Sarah Jane, You're the Best

For this year's birthday, it's time to show some classic SJ. I have secured permission to post these.

I love this girl.

Summer Happenings

I feel like we are perpetually a month behind in our blogging, but here are a few things we've been up to so far this summer...

Last month we spent a couple of weeks in Utah. It was a fun way to kick off our summer with lots of fun outings with cousins and friends:

The Farm:







the Zoo:








And a lot of time in the pool:


Then this month cousins came to visit us here in California and we spent a fun day at the Long Beach Aquarium:





In between there has been a lot of things like this:



And this:


And this:




And this:

Twinkle Twinkle

And the rock version. Yeah!

Zoo Trip

Last month we took a day trip up to the Santa Barbara Zoo.

These are elephants. They are gray and have trunks. Just FYI.

Flamingos are funny birds. I'm glad they exist. Thanks flamingos!

We had a lot of fun riding the (pretend) animals.

I had no idea the California Condor looks like a vulture, and essentially is a vulture. It's huge. This one was kind enough to keep it's wing span out for a long time to give us a demo.

Can you spot my girls?



If you pay close attention to the end, you can hear Norah telling us where the third giraffe is.

Afterward, we hit Julia Child's favorite taco stand in Santa Barbara.

The food was good. Like Julia, we endorse this taco stand.


Norah is officially growing taller by the minute. Slow down!

Join us for our party!

One morning Norah decided to gather all her friends for a party. It needed proper documentation.

Note the excellent nestling job of the squishy ducky friend.

It's nice to see that she considers herself one of the gang.

Gymnastics Video #9

I can't get enough of her size right now, and how she's gaining control of her appendages and such. From the time that I started these gymnastics video posts, she's successfully figured out how to jump. Instead of a little hop skip, both feet can clear the ground at the same time. It's a really fun time.

Gymnastics Video #8

Gymnastics Video #7

This is for all you who remember how Norah couldn't do a proper crawl.

Gymnastics Video #6

Do as I'm doing...

Gymnastics Video #5

First try!

Gymnastics Video #4

Ribbit.

Well, she's still putting that one together.

Gymnastics Video #3

Gymnastics Video #2

Sideways walking. Sort of.

Gymnastics Video #1

I'm tempted to reveal these videos once a week. Or maybe do this as a 1-a-day. Yes, that's what I'll do. Norah is taking gymnastics. It's the best thing.

How can you watch this only once? I mean, the elbows! Her little size!

Daddy Daughter Day

SJ went out of town for a weekend, so Norah and I got to have a few days together. So we went to a farm.

"How do I get this thing out of reverse?"

This farm also included a tunnel, and Norah was instantly enamored. Observe:

If I hadn't diverted her elsewhere, we'd still be there doing this. These days the whole 'ready....GO' command is a very effective tactic to keep her from dawdling.

After a successful nap, we bopped on down the PCH to check out the Santa Monica Pier. We rode the Ferris wheel, had a hot dog on a stick, and got matching tattoos.

In exchange for drinking all but a sip of my lemonade, she gave me a *mostly* fuss free return home. I'll take it. Let's do this again sometime.

Funny Hat

Norah found this 'funny hat' (as she called it) at Grandma and Poppy's house, and wore it about 80% of the time we were there.

I scream for ice cream

Easter 2010