Cambria: Day 2

Antique shopping with the scariest mannequins I've ever seen
Doesn't this one look like she's wearing a mask?

A drive up the coast to Big Sur
And a surprise hike to a waterfall

My dad with a Gollum-esque stranger

A Southbound turnout

What my brother did for most of the day...

After a big dinner, we came home to watch a movie

My dad's home cinemas get better with each house

Zac is on his way home right now...
I'll head back tomorrow...
It's been a quick, but really fun visit!

Cambria: Day 1

Get Out Of The Water And Don't Look Back

I can't look at this shark photo without shivering.
It's so, so creepy.
Even if it's fake, it's still terrifying.

via A Cup Of Jo

Autumn(atically) Excited

I am having a difficult time keeping my head in one season right now.

At least twice a day I catch myself thinking (and dreaming) about Fall.
Sometimes, I'm counting the number of days until October 1st (and considering making a paper chain).

I know, I know, it's only three days in to August.

Don't get me wrong; I'm in to summer.

I am in favor of dinner on the patio.
I am so happy living in a world where I can read by sunlight until almost 8pm.
I haven't been to the beach yet this summer (most of my July was dominated by Kenya), but I plan to make a post-camp visit...and when I do, I will hang out in that ocean for hours.

But, there is something so warm and delicious about Autumn, don't you think?

Granted, I'm a little biased, since it does mean we're that much closer to my birthday, but can't you almost smell--practically taste--"Fall"?

School supplies in Target. (I've stopped to smell the binders a few times already.) I love when they put the globes out--that's when you know school is back in session.

Pumpkin decorations. Pumpkin carving. Pumpkin-flavored desserts.

Sweaters. Blankets. Fireplaces. Umbrellas.

Donnie Darko. E.T. Beetlejuice. Harry Potter(s).

I'm fully embracing August, while eagerly awaiting October. (Sorry September.)

What's your favorite thing about Fall?

Love Is In The Heir

I'm finding--more and more--as I grow up, that I love to spend time with my family...specifically my grandparents.

I know this is something that I should have loved as a teenager, and I don't think that I disliked it at any point, I am simply noticing that I really love it these days.

In the last few months, I have spent entire days--or large chunks of the day--with my grandparents. Most of the time, alone with my grandparents. Those are the days I love the most: when there are no other family members to invade conversation or with whom I am making conversation for long enough that my grandpa (Papa) turns back to the TV.

I love sitting with, talking to, reading alongside of my grandparents...both sets!

Here are some pictures from family days in the last few months:

My Papa and I spent an entire day reading our Kindles side-by-side.
First at Starbucks, then at his house (with some sandwiches!)

Later that afternoon, I read while Elijah played his DS on my lap

My cousin Logan and his birthday squirrel

Sitting around, taking family photos...
who wouldn't want to be in this family?

Sitting next to Elijah at family dinner. He says,
"There's no grass in Africa, I saw it on TV.
There's no grass, but there is Triceratops"

Last Saturday, the other side of my family (well, a few pieces) met for lunch in LA. My Grandpa and Grandma insisted that we have Famous French Dip Sandwiches.

Grandpa Don and my brother, Zac

Grandma Marlene and cousin, Laura (who was scolded for ordering a salad instead of a sandwich)

After lunch, we went to The Grove to walk around the Farmer's Market. This is the point in the day that I thought, in the past, I would be in a hurry to get home...but I really like being with my grandparents...I'm in no hurry.
Which leads us to yesterday. After church, I headed to Bum and Papa's (my maternal grandparents) to hang out for the afternoon. I stopped on the way and picked up bagels and we sat at the counter together, eating and chatting. Just the three of us...no one else to interrupt our time together!

Side note: I am aware of how selfish I sound as I'm writing about alone time...but my mother is the first of five girls (four of whom have two children each) and my dad is the eldest of seven (all of whom have children), so it's never (never) just one-on-one time in my family.

Later in the afternoon, Elijah joined us
we watched "How to Train Your Dragon" (well, Papa and I watched it...Elijah watched in-between karate sessions and running to the kitchen for snacks)

A little bit of snuggling
after Papa said, "Don't you dare snuggle me!"

When the movie was over, Elijah asked Papa to "go fishing in the closet"
Papa said, "Race ya!"

Heading to dinner with my mom.

Elijah drew some pictures to pass the time:
Papa as a little boy (who had glasses because "Papa can't see without them"), Papa's pet snake: Slippy, and Papa's pet Robot, Robby.

I am so thankful for the hours that I have spent with my family recently...and eagerly anticipating the times to come.