Weekend BBQ

So cute!!

Fun with food

Olivia has finally taken some interest in feeding herself which translates to rice crackers and bananas in her hair and stuck to the underside of her shirt.

San Francisco

Alisa and Olivia on a cable car in San Francisco. Olivia must have made twenty new friends just sitting there and smiling. The world seems like such a friendly place when we're traveling with her.

On the down side, Olivia's growing awareness of the outside world makes her far less patient with long car rides, confined to her seat without much to do. Gone are the days where she could sleep through an entire outing, leaving us nothing to do but gaze at her angelic, slumbering face.

Still, we fared well, trading off baby-appeasement duty in the back seat. I see more road trips in our future.

Oh, and let's not forget misson burritos at La Cumbre. They say they're the creators of this San Francisco treat, though I've since learned the claim is disputed. Never mind the history, the burritos were delicious.

Portland to San Francisco, Carmel and Back!

Yes, it was ambitious. Drive to San Francisco, then to Carmel, and back in five days. With a baby. Sure, why not?

Chris & Olivia in Maxwell, CA, the site of our imaginary cafe in the middle of nowhere.


Olivia in our hotel in San Francisco.

Investigating acorns at a rest stop along the way.

Olivia's new favorite toy, a frog we named Dr. Katz, pondering the parking lot in SF.


At Fisherman's Warf in S.F. Chris is thrilled.

That's Alcatraz behind us.
In Carmel: Olivia, obviously impressed with the grandness of the ocean.

The reason for the trip: The wedding of my step-brother Casey & Lauren.

At the reception at Holman Ranch in Carmel.
The babies.
Olivia & Ava.
And what a wonderful homecoming after a 15-hour drive: my sunflowers bloomed!


Oh, and Olivia's two bottom teeth finally came in! Yeah! So cute.