I loved the feeling of simply being in Italy.

Unfortunately, it seems like a blur. The trip came and went so quickly. I hope I can remember all the lovely things I saw and the good food I ate. Mmmm, gelato.

Ciao!

I was a decent journal writer in my youth. I spent many a Sunday afternoon jotting down the oh-so-important happenings of the week, noting my latest crushes, or commiserating about life. But what's even better was this awesome phrase I wrote at the end of each entry. Seriously, I have looked back at my journals and it must have been my catchphrase for at least a year or two. In large, fancy letters was the phrase: "Ciao for Now!"

What was I thinking? Did I honestly think that was cool?

Anyway, I bring it up because I'll be speaking a bit of Italian over the next couple weeks. That's right. We're off to Italy! We're even taking little "O" with us. I'll write all about the trip when I get back...and even post some pictures. So, Ciao for Now!

photo via chroniclebooks

Hair-do or Hair-don't?

I recently got a new "do" and it's taking a little getting used to. First of all it involves major bangs, which I haven't had in forever. And despite them being the essence of the hairdo, I feel a constant urge to push those suckers off my forehead! Then I've got the whole styling issue. It takes time to learn how to work with the newly trimmed locks. Each day I face the mirror and think, "What have we got goin' on today?" And by the time I'm done styling, it's not at all what I had in mind. But I really do like it...I think. Anyway, I would post a picture of myself if I had one. But I don't yet. You'll have to settle for my inspiration. Here's a little taste of what it looks like.


(I thought about posting a picture of me next to Heidi Klum to show the comparison, but then I realized there is no comparison. Me...next to Heidi...please!)

photo via people.com

Easter

Ours went a little like this.

Our Easter celebration started early this year with our friends, Kim and Caleb. They had to spend their Easter in Maui (that's right) so we got together earlier in the week and partook of a delicious spread. Let me take you through it. It began with slices of baked marmalade-glazed ham piled atop a platter, garnished with carmelized orange slices. Scalloped potatoes with sauteed leeks and gruyere cheese paired perfectly with the ham. And the most delicious artichokes with lemon butter, grilled to perfection, completed the feast. My mouth is watering just remembering the goodness! Seriously. Good.

Like father, like son. We all got in the Easter spirit this year. Doesn't that look like spirit to you?

We attended a Saturday Easter picnic with some friends. Owen took part in his very first Easter Egg Hunt. He cleaned up like a champ. Says Owen, "Yeah, that's my loot. Peace, out."

And Easter morning, though mostly uneventful, left Owen with a few new books and a mouthful of treats.

A Book Tag

Tagged--for literacy
I've been tagged by my sister, Britanny.

Here are the rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages).
2. Turn to page 123.
3. Find the 5th sentence
4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog
5. Tag 5 people

I just started reading The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. Here's the line:

"And the plea that had so moved me--Tell me the truth--had been uttered by a man who was not even real."

Sadly, that line just gave away a component of the story. Thanks a lot Britanny! Anyway I tag: Kim, Marissa, Janyse, Melissa, and Heather
(...and I might be done with tagging for awhile)

Sink or Swim

(Seriously. I think it was more scary for me than for Owen. And hopefully it was the first and last accidental swim! Needless to say, we plan to start our first round of swim lessons early this summer.)

Iron Chef Owen

It's his new favorite thing.

Chopping vegetables. Chopping fruits. Chopping like a maniac.

He'll chop by day and he'll chop by night. He'll chop them anywhere you like.

One can hardly put the pieces back together before he grabs hold and chops 'em up.

Possible career choices using this skill? Butcher? Knife Sales? Spokesperson for veganism?

Just a Boy and His Sneeze

Due to the graphic nature of this post, viewer discretion is advised...

Earlier this week Owen had a bit of a cold. It was quite the cold, really. And this is what happened when we sat down to eat one evening.

First came the runny nose, coupled with a cough...

and a gag.

Immediately following, was a quick gasp...

and AH-CHOO!

Napkin, please!

It

I've been tagged. So this one's for my dear friend, Marissa

1. What was the best thing you cooked last week?
We grilled shish kabobs

2. If money, time and babysitting were no object, where would you go and with who?
Europe...all of Europe...with Mark (Although he's already been to most of Europe. Punk.)

3. When was the last time you cried?
During the movie Juno, I think. Not too sure.

4. Five things you were doing 10 years ago?
Breaking up with a really fun boyfriend
Keeping my options open
Acting as a TA for two BYU professors
Not watching television
Running a series of 5K races

5. Five things you were doing 5 years ago?
Teaching fourth grade at Copeland Elementary
Playing serious badminton and croquet with the Isons
Getting my wisdom teeth out
Taking many trips to visit friends in Austin
Thinking about getting pregnant

6. Five things you were doing 1 year ago?
Temporarily living with my parents
Looking for a house to buy in CA
Enduring through Mark's absence
Beginning to sew my first-ever quilt
Traveling with friends to Maui

7. Seven of your favorite hobbies:
Shopping
Reading
Organizing
Hanging with friends
Playing Rock Band (weird, no?)
Being silly with Owen

8. Five favorite foods:
chocolate
cold cereal
grilled chicken and veggies
fresh homemade bread
In-n-Out Burger

9. Five places you've been:
Caribbean
Maui/Hawaii
British Columbia (snowboarding at Whistler/Blackcomb)
Italy (in April)
Fiji (in late summer)

10. Five favorite memories (in no particular order):
My college days
Summer nights in Texas
Oregon with the Roberts and Nelsons
Being pregnant
Spending time with Mark

And now I'll tag one of my stalwart readers. Adam, you're it!