Yosemite

El Capitan in her full spring glory
The Awahnee lodge where we stayed On our first afternoon we took a walk and I swore that everything I saw was a bear. Including that branch (I have pictures of at least 10 others)
We got really excited to see the Nature
And the rocks

We rode beach cruisers around the Park and to Mirror Lake
Ivan showing off
It was really peaceful everywhere in the park

The weather was supposed to be 58 degrees and raining when we were there, it ended up being absolutely beautiful every day. We couldn't help but beam

We signed up for a hike in lower Yosemite Falls. We ended up in a group that was deemed 'super fits' and taken on a level 4 (you should have cables or fear for your life) ascent to a spot in the park called 'Devils Bathtub'. It was a bit intense getting up there but well worth the views when we arrived.
The water just tricked down the sides of these rocks it was truly spectacular
This time we're beaming b/c we made it up there alive

Unfortunately the trek down was even more difficult than the way up, but once we got down the rest of the hike was easy..

Our hike lasted about 4 hours and I couldn't decide what sense was the most heightened. The smells were lovely, the scenery breathtaking, but I think what really struck me were the sounds- the water falls, and rivers, and trees rustling. It was really very majestic
Finally to the Falls
Getting closer and getting wetter
Now we're almost underneath the Falls and soaked
Ah finally some nature we don't have in our backyard

View from Glacier Point

Our last full day we went horseback riding. Actually mule-back. I thought it would be a more 'relaxing' way to see the park after our hiking adventure the day before.. Not only did it end up being physically rough (my legs and knees were shaking) it was a lesson in trust. The mules know the trails well but choose to walk on the far side of the paths right next to the sheer cliffs. Their heads would go one way (looking off the cliff side) and legs would go the other.
The views from the mule back were stunning

Ivan rode Guiness and my gal was Girdie. They returned us safely to the valley floor and we thanked them for our lives and tipped them with our left over apples..

Riley turns 1

Trike riding

Focus Focus

1pedal 2pedal 3pedal 4...

Getting the hang of it... hooray

Book Reccommendation

Jen told me about a great book she's been reading:

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. A Best Seller. One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia.

So I'm at the library the other day w/ Liam (he thinks we go there to rent movies not borrow books) and he's sitting at the little mini computer playing a teletubbies game- and to my surprise using a mouse pretty well. Anyway I decide to finally track down this book and see if I can take it home for free for a couple weeks. I logon to the book look system and find the title. Excitedly I press 'reserve' only to find out that I'm number 469 in queue and the ballard library has 2 copies in circulation. The best part they had my 'estimated arrival date' in 2011.

My bedtime story tonight

Tribute to Sauly

We were so sad to have to say goodbye to our sweet little kitty Saul- Sauly as Liam calls him.

We found out he had feline diabetes a few months back, and had been giving him 2 shots of insulin a day every 12 hours. At first he responded positively, and he was so good during his shots, he was just roll over and purr. But sadly he had already suffered kidney failure before we found the diabetes and eventually stopped eating and drinking. We had seen this happen with our beloved K2, and were so saddened to have only had Saul in our lives for just over a year. He was a very special cat, so docile and gentle with Liam. Loved to sit on our laps and drool, and he had the softest fur I have ever pet. We miss him very much, but know he is happy at the 'kitty playground' with his kitty mommy and daddy.

Tulip Festival

Liam loves tulips. Whenever we take walks around the neighborhood he points out all the different colored tulips in every yard. We don't leave the grocery store without fresh cut flowers, and he even finger painted tulips that were so life like we framed it as our first true toddler art. The day we went to the Tulip Festival it was about 40 degrees and raining so hard we were covered in mud when we left. We walked thru all the rows and jumped in the puddles. We had a picnic in the 'bus' when we were finished, put the table down for the first time and that was almost as much for him as the tulips!

Three years in the making

Liam had his 3 year check up and made himself quite comfortable at the old doc's office. When Dr. T. came in the room (who is by the way one of my best friend from high school's father) Liam looked at him and said 'Hi Poop' his favorite greeting now a days.

They actually take 3 year olds blood pressure and everything! Liam continues to be a bit of a pip squeak, tipping the scales at 29 lbs fully clothed= about 10% of kids his age. But the good news was he is 37 inches, 1 inch taller than the Disneyland requirement to ride the cool rides. And now that he 'poops on the potty' we have promised him a trip to Mickey's house!

He was so cool, calm and collected. Until he had to get his 3 year vaccines. Now because he was used to seeing our diabetic cat get his shots every day he knew to be brave. And he was!! The needle went it, the needle came out, the tears came out (for about 10 seconds) but it wasn't until he saw the band aid that he got desperate. For whatever reason he totally fears band aids, so as soon as the nurse told him he didn't have to wear one, he was fine. Collected his lolly pop and was on his way.

bad mom

From the time Liam was little really little I used to tell him when he was naughty that if he didn't stop doing x then he would have to 'go live with the snakes'. Harmless enough threat I always thought.. possible phobia in the making- but it was probably good to have reservations about snakes anyway.

Which all leads me to a couple weekends ago. Kimberly and I were going to walk around greenlake with the kids, but unfortunately that was one of the April snow days, so we decided to take them to the zoo. They have an indoor climbing area that is pretty fun and as you can see Liam was having a good time.

That is until the puppet show began. Friendly little crocodile and friendly little snake come out. I could sense his anxiety, but it was after all just a snake puppet. So fast forward 8 minutes the puppet show ends (he was on my lap at this point) and the woman says in a scary voice 'and now kids we're going to bring out the REAL LIVE SNAKES'. It was at that moment I knew that I was a bad mom. A very bad mom. My child takes off screaming running for the hills, wouldn't look back until he was out of the zoomaforium or whatever it is called... needless to say the snake threat is no longer in our parenting arsenal..