A La Plage

A few weeks ago while the boys were at the Bayside Men's Retreat in Tahoe the girls took a road trip in the RV-- courtsey of Jamie. We loaded up Makenna, cousin Peyten, Aunt Jamie and Aunt Kelli and hit the 80 for Pacifica. Jamie pulled the RV like she was driving her Honda-- no big deal making U-turns in downtown SF- not me. Thanks Jamie. We arrived in the afternoon in Pacifica and parked on the bluff above the ocean-- nothing like going to sleep and waking up to the sounds of the sea! So here we are strolling along the first evening after making it down the "50 steps" to the beach-- maybe there were 50 steps in 1950 but the water has taken it's toll and while carrying babies and beach stuff we sidestepped, making our way down the broken concrete "steps"??
SAND TATOO-- while running crazily along the shore Makenna's face collided with the sand.

ROSEY-- Grandma TuTu introduced MJ to Ring around the Rosey- her favorite place to play it is on the beach and it is more like sing the song while chasing her and then grab her and swing her around when you get to the "all fall down"- makes for great exercise . . . Thanks Grandma TuTu.
SAND CASTLE-- Chateaux des Sables-- Aunt Kelli and MJ creating Sand mansions.

I think the picture says it all-- can't you hear the surf rolling in, see the sandpipers scuttling about and feel the sand beneath your feet. Um Mom I think I need my swim suit on. oops! Why do I always think-- oh it's too cold for her to want to get too wet . . . when will I learn?

BEACH PEDICURE-- not every 2 year old can boast of her own personal nail lady. Don't know if you can make it out but MJ is showing off her new pedicure of dark purple polish with the heart accent. Thanks Aunt Kelli!

SUG BUG-- Aunt Jamie snugglin' with cousin Peyten. The second day with mostly overcast and cool-- perfect for napping on the beach.
BYE BYE- A bien tot-- see you soon ocean. What a relaxing trip. Loved every minute from dinner on the bluff listening to the ocean, to the evening stoll in the wind with the kids, to the late night chat with the girls and all the time on the beach in between. There is something about that sound that soothes the soul and makes you Praise God at the wonders of His Hand! Thanks Ladies for a great trip.

Baby Samwich

So this is from July 4th-- i can tell because Makenna is wearing her Americana dress. A favorite past time with Dad is to climb up in his office chair and have him try to smoosh her-- crying baby samwich, baby samwich-- gin, gin ( aka again) ah the simple things in life!!

Dancing Queen

We were going through some videos because we haven't done it in a while and found this one of Makenna and Josh dancing. I think Makenna is the more coordinated one of the two... what do you think?

Carmel and The Monterey Bay Aquarium

While Josh was away on a Yamasaki Fly Fishing trip the Robertson side of the fam took a short plane trip-- We stayed in Carmel Valley and drove into Monterey one day and Carmel a couple of days. I wish I could say the photo below was the courtyard of our accomodations but that wouldn't be true. Our place was nice for a several day stay with our own kitchen and small yard but not quite so fancy as this. This was a courtyard we passed while strolling the side streets in Carmel -- pretty much everything there is charming. ( side note i'm still new to this blog thing and even though ANNA told me how i could move my pictures about after they got mixed up in the loading all I succeded in doing was enlarging it so they will appear in random order !)

Makenna says "you want me to smile for the camera really now!" This was actually at the end of the trip, taking a break on a park bench in Carmel. SWIMMING . . . in Pacific Grove-- which i must say i liked much better than Monterey. Water was cold enough to turn your feet to ice cubes but Makenna thought it was just great. Was so great to take her to beach 3 days in a row and when we got back to Roseville made me wish for a beach 2 blocks away instead of the train yard. When the delta breeze kicks ups, i watch the tall grasses bend in the wind, smell the lavender, rosemary, and jasmine in the air and pretend the shore is only a few streets away . . .
Grandmere et Grandpere surveying the beach scene.
Extreme close up of the miss.
A taste of Carmel. This was someones gate into their property and i thought it was so unique and intriguing like going into the secret garden.

A happy foxglove plant in a Carmel planter box. Here we are at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Makenna was happiest at the outside exhibits which unfortunately were few -- she just loved watching the scuba divers-- nice aquarium experience. Think we'll try the Zoo next since they have to have lots of outdoor exhibits. We did love the sea otters and the wave machine.

Here we are trotting down to the beach in Pacific Grove-- just love that red tipped iceplant and the rocky shoreline.

This was the first day at the beach in Carmel-- didn't even notice the water at first the sand was so captivating and there were theses squirrels-- very domesticated that kept coming right up to where we were sitting-- i mean like a few inches away-- hoping for snack but we had nothing.

Makenna and Grandpere pushing the stroller up the hill from the beach into town in Carmel in search of a snack-- gotta love bringing the stroller to use as a pack animal. We did this several times while we were in Carmel-- push the stroller up the hill that is and every time that Dad ( Grandpere) told the story the number of blocks got greater-- maybe he should have been a fishermen. . .
Here she is the fashion plate posing by the sea . . . Seriously what a nice trip . . . The coast is always great and refreshing. something about the crisp air and the sound of the waves. If you've never been to Carmel I highly recommend it-- I am so blessed to have parents close by to be able to share and make possible such great outings. Thanks Mom and Dad. Merci beaucoup pour les vacance!

Common's Beach Tahoe City

A couple of days before the 4th of July Mom, Dad, Makenna and I took a day trip up to to Tahoe to beat the heat. It was cool and breezy when we got there and just perfect for hanging out and making sand pies! Here come the geese hoping we have a snack for them.
I'm so cute I can hardly stand it. Makenna is laughing because Grandpere is asleep on the blanket and that's so funny.
And there he is-- it's a tough life napping on the beach in Tahoe before strolling down to Jakes for a burger. Must have been the mocha and pumpkin bread that did him in . . .
Busy making sand soup with Grandmere. Takes concentration you know.

capitol park

On our way back from Yosemite this past February we stopped in downtown sacramento to stretch our legs and wander in the park. Reminds me a bit of the large parks in London and so fun to people watch. However note to self there are no good coffee shops to be found open on Sunday in this area. boo
Here's Makenna comtemplating her next speech on the history of flora and fauna in Northern California! Hmmm should I start with the Camellia japonica and then go onto the Magnolia grandiflora or . . . Let me just smell this pretty pink camellia.

These camellias were like flower confetti covering the ground and so fun to run around and gather up.
Flower girl.

M is for Makenna! She just loves that. Whenever we color and I write M she says Holden and we have to write H for Holden-- cousin Holden must not be forgotton.

Hello I'm Makenna Nice to meet you! Ca va?

Just kickin' it on the park bench.
Eskimo Kisses are a big fav.
Sometimes it's nice to just stop and smell the flowers. And these camellias were just amazing, blooming like crazy in all colors. What an incrediable God to create such beauty for us to enjoy.

Lavender in May

This is my garden girl helping me water our newly planted rosemary and pink muhly grass. This was actually taken in the beginning of the summer but as i said before i'm just going to post photos as i find them so this is probably May. Mud bogging is so much fun and we pretty much do this daily. I think Makenna is a strong believer in the mud spa thing. She is wearing her beautiful flower hat made by Grandmere-- Never leave home without a hat!
Nothing like feeling the mud between your toes!

So this is my "field" of Lavender that runs along the front of our house. I just love walking beside it and smelling the lovely fragrance on the wind and I pretend I am in the south of France walking through the actual fields . . . Well there you have it-- our lavender days and now it is about time to cut it back so it can bloom again, meanwhile we will have lots of dried lavender to put about the house.