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My mom called me this morning from Vermont. She was on her way to the Ben & Jerry's factory and wanted to know what flavors I would recommend. How unfair.
My favs are Creme Brulee, Brownie Batter, and Cinnamon Buns...but you probably already knew that.

So what are yours?

Legoland, what else

The top one is on the Fairytale boat ride. She finds it a little scary, can you tell?

The other is the "gold" medal she received after panning for magic crystals.

29 months

My girl is really, really sweet. She's just always up for kisses and hugs and cuddles.

When I laid her down for her nap I said, "You're really sleepy, aren't you?"
She said, "No mommy, I'm not sleepy. I'm happy."

The following are from craft day at the Children's garden at Quail Botanical Gardens . The huge shirt was a smock for painting, but she didn't want to take it off. Probably for the best.

her friend Sydney feeding her because her hands were too dirty

pics from the trip

So fun to see everybody, although it went by way too fast.

happy birthday John!

The freakiest thing happened to me today

I was changing Marlo in the cargo area of the Jeep and a spider landed on my arm. I felt it land, not the tickling of its legs, but the weight of it. I freaked and shook it off me and got Marlo out of there.

I know, they're just spiders, and they're part of the food chain and blah blah blah. But I have a justified fear of all things buggy for two reasons: 1) a moth flew into my ear when I was little and 2) my grandma was bitten by a brown recluse spider.

So I checked all over the back of the car, emptied the diaper bag and poked all around because I didn't want to leave that beast in the car to crawl into Marlo's carseat. But I could not find it.

So we walk across the parking lot and onto the sidewalk (which takes a long time when you're holding hands with a toddler).

We're walking along and I see movement out of the corner of my eye and it's the spider INSIDE MY SUNGLASSES, MILLIMETERS FROM MY EYEBALL.


I threw my glasses on the ground and refrained from stomping on them. I didn't want to kill it in front of Marlo, but I probably should have. It had fangs and looked like this, only hairier:



Sorry you had to see it, but imagine practically batting it with your eyelashes.

We're home...

Today when John dropped us off, Marlo was so excited to get on the plane...

up late on the computer

because I'm up in Napa hanging out with these two...

and I'm really missing these two...

smile & strut

New ride

Happy Grandparents Day

Janet Rose Tarner (Granny)

Helen Golich (Gramma)

I have been blessed with wonderful grandparents. My grandma Helen just turned 86 yesterday and there's no stopping her. My brother, sister and I are her only grandchildren, so needless to say, we've been spoiled. She thinks we're brilliant and if you've met her, I'm sure she's told you just that.

I really miss my mom's parents, my Granny and Pa, who passed when I was barely a teenager. I have so many great memories with them. We went to the coast a lot to see whales and seals. So many camping trips...Granny could get squirrels and chipmunks to eat from her hand. My Pa taught me to fish and how to play all kinds of card games. I think of him every time I do a puzzle and I've taught Marlo to do the outside edges first, just as he taught me. I remember his laugh and how he smelled (Old Spice), and the rough Pendelton shirts he always wore.

My Granny was the most amazing baker...my sister has her cookie jar. I always think of her when I'm the kitchen with my mom and Amy. Sometimes I feel like she's right there with me. She had a great phrase: "Lean over and meet your bites" when we were eating so we didn't spill in our laps. She would also playfully refuse to talk to me if my bangs were hanging in my eyes because "If I can't look at you, child, I can't talk to you". She smelled like Dove soap and White Shoulders perfume. Everything about her was soft; her voice, her hair, her skin.

My aunt Sharon told me that Granny's favorite boy name was Mark. Every boy she had, that's what Granny wanted her to name him. Isn't that funny?

And Happy Grandparents day to our parents, of course! Marlo and Griffin have the best grandmas and grandpas!

Some of my favorite memories are of our parents with their grandchildren. I remember Sabrina, just a baby, falling asleep on my mom at Amy's college graduation and the look on Mom's face was just pure content. Or Wally, walking into a room and just taking Estee from someone and walking out with her without saying a word. Mary doing high kicks to make Marlo laugh. And John waiting for her at the elevator at the airport, every time.

A little late...

Renny got voted out of the Big Brother house Thursday.
If you don't watch it...well I don't know why you wouldn't...but you missed out on the antics of Renny. She is so so crazy and I was dying laughing at her the whole time.
I'm going to miss her. She better get her own show.

day care flashback

I was in daycare as a kid. Most people say "daycare" like it's a bad word, but ours was great. It was run by a couple and their grown children. We did all kinds of things. I remember going to the Exploratorium in San Francisco, and all of us walking across the golden gate bridge. They always had cool stuff for us to do. I remember us sitting around a long, low table, I'm sure with smocks on, and giving us a big pile of shaving cream with a few drop of food coloring and then we'd just go to town.

So I let Marlo give it a try. She loves it of course.

Wild Animal Park

way back on Labor Day.

Happy Birthday Aunt Dianne

Sassy from the beginning...



You know she was the coolest chick at Napa High.

And she's not just cuddling that fish, she caught it.

I hope you have a great day Aunti Di! Thank you for always listening, and supporting and spoiling me! I love you!