Happy 2nd Birthday Marlo!

I can't believe this day is already here. She has grown so fast.

I love all the funny things she says, her vivid imagination and her sweet little spirit. She is such a happy little girl.

Always, but today especially, I am so thankful and so proud to be her mom.

More from today

Marlo actually went on rides this time. I think it had something to do with wanting to be just like her cousin Estee.

Retro...

These are from my Aunt Di and Uncle Bob's wedding in 1978.

I love everything about these photos! I love the dresses and the flowers in Dianne's hair, my brother's smirk, how my dad and Bob look like they're packing pistols, and that I look like Marlo ;)

My mom was pregnant with Amy. Look at my face: completely oblivious to how my life would soon change. I would no longer be the center of attention. Roly-poly baby Amy would come and steal the show!

Cravings...

So I just watched Iron Chef tomato challenge and I have decided that I CANNOT go through another summer without homegrown tomatoes.

Store bought ones just don't cut it. And even if we had a decent Farmer's Market, what's available there is a far cry from a warm, sun-ripe tomato from your backyard.

I grew some a few years ago in an Earthbox and the two plants I had in there totally took over our porch. I had tomatoes every day and made salsa all the time.

Unfortunately, the amazing Earthbox cracked in our move. It would have been of little use here anyway, as nowhere on our patio gets full sun.

As I see it, I only have two options: get another Earthbox and beg somebody to let me put it in their yard, or place an ad on Craiglist and beg someone to let me buy tomatoes from their garden.

Fortunately I've got a few more months to figure it out.

Blowing bubbles

she's figuring it out.

The other day I peeked in on her in her room. She was standing at her closet, staring at her shoes.

She put her little finger to her chin and said, "Let's see....uummmm..."

Last weekend

took this while we were waiting for a breakfast table in Encinitas. It was really hot and windy and the service was horrible. But still, we had a lot of fun and I got a few cute photos out of it.

More Yuba photos...

Marlo loved playing the backyard and playing peek-a-boo with Grandpa.

YCHS Baby!

We went by the high school to see if we could get any good Honker gear.

I made Mary pose by the soda machine because at my high school, our soda machines just said "Coke" or "Pepsi". They weren't labeled with our mascot. But here, it was everywhere you looked!

There is no greater pride than that of a Honker...and rightly so...

More Napa photos

Playing with Hana, my friend Harvest's daughter...



Another photo off the deck. We should do a compilation of these...


Her special spot...

My birthday...

I was in Napa on the fourth, so I got to celebrate with my family. My niece Heather sent me the MOST beautiful bouquet!

My mom made a lemon meringue pie for me. Marlo ended up sticking her finger in it, of course.

My brother, his wife and son and my niece all came over for dinner. We had my absolute favorite: raviolis and malfottis from Lawler's liquors, where you can buy booze, rent a video, and get Italian food all in one place. Not very classy, but rather tasty.

Mike and Dana also brought me a slice of cake from Buttercream bakery, pure heaven.

Luke turned one!

We went up to Napa for my nephew's first birthday party. He is the sweetest, smiliest little boy!

Tonight we went out to Chinese food. Marlo enjoyed edamame and was very focused on using chopsticks.

Here is her fortune: