Ahhh nature...

I absolutely love going up to the mountains, where Frank and Dusty live, to watch Chase's sporting events. I love it not only because I want to support my nephew but because where they live is like a little get-a-way. The drive up is scenic and once there I enjoy being out in nature. Saturday, Morgan and I went and watched Chase play baseball.

Wildflowers were growing along the side of Dusty's driveway so I let Morgan investigate.

That evening Dusty, Chase, Morgan and I went to a friend's BBQ. Morgan meticulously picked up pine needles one at a time and handed them to our friend Joyce. Joyce graciously obliged Morgan's gifts for about 45 minutes which I really appreciated because it allowed me to enjoy a glass of wine.

Eventually Morgan's pile was too big for Joyce to hold so Dusty found Morgan a basket. It was cute because Morgan carried the basked around with one hand while she used her other to continue to collect pine needles. This was great practice for Easter Egg Hunting!

Dining Al Fresco!

Thanks to the beautiful weather, our backyard has become a wonderful extension of our house. We've been eating on our back patio more nights than not.

After dinner is play time.

Maggie loves everyone playing outside too!

It's been fun watching Morgan discover the backyard. Tonight she enjoyed picking up large rocks and throwing them :)

We usually play outside until it starts getting dark.

Sometimes we play in the front yard but this usually ends with Morgan trying to make a mad dash into the street.

Dad has to stand guard against our determined little girl.

Daddy and Morgan's Hair

Ever since Morgan was born, Daniel has asked me to brush her hair for him even when he gives her a bath or gets her ready for day care. He doesn't mind bathing her, dressing her, or doing anything really except brushing her hair. A couple of months ago after giving her a bath he called me in to brush her hair when it finally dawned on me that there's no reason he can't do it. I finally told him this and left the room. I came back a little later to find this.

I know what he was doing. He did the worst possible job, in hopes of me not wanting him to brush her hair anymore. It didn't work!

And then this past week Daniel called me in during their bath time to show me this.

I was actually impressed with this hairdo.

Grocery Shopping

Sunday has become the day that Morgan and I go to the grocery store. I’m not sure how it happened but it’s become a tradition that Morgan picks out a fruit or vegetable right when we first enter the store. The first time Morgan grabbed a vegetable, she was pretty little still and she grabbed an onion. It was hilarious because everyone in the store commented on how funny it looked for a baby to sit there holding onto an onion the entire shopping trip. The avocado is a favorite fruit/vegetable for her to hold but you should have seen the time I let her have a red bell pepper. She kept biting into it but didn’t do much damage because she didn’t have a ton of teeth at the time. I had at least 3 people warn me that she was eating a red pepper as if I didn’t know. I guess it was pretty upsetting to others that I was letting her “eat” the red bell pepper. One young man let me know that the bell pepper could be spicy. I personally didn’t see what the problem was.

I like our little ritual because it helps keep her occupied and her hands in the cart. Now that Morgan is older and has more teeth, I think it’s still cute that she likes to pick out her fruit or vegetable but by the time I get to the register I have to figure out how to pay for a half eaten piece of produce.

Monterey!

Morgan, Daniel and I just got back from Monterey. Daniel and I rarely take advantage of the fact that we live within a couple of hours from everything from the mountains and snow to beautiful sunny beaches. Our adventure started Friday afternoon with Morgan's first trip to McDonald's where she got to enjoy fries for the first time. I get why it's so easy for parents to take their children to this fine establishment :) because kids will actually eat the food. Too bad it's not more nutritious!


Our good friends, Lee and Fran, joined us for the weekend. We had a great time!

Morgan is a lucky girl because the first hotel she ever stayed in had an ocean front view. Below, Daniel is standing in the doorway of our room. It was great listening to the waves crash as we slept!

This was the view from our room. All we had to do was take a few steps down to the beach.

Over the course of the weekend we ate at some great restaurants. Below Morgan is enjoying Vietnamese.

Saturday, Daniel and I took Morgan to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. We were having some camera issues but I captured Morgan's first reaction while looking at fish in a huge tank. She said "wow" a couple times.

That afternoon Morgan got a brief introduction to the beach and she loved it even though she was practically convulsing because she was so cold!

While waiting for dinner, Daniel and Morgan "texted" and "called" each other on the phone to pass the time.

Finally Sunday morning Morgan actually got to play in the sand. She couldn't have loved it more!

We took a quick lunch break before heading back to the beach.

Morgan enjoyed a carrot cake cupcake!

And then it was back to the beach!

There was a little sand throwing and Morgan even dumped a pail of sand down the front of Mommy's sweater. Morgan is always crawling all over me so I didn't notice when she pulled the front of my sweater open and dumped a pail full of sand down it.

I absolutely loved spending 4 whole days with Morgan! I think she liked it too. She just seemed really happy to have her dad and mom around all weekend.

She had some really special daddy time this weekend and seemed to cuddle with Daniel a little more than usual.