Wee Squeak

So, I guess I don't pay enough attention to what I am doing... I bought these shoes at a consignment store thinking they were cute, good quality, and cheap ($4.50)- my favorite combination. I learned later that the Wee Squeak shoes are actually squeaky shoes. She loves
her Wee Squeaks. My sister's Great Dane, Brembo was very interested in them. She thought Audrey was a walking squeaky toy. The down side is they are annoying after awhile; the plus side is you can hear where she is in the house when she is wearing them.

California Trip

I had a great trip to California. We mainly went for Susan's (Eric's step-sister) wedding in San Francisco. The wedding was beautiful. Eric and his sister Stefanie were in the wedding. We got to be up there before the wedding to help out with some planning and decorations too.

Susan & Tom at the Rehearsal DinnerSusan & Tom before the slide show.

Thanks 'Chung for the great pictures!

The Hopkins Family.
One of Audrey's highlights was getting to see Brembo, my sister Rahime's Great Dane. Audrey meet her for Christmas, but she only was 40 pounds then; she is now over 100 (that's four times Audrey's size) and still growing. We video chat with Rahime (and Brembo) a few times a month, to keep up. Brembo is very well behaved (better than Audrey) and Audrey loves dogs, so they got along well. Audrey even tried to boss her around.

Three sisters at the dog park (the biggest off-leash dog park in the country with 23 acres!)
It made me want a dog.

"Downward facing dog"- Audrey's favorite Yoga pose performed at the dog park-
how appropriate.

Lauren, my younger sister and Brembo.

Audrey and I got to extend our stay to see some family and friends. We had fun in LA.

Audrey loved the carousel this time around. It had been about a month since her first encounter; last time on the Mall, she did not smile once. She could not stop beaming during this ride(s). Grandpa took her on a second ride since she loved it so much. Trying to tear her away from it was another issue, I think she could have rode it all day long if we and our wallets let her.

We also got to go the "Duck Park" in Fullerton with Lidia. Lidia and I have been going to this park for about ten years. It used to be better, but since they renovated it, there are fewer ducks. Audrey loved seeing the ducks and playing in the dirt. It took us 2 hours to walk around it with all the distractions a toddler has (it normally would take 15-20 minutes.)


We also got to spend some time with our favorite twins and their parents. Wow, trying to take a picture with two babies and a toddler looking at the camera is impossible.

The last day I was there, I helped organize a reunion for our Biola nursing class (2004, it's been five years!) We were blessed to have had it at Paddison Farm.
It was fun to be back at the place I lived and loved for five years.

Lidia's wonderful strawberry cake.

Melissa and Alyssa my former neighbors.
Another former neighbor. Thanks Sarah for hosting the party.
And another former neighbors.

Audrey loved the dirt a little too much. I think it's better we are not still on the Farm.
Her love for dirt would drive me crazy.

I was a wonderful trip. It will probably always feel too short and like home. But, I was excited to head back to Maryland and get ready to move.

Week with Lidia

My dear friend Lidia came to visit for a week. It was so much fun to have her and do some more
exploring. Maryland welcomed her with a heat wave and then some of it's finest rain.

I had to take her to Monticello, even though I had visited less than a month ago. It was shockingly greener than last time.

No, I am not above walking my daughter.
Audrey loves her Monkey.
Some good buck teeth, thanks Eric!
A good close up.

This was so amazing, a tree grew hugging another tree.The most beautiful tree flower.

Lidia's great new haircut!
We also went to DC to see more Smithsonian's!
A few of my favor painting from the National Gallery of Art.
On the Mall.
We rode on the Carousel in the middle of the Mall. Audrey was more excited after the fact. She kept saying, "I ride horsey" over and over the next few days.
Maryland (and I am sure other parts of the east coast) has these cocoons everywhere in the trees this time of year. Usually I see them in the bare trees on the side of the freeways. I always wondered what was in them. I found some closer ones on a walk to the Nature Preserve by our house. I was both intrigued and disgusted with my (Lidia's too) finding, communal living caterpillars. I just hope they turn into butterflies.

Hampton, VA

This was almost a month ago... but I thought I would share it anyways. We went down to Hampton, VA to see my Uncle Scott and stay at his beautiful house. It was so relaxing and nice to get a taste of some warm weather. My mom was visiting friends on the east coast for a few weeks, so we got to meet her for the weekend.




Audrey loved playing in the sand and really was not afraid of the water (even though it was freeezing!) She had no takers to go swimming with her, so this is as far as she got.

Go Go Go!

Audrey having some pre-bath fun. She loves to run around in her diaper.

Happy Easter!

Audrey loves the flowers we planted last Fall.

Easter Egg Hunt (or the Gathering of Obviously Placed Eggs)

Easter Grass was everywhere... we might have to have Grass-less Easters from now on.

Progression of Spring

I am amazed how fast Spring changes. Here are some pictures of the Smithsonian Castle's Courtyard. The first set was taken the first week of March and second set the first week of April. And yes, I go to DC a lot these days, at least four times month.