Little Helper

I have a new helper around the house.

She likes to cook ....



















and water the plants.



















She also likes to go on walks and feed the ducks.
She has a vocabulary of over 50 words which is growing every day.
She sometimes voices her strong opinions, but she has a smile that can light up the room.

It's fun having Claire around!

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween!
















Having Suzy, Casey, and Claire here means we get to share their Halloween fun!
















Even in the rain, Claire looked very cute in her giraffe costume and she enjoyed playing with all the candy.

















We also enjoyed having my sisters and their husbands over for dinner, pie, and games.



Thanks for coming! Let's do it again soon!



























Happy Halloween!!

San Diego

San Diego - fun in the sun at the beach, the Zoo, and SeaWorld!
Spent a few days at Mission Bay in San Diego with Kevin & Caroline and kids, along with Suzy and her baby girl. We rented a beach house on the bay and enjoyed the biking, walking, playing in the waves and sand and all.

Mission Bay - biking along the bay with sailboats. This is the same part of the bay I used to come to with my family when I was a teenager and we sailed the boat my dad built. Good memories!
















Mission Beach making sand castles.




















































San Diego Zoo

















The train ride was a must do for the boys.





























Sea World
So many things to see and do and not enough time to do them all.
Shamu is still fun to see, but the trainers don't go in the water with the Killer Whales anymore.






























































I think these shark JAWS are big enough to fit all 4 of us!
It still didn't scare me enough to keep me out of the ocean.

Sunglasses

Fun times in Tucson.

We wear our sunglasses at night....
or maybe just inside the house.















Birthday time again for Ryan and Kevin.
There are lots of volunteers to help blow out the candles ...
and eat the birthday cake.






























The baby doesn't eat cake yet, but here she is with a cute smile.

The Road Less Taken

At Yellowstone last weekend.














The hike to Lone Star Geyser. No moose this time.





I seem to be on a continuing animal theme lately.

Here are some species seen at Yellowstone last weekend.














I think this was a weasel or a feret in the tree. Any ideas?






















































Here's the trail we took to Mystic Falls. We've hiked to these falls before, taking the short route. But this time we took "the road less traveled" which was the longer loop going 5 miles all the way up to the summit overlook.





This was the road less traveled . . . and I've heard that road less traveled is the one that makes all the difference.

Giraffes

Are there really Giraffes in Georgia?















Yes, at the Wild Animal Park.















We took the bus tour where the animals can come right up to the windows.





























Claire liked seeing the zebras, antelope, and other assorted creatures.

After that we went to a State Park for a picnic.
Georgia is so pretty and green with trees, lakes and ponds everywhere.















She is "sweet".

Hammerhead

Labor Day weekend in Georgia.

Claire is growing up.
She likes hiking and swimming at the lake.













































Where are the fish?





























We didn't find enough big fish at the lake, so. . . .


We went into Atlanta to Olympic Square to see the Georgia Aquarium.
Claire likes the "shishies" (fish) even the hammerhead shark.
































Back at home.......
She's looking forward to driving the car . . . only 14 1/2 more years.