These are old spring break photos but the expressions are so funny and joyful, I just wanted to revisit them:

Summah!!!

Scott has kept up the pool water and it looks inviting!

Looking up at the sunlight through the trees is a summertime favorite of mine!

I always watch for the bluest sky above the house - that's when I know it's full-on summer!

I've caught a bit of summer and actually got in the pool for the first time this year. Juggling east coast visit with dad and fun Utah time with Tay, Matt, Lindsay and Gavin it hasn't been the regular be bored at home summer! Here are a few photos of what I was missing about summer until yesterday!

Loving France

Oh how funny! My foot ended up in the photo!

I have this thing for France...and have for a very long time.

I think the intrigue started with some watery panel type glimpses of Paris on the wall of my parents' bedroom on my mom's side. They were beautiful black and white fine ink sketches with water color of the Seine, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumphe etc. I have had an affinity for anything French for a very long time! Anyway, the deal is, for the past few summers, I've been satisifying this interest with a few good reads about France. This year my new one is Ina's book (thanks Christina Pendleton Miller for the suggestion -- she used it as a guide for her trip to France and went to every place in the book!) Today I was out hunting down Euro sham inserts, curtains, a lamp and a bulletin board and happened upon a copy at TJMaxx for $19.99 (much better than the $35.99 suggested retail) I'm excited for my "trip" again this summer to France -- Paris this time!

I can't say goodbye to the Christmas wall!

Here's our wall of fabulous holiday cards for 2009! We loved them ALL! I keep them every year. The photos of everyone just get sweeter.

Letting go of Christmas

It's scarey how much I love Haribo gummy bears! I just realized how far I will go to have that sweet sensation of childhood to taste. I just ate one off of the roof of the gingerbread house my daughter made before Christmas! I realized it is past time to throw it out. We saved it to show my friend Judy last night and now I couldn't let that one last green gummy bear go to waste--now it goes to my waist!

cooking group

Not that I need encouragement to get cooking because I do it more than most but I did attend one last week and it even has its own blog: http://gabbygourmet.wordpress.com -- check it out!

Labor Day Weekend

Well...just a few thoughts. We had a suprise visit from Scott's sister Kathy who arrived in the wee hours Sat am just as Scott was waking up to scoot off to an assignment at the cannery cleaning--ugh! Luckily it wasn't a couples assignment and he went with the guys. He said his fav part was that he got to do the hosing off. Boys will be boys. When I go at least the last time when we made HUGE batches of jam, I was spatula girl--my mom taught me to be very good with the spatula! We have been having fun with her while Jon and Megs went every which way. Jon was in Utah with Matt and drove in from his flight from Reno through traffic and in enough time to go straight to work. Megs asked if Olivia could sleep over and then they could go to tennis early but alas, they chose Olivia's place and we lost her for an overnighter and until 3pm next day. Her eyes were so blue when I picked her up--she relaxed & enjoyed. Tomorrow back to the schedule! I did fulfill my craving for my fav BYU fudge--with handmade German chocolate cake frosting on top and it was great. All in all, it was a productive and yet relaxing weekend:o)

Savoring Summer

Well, the veg garden photos are blurry but I actually grew a few vegs and I wanted to remember them! I have French yellow squash, zucchini, tomatoes and soon there will be some sweet colored peppers! I threw in the other 2 photos because they are pretty and I want to remember the yard from the summer 09...

Cooking & Books

I started reading 2 books for 2 different book groups. I got more interested in the recipes than the story! The first one is from "Julie & Julia" which Scott said he'd go to any movie with me but that one because Julia Childs is just scarey! I opted for the book instead...The second one is from "Lemon Tart". Well, I had to make the lemon tart only I just had limes so it was actually lime tart and pretty yummy.

Abbs & Beatie

Here's Beatie (short for Beatrice) asleep in the garden. The dreaded "evil cat" is now very old (almost 20) and as sweet as a kitten. We have lots of crazy Beatrice stories -- she is quite a survivor!
What would our family know without our "baby" Abby. Now 7 she is still as sweet, loyal and innocent as ever. Her ears are still soft and she still just lives to be near your side.

A fun weekend for Megsie in Tahoe

I just had to steal this darling photo for my own blog. Yet another friend of Megs turned 15. They relaxed for the a night up in Tahoe at their family's place. I love seeing my only girl with her girlfriends! Having no sisters is a bummer but having great friends really makes her happy. She just beams! I just want to tickle those toes! They played spoons, apples to apples, stayed up until 4am and she even lost her voice! Definately a fun girl time away from the pressures of tennis, school, church & home. (ps her sweet brother Jon and I tie dyed her 2 t-shirts for the school decades dance at her request. Sophomores have the 60s and she wanted to go in tie dye style--she skipped the dance and opted for a fun girls overnighter instead!. At least she wore the shirts anyway! of course she said, mom I'm so sorry, I promise I'll wear them--and she did!)

What a Difference a Day Makes!

I am so excited that the kitchen garden is back! After having a beautiful garden there before we ran a gas line to the pool to heat it, I am so glad that tranquil place is replanted. It was several days of digging, running sprinklers up from the lower lawn area, planning, shopping, planting, and going to other gardens and photos for inspiration. Thank goodness for Scott. I benefit from all of those summer days he did chores in the family yard growing up and also his hard work at the golf course! There's nothing like your own beautiful garden--I feel so lucky today. I love watching it grow. We're still not done yet, but it's a great start.

Bright

Yellow is my new favorite color! My word for this next month is "Bright."

Disneyland

There's nothing like Disneyland especially a stay at the Grand Californian to brighten up a February break from school! Flying down with Meg and Sam and spending a few relaxing days was the perfect getaway from those dreary February days in Northern California.

tangerine and amaryllis day

My first post! Very exciting!

 I woke up on this sunny day today and my amaryllis from Thanksgiving finally bloomed!  It just kept getting taller and taller and taller and I thought wow! Here it is. So lovely. 

 I also found a tangerine in my bag that still had the leaves from the tree attached. This is going to be a great day. I had to take a photo of the tangerine--it was so cute!

 I'm just finally setting up a blog for my family!  I think it will be lots of fun.