7 years

Jeff and I celebrated our anniversary with dinner on the beach in Malibu. We ate calamari, swordfish, and salmon at a cute little restaurant overlooking the ocean.

The clouds were so pretty that night.
My love...

Wild and wacky stuff

Have you ever seen one of these? This mama was pushing her THREE children around in this stroller. I just had to take a picture. She's my hero.
And this tiny car...how cute is that?! I think if I was getting groceries I'd have to take two trips. It probably has about as much storage in it as the triple stroller above...

13

Jeff and I have been blessed to have THIRTEEN days alone here in Pasadena while our children play and enjoy being with their grandparents in Indiana. We are so thankful to our parents for taking care of Clay and Em, and for this gift of time that we've received. We've already heard tales of finding a praying mantis, petting the neighbor's pony, tubing down the creek, picking raspberries off the vine, building a boat in Grandpa's workshop, and roasting hotdogs at the campfire.

So, here are the kids holding the paper chains I made for them, with the instructions of tearing off one link per day 'til we see them again. I think they're pretty excited about this, don't you? We'll have a happy reunion on Saturday, but until then, it's "date night!"

The Getty Center

I read in our U.S. Atlas that the Getty is one of the top 100 things to do in this country. With it pretty much in our backyard, we thought we'd better take advantage of our "no kids week" and have a visit. My favorite part was the gardens outside, but there were also some beautiful paintings inside.
Robert Irwin, the man who designed the garden, said this about it:

Ever present

Never twice the same

Ever changing
Never less than whole

How beautiful to look up close and see the intricate brush strokes on this painting by Monet.

Dream come true

From the first time I heard about the "Shabby Chic" style by Rachel Ashwell, I loved it. Her style is probably the one that has most influenced my love for decorating.... it's one with an interest in silver, vintage, distressed painted wood, and pale colors. So, today as Jeff and I had a "date day," I convinced him to let me stop at the original store in Santa Monica.
It was just as I had imagined it would be. Kind of a mix between English cottage and California beachhouse. The best part was that Rachel was there and I got to meet her! I felt a little "touristy" when I asked her for a picture, but she was kind and obliged. :) Doesn't it look like we're old friends?

Camp Little Eden

Last week, the kids and I went to a family camp in Northern Michigan that I've grown up going to every summer. Here are my sisters, cousins, and Clay and Emma at the lighthouse at the end of the pier on Lake Michigan. It's fun for me to go back to this nostalgic place of my childhood, and now see it through my children's eyes.
Emma walked the pier at Portage Lake.
We made tye-dye shirts in the craft shop.
Clay found oodles of tiny frogs. He said, "Look, Mom, it's camouflaged!"
Mom taught Clay how to play shuffleboard.
Another lazy day at the beach as Dad and the kids played in the sand...what a great week!

14,496 ft.

The mountains are calling and I must go. --John Muir

Jeff and his buddies climbed Mt. Whitney last week. They were actually on the highest point in the contiguous U.S. as we celebrated the 4th of July. I'm so proud of him!

Tying the Knot

Last weekend our dear friends from Elkhart, Aaron and Glori, were married. Jeff was the pastor for the ceremony and our kids were ring bearer and flower girl.
A white horse and carriage escorted the bridal party to the outdoor ceremony. I got teary eyed as they came up the lane. Clay and Emma enjoyed sitting in front next to the driver.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, Aaron and Glori. We love you!