Trip to Ojai Part 1

I just got back from a lovely time in my favorite place. Eli and I flew out to see Brad and Crystal last Saturday and were treated to a wonderful visit with great company and tasty food. Here are some pics I took with my camera. I'll post another part tomorrow with all the pics Braddy took with with his. He got some great shots.

Here's Eli on the way out. He was pretty unimpressed with the whole airplane thing. I thought he would be more captivated by the noises and window looking-out-of but he mostly wanted to run around the plane and terrorize everyone. And airplane terrorism is frowned upon these days.

Here's Auntie/Grandma Crystal with Zayd and Eli. More of this to come from Braddy's pics, but I thought I'd give you a little preview of the fun we had at Arroyo Verde park in Ventura.

Here's Uncle Brad and Eli. I know it's a little dark but I had to get one in now of Brad and Eli. Eli became Brad's little shadow while we were there. He would run after him every time Braddy made a move yelling "BRAAAAAAA" which was funny in and of itself.

More of this good time to come too but I just had to share this pic. Crystal filled up this little tub they had on the patio and Eli and Zayd played (au natural) in it for quite a while. It was pretty funny...although I realized more than ever how mammoth my son is when he got in the tub and half the water poured out.

Beth and I met up for lunch and had a great time catching up. We were best friends way back in the day and have been able to stay in touch all these years. She works as a labor and delivery nurse at a hospital in Ventura so it was fun to pick her brain about baby related topics.

New Looks for the Garfield Family

This week Eli and I both decided to try out new looks. Eli went more for the David Boy look...get it??!!! I'm awesome.

That is not a rash...it's lipstick. My good Clinique lipstick...that now lies in rest at the bottom of the garbage in the bathroom.

He really nailed the eyes. I think he may have a career as a make-up artist. Don't tell Dan.

I went for a shorter, more conservative look. I've been thinking about it for a while...but today I bit the bullet and went whole hog. It's short. I'm liking it so far. It will take a few days to get over the shock when I look in the mirror.

Here's one of the little baby bump. Shrimpy is 13 weeks old and starting to let Mom feel a little better.

South Fork

This week my friend Debby and I loaded up the kids and headed for South Fork Canyon. It was so good to be out in the fresh air and soaking up sun and bugs.

Eli and Diane enjoyed exploring my camera. Eli has now successfully disabled two of my cameras. You'd think I'd learn...but I'm kind of a pacifist.

Debby and kids across the stream.

Keeping Eli from throwing himself in the water.

"Taking" pictures.

Guitar Hero

He following in his daddy's footsteps.

Tuning up!

The Backyard

I finally have a backyard! Or at least, a backyard that isn't full of foxtails and rocks. Eli and I spend as much time as possible outside and are enjoying getting sunburned and picking roses.

Our raspberries are in full boom. In a month or so, give or take my ability to kill all things green, we will have a hopping patch of ripe berries!

Tomatoes! We should have a bumper crop..mostly because I have touched them as little as possible...

The zucchinis are coming on strong. I've already picked about half a dozen and Eli and I like to cook them up for lunch.

Eli loves the trampoline. He's a funny little bouncer. In fact, here's a video of him bouncing right now!

Operation: Shock and Awe

This year's fourth festivities were sans Dan, which was sad indeed but he was in Denver nobly helping his folks move. We carried on without him and had a pretty good time with my folks in Bountiful. The weekend started off rough after I must have got heat stroke or something and ended up having to go to Instacare Saturday night for fluids and drugs. It was by far the nastiest day of this pregnancy thus far. Sunday I spent in bed but by Monday I was feeling better and we had a great time swimming (no pictures) and BBQ-ing at Greg's house (lots of pictures). Here are a few highlights:

This pic is why I titled the post what I did. Eli just didn't know what to think of the fireworks my family were lighting off in the road. He liked them, I think, but he also seemed to be pretty wary of them at the same time. As the night progressed and he got sleepier, the noises seemed to scare him more.

Where there's smoke there's little boys lighting things on fire. I was sort of a Fourth Scrooge and spent a lot of time yelling "Keep that skinky smoke away from the pregnant lady!!". The memories my poor nephews will have of their aunt...
Eli and Grandpa. Eli LOVES my dad. I don't know if its because my dad always has his smart phone in his front pocket or if its because Eli recognizes Grandpa Don's greatness at such a young age. Whatever it is, he was glued to Papa the whole trip.

Toby and my mom conversing on the lawn.

Kids young and old lighting off bottle rockets.