California Vacation: Day 5 & 6

We started off Day 5 just like before, got some breakfast and coffee but had to leave the dogs behind. Ocean Beach doesn't allow dogs on the pier, which was our next stop. One interesting side note, we have never walked this much on a vacation, ever, not even in Vegas. In Vegas there is the ample parking, the monorail or cabs. In OB, you have only your legs to get you around because parking is a nightmare!

One legged seagull

Later in the afternoon we did take the dogs to Sunset Cliffs

Once the dogs were sufficiently tuckered out for the day, we had dinner with the Hudson Family at their house. The kids were a riot and really fun to be around. Liam enjoyed fighting with Uncle Matt and Magnus liked to jump off the table into our laps. Such a great family! Thanks B and C!

Magnus in his baptismal outfit, such a cutie!

Day 6 started and ended in the car. We left San Diego around 7:30 am and arrived back home at 1:30 am. 18 hours in the car y'all! Dogs did so much better than we did, we humans were just exhausted. Now we need to spend several days in bed and catch up on our sleep. :-)

California Vacation: Day 4

First thing in the morning we walked down to Ocean Beach and got some coffee and enjoyed the view!

Trudy got around in her stroller mostly, we have been trying to prevent another back problem

But we did let her out every once in awhile to sniff stuff

Later in the afternoon, we met up with the Hudson Clan at the beach. The husbands went in the ocean while CH and I played with the kids.

Liam is 4 already and so talkative!!

Alex (Magnus) is almost 2 and absolutely precious!

B and Matt in the ocean

 Yoda was a hit with the kids :-)

California Vacation: Day 3

The next morning I met up with the family at the Black Bear Diner and had a small breakfast before hitting the road once again. This time we were heading even further south, towards San Diego to meet up with the Hudson Clan!

 My sis and Yoda @ Black Bear Diner, Bakersfield CA

Ocean Beach, San Diego CA

We rented a cottage in Ocean Beach and the pups were right at home!

My hubby :-)

Sunset at Wonderland Ocean Pub

California Vacation: Day 2

We stayed at the La Quinta Inn, which I highly recommend if you are traveling with dogs as they don't charge extra for the furry babies and it includes breakfast! My sister and her boyfriend, Morgan, came over to visit for a few hours and my sister did my hair for the wedding we were attending later in the day. I will try to track down some photos of my sister and I, as I know my Mom took a ton...

We napped most of the morning...

And my sister came over to visit, the pups haven't seen her in 3 years!

The wedding started at 6 PM, it was about 94 degrees outdoors

My Uncle Gary (left) married my Uncle Luke (right) after 34 years

 

The cake was amazing!

California Vacation: Day 1

Last Friday, we packed up the car and the kids and made our way to California!
We left fairly early in the morning and arrived in Bakersfield, CA about 12.5 hours later.

Mount Shasta

I even got to drive for a little while!

Sleepy, well-behaved pups

Yoda came along for the ride too...

It is (finally) Spring Time in Oregon

It felt like it took forever for spring to get here, but for the most part the cold temperatures are behind us! Last year I noticed a vine on our chain link fence and it had one single bloom on it. My friend Marlane told me it was Clematis and not pull it out. Well it came back with a vengeance this year and it is so beautiful I want to plant it everywhere!

Keep an eye out for pictures of my roses and lilies!

Mitch Saved a Duckling

My "adoptive" grandparents, Mitch and Joy, bought a new house about 6 months ago in a very nice retirement community surrounded by wildlife. They have been keeping an eye on a not-so-good mother duck for the past few months, she spent very little time attending to her eggs and was gone a lot. Well, she was such a bad mom that after her ducklings were born 3 of the 4 didn't make it because they fell over a waterfall (I know, sad!). Mitch worked hard to find and save the last remaining baby which is now living in their garage until it gets big enough to move out to the pond. I introduce to you, Daisy, the cutest and quickest baby duck you will ever meet!

The Mailman had a Bad Day

I came home early on Monday from the museum (because I was still feeling under the weather from my prolonged sinus infection) when I heard Lily barking and people's voices. I went out front to discover the mailman had crashed his truck into the mailboxes. It appears that with all the rain recently the ground has become extremely saturated and once his tires left the roadway he was unable to stop the vehicle from sliding. I exchanged information with the Postmaster General of our area since the mailboxes reside on our property but overall there was very little damage and it could have been so much worse. Very happy that the mailman was okay and bless his heart, he continued to deliver mail on foot. :-)

UPDATED: Trudy is Broken...Again

We have made much improvement with Trudy over the past week. She is feeling better, sleeping through the night and generally being "fighty" which means she is on the road to recovery. Now it is just keeping her off the furniture and from doing anything else that might re-injure her back until the bone(s) have had enough time to strengthen.
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Post date: 4/30/14

It has been 8 days since Trudy hurt her back and we made significant progress...until today. This afternoon when I got home from work she tweaked her back and completely lost her mind in pain. So much pain, in fact, that it caused one of her back legs to lock in a completely straight position and she stood on it like a ballerina on point. After the veterinarian talked me down over the phone, he recommended I massage her for one hour and call him back if she wasn't better. Luckily, that seemed to help but our poor old girl just can't seem to catch a break (no pun intended).

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Original Post: 4/24/14

We made it almost one year to the day but, unfortunately, Trudy injured her back again. We cannot pinpoint exactly what caused it this time but in some ways we parents are doing better with managing it and some ways (me) not. Emotionally, it never seems to get easier but medication is helping and we know that with time it will get better.

After almost one decade of marriage, I realized last night that sometimes we forget why we chose the person we did; we take them for granted; we get busy and so wrapped up in exterior things (and ourselves) that we lose sight of the important stuff. Last night, as I fed Trudy cold oatmeal, my husband sat on the couch with her in his lap, whispering sweet nothings to calm her while holding a heating pad to her back. At that moment I remembered what an amazing, compassionate, strong, unbelievably remarkable man I married. He is my rock and I am so grateful.

Friends of Historic Champoeg Job

A month ago I was presented with an amazing opportunity to work at Champoeg State Park with their Promise Program. The program works with school kids ranging from 1st grade through 8th and introduces them to the history, government and archaeology of the area. As a teacher, I dress in settler attire (or archaeology clothing) and take the kids through several stations, acting out a script that helps immerse the kids in the time period. The best part is that it is a part-time gig that still allows me to go on digs when available. The program only last another month or so, but it has been a very rewarding experience thus far!

DIY: Arizona Wildcat Yarn Wreath

Yes, another wreath! I only have one more that I am working on and than I will likely take a short break. Much like scrapbooking, if I don't have an inspiration or an idea in my head before I start, I find it difficult to complete. This wreath is going to be for my Aunt and Uncle in California because they are huge UA fans!

   

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