Mt Montara Hike

We dressed Sadie in a long sleeve shirt for the first time this summer in preparation for a hike out in the bay area of San Fran. The forecast said that it would be in the low sixties with of course, the possibility of some fog. So here's little Bug dressed in her "warm" clothes... Part way up Mt. Montara--beautiful views over the coastline and bay. It also looks down on the little town of Pacifica. The forecast was slightly off, and for the beginning of the hike I was very happy that I dressed in layers and wore a tank top underneath my long sleeves...

But by the time we made it to the top--which you can see here, with the fog rolling down the crest--it was cold and windy and the sleeves came in very handy!

Higher, higher...

Sadie and Danny, looking at the spectacular views...

Here we are at the top. Danny was very glad to take the pack off after 3.5 miles of straight uphill...! We would've taken a picture of the view from the very top, but it was all fog. Couldn't see a thing until we descended a mile. It was beautiful though, and a little surreal, walking through the fog.

You can see a little of that fog here:

As soon as the wind died down a bit, Sadie conked out. Danny's steps downhill rocked her right to sleep. :)

At the base of the mountain, there were a lot pretty trees...the kind that peel and turn silver under the fallen bark. Tried to capture it on camera without too much success.

Our first 4th of July in California... The main difference between spending it in Oregon versus Cali, is that it's actually HOT here, and you take sunscreen to the parade instead of an umbrella. Also, there are no firework stands, because with the dry grass here, the whole state would combust. :)

Sadie, doing her best Uncle Sam impression...Pretty good, don't you think?

"I WANT YOU!"

Before the Danville Parade...waiting in the shade.
Lots of people watching. Sadie doesn't realize that good, tactful people-watching doesn't include pointing...

Great view from Daddy's shoulders

Mommy still has the best view :)

Daddy took her up close to see the horses..

Parade was followed by meltdown, nap, and pooltime, in that order.

You have to grill on the 4th. To not would be unpatriotic. Danny, grilling jerk chicken skewers, chili-garlic shrimp, and vegi skewers.

The little one and I. It looks like she may be trying to escape. Don't worry, Bumbo is holding her down...

Fruit salad, Peach iced-tea, roasted vegis,
homemade coleslaw and warm potato salad, skewered chicken, shrimp and vegis...What a feast! I decided to go all out with dinner--you have to when you have no family to celebrate with! It helped it to feel like a "normal" 4th of July :)

Followed much later by some fresh peach cobbler and vanilla ice cream :)

We had a great 4th of July...Strange as it was to spend it away from family and friends! We made enough food to feed you too--why didn't you come? haha... :P Can't wait to see you all soon! :)

Angel's Camp Vacation, Day 1: Big Trees State Park Trail

We couldn't check into our hotel until four, so we decided to go on a hike east of Angel's Camp in Big Trees State Park. We had picked out a five miler (we had read that it had good shade and some of the world's biggest trees), with plans to return to our hotel before dinner. Or more importantly, before game 7 of the NBA Finals... ;-)

Danny and Sadie at the beginning of the hike. Sadie is entranced by water. Fountains and streams are her favorites.

Sadie loved looking at all the trees. She talked Daddy's ear off the whole way there.

There were Dogwood trees everywhere!

I was going to get in this tree, but found it filled with bugs, so I decided against it.. :P

Sadie's having fun..

She points at everything. Talks, and points, talks and points! "Da da da DuH!"

Telling Daddy where to go.

Pointing into a big fallen tree.

Again the point...

Sadie was sad on the way home, so Mommy had to carry her.

Relaxing after the hike...

Sadie's First Trip to the Zoo

Last week Sadie and I went with our friends Nicole, Audrey and Connor to the Oakland zoo. It was Sadie's first time and she loved it! Here we are riding the train around the zoo.

Petting the goat with the big kiddos

These bats were huge!

Sadie, watching the bats. Serious business.

Watching the crocodiles!