What we've been up to...

I admit, I've been a bad blogger lately. Blame it on my camera batteries, blame it on lack of inspiration, or blame on it on the heat. Blame it on whatever. But, I'm back. Promise.

I've got a new camera for better documentation. A new blog template for inspiration. And a boat-load of things on the horizon to share with everyone.

To catch everybody up, we ended the summer with a bang between separate visits from both mom and dad, a quick visit to San Diego to see the Millays, and just recently a week-long trip in Los Angeles while John was on production making all the holiday TV spots for Radio Shack. Cole joined us and even got to be in one of John's spots. For me, it was so nice to be on a production trip and to get to experience it from the outside looking in. And it was really nice for all of us to be together.

Fall should be a fun and exciting couple of months as we are looking forward to all of the adventures that lie ahead - new growth group at church, our bathroom remodel officially starting, the Treasure Island Music Festival, a trip to San Diego with the Millays for Halloween, a visit with all the Reids for Thanksgiving and most importantly - whatever path God leads me with my career as I wrap things up at EVB in the coming weeks. Stay tuned...

Love you all.

Monterey & Carmel Vacation

We took Highway 1 to Monterey and Carmel and spent two nights at a beach side resort. Great room, an awesome view, and amazing massages. We ate at some fantastic restaurants, too.  My favorite was Mission Ranch in Carmel. The whole ranch is owned by Clint Eastwood, and the restaurant was amazing. Great atmosphere with a piano bar and awesome outdoor seating overlooking the meadows. And the food was so fresh.  We also hit Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery Row and the Aquarium in Monterey. At Fisherman's Wharf they have these little stands that sell cups of fresh fish. I was obsessed with them. They make great snacks

My Dad the Activist!

What's making national headlines - opposition at town halls across the U.S. over Obama's healthcare proposal - is happening right in St. Louis. And Dad has gotten into the action.  He attended a protest this afternoon put on by the Tea Party coalition outside of the SEIU.  The Tea Party opposes Obama's spending initiatives and the SEIU supports his healthcare reform bill.  200 people attending and it ended up being a civil affair. 

Can you see Dad to the right in the video? The young man in the wheel chair in front of him, a conservative african-american, was attacked for passing out "Don't tread on me" yellow flags at a town hall on aging hosted by Democrat Russ Carnahan earlier this week.  Six people were arrested that night. The story is getting national news being covered by Bill O'Reilly, Rush and Great.

Check out the video and get the full story at http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/

Stinson Beach

We took Cole to

 Stinson Beach today to kick-off our vacation. We got there early enough that Cole had the beach pretty much to himself for about an hour before all the real water dogs showed up. He ran around, chased his ball and got in the water. We packed our lunch and soaked in the sun for a few hours. It was a great day! 

Big Dave in the House

Dad has been in town since Thursday from St. Louis and we've been having non-stop fun.  He's a great navigator, house guest, map reader, shooter, napper and Catan opponent.  We've been having an awesome visit and have gotten to do a lot of things that we haven't done yet, including shooting shotguns in Richmond, hiking in the Marin Headlands, having a picnic lunch in Tiburon and going to the Branson school in San Anselmo where Aunt Debby taught from 1946-52.  Cole is so happy to have him here and they've been constant buds the entire time. To top Dad's visit off, tonight he and John hiked up to the mountain from our backyard.  True explorers!  Next time Dad says he's going to go all the way to China Camp.

Arleen & Tom Visit Part 1

Tom and Arleen got here on Monday and they've covered a lot. They've driven up to Wine Country, gone to Triburon, stopped at the Golden Gate Bridge a few times, took a trolley through San Francisco and stopped at Wisherman's Wharf.  We're having a great visit. Here are a few pictures before we left for John's birthday dinner last night.  More to come...

Birthday Boy

We celebrated John's birthday with a day of food yesterday. In the afternoon, he got a surprise from Omaha Steaks from mom and dad. And we ate our faces off at The House of Prime Rib last night in our old neighborhood in San Francisco with Tom and Arleen. And we topped the night off with the After Midnight Chocolate Cake from Citizen Cake.