tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-248782212024-02-08T03:19:49.810-08:00Taylor Kennedy IsaacsMy Life and TimesShannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-69568248648644820862010-04-08T13:37:00.000-07:002010-04-08T14:15:52.297-07:00Easter, Lilies, & Tide Pools<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I couldn't think of an interesting title.<br />Of all the things that should inspire a good blog post,<br />those would seemingly be high on the list.<br />Unfortunately, this will be another post of mainly photos.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/eastereggs2.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/easter20101.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A photo with our pastor.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04175.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br />The calla lilies are in bloom. We planted a small calla lily last year and it has grown like a wild weed to 300x its original size. That means lots of fresh cut flowers for the house.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/callalily1.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/callalily3.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/callalily2.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The weather is warming up - time for another trip to the tide pools.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/cabrillioapril1.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/cabrilloapril3.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/cabrilloapril4.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/cabrilloapril5.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/cabrilloapril6.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/cabrilloapril7.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/cabrilloapril8.jpg" /><br /></div></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-66599098604625247952010-03-26T14:57:00.000-07:002010-03-26T17:37:00.023-07:00Fabulous Four!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04104sm.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday, Princess!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04112c.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We hadn't been to Chuck E. Cheese's in a year.<br />Yes, very unoriginal, and we also went there for her 3rd birthday,<br />but she kept seeing commercials on T.V. for it and saying,<br />"We haven't seen Chuck E. Cheese's in a long time."<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04113c.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04119c.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04120sm.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Gianna came to celebrate, too!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04105sm.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04109sm.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Princess shoes! Thank you, Uncle Bobby, Aunt Kristen, and Gianna!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04151sm.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> And now Barbie, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White can cruise!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04159sm.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Easter dress from Grandma & Grandpa Isaacs. So cute. Thank you!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04124sm.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04133sm.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04134sm.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Aunt Lauralee made me a colorable princess quilt!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04143sm.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It even has my name on it!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04150sm.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And it's perfect for laying on while I watch <span style="font-style: italic;">Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs</span>!<br />Thank you, Aunt Lauralee!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04146sm.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-92019971815354006882010-03-19T17:49:00.000-07:002010-03-26T15:27:30.707-07:00Happy St. Patrick's Day, and Other Festive Things...... because I am way behind on my blogging and have a lot I am going to throw in this post.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/pattysday1.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We took a relaxing trip up to Julian on St. Patrick's Day.<br />There were daffodils growing wild all over.<br />It was a beautiful spring day - with lots of green to be seen.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/Crayon.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Taylor with her King's Kids class, enjoying a St. Patty's Day party.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/pattyparty1.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/pattyparty7.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Tea Party! Thank you Nana and Papa!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04093.jpg" /><br /><br />We headed up with enchiladas and cupcakes to see Kristen And Gianna.<br />These letters were my first attempt at using the Cricut machine.<br />So many uses. I can't wait for more projects.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04076.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04087.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04089.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />We took a trip up to the mountains looking for snow.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04045.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">There wasn't much more than enough to make a few snow balls,<br />but it did start to lightly snow while we were up there.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC04048.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/snowday1.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The great thing about Southern California is,<br />as soon as you come down the mountain,<br />you can hit the beach.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/shelterisle2sm.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/pelican1sm.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Another party for Taylor. See, I told you I was behind.<br />This was in lieu of Valentine's Day, of course.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/valsm.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/valsm10.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Kennedy & I attended a Valentine banquet at the church.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC03905.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/us2.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC03910.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Well, that's the last month in a nutshell. Sorry the reading was concise and dull. I have been working on the computer all day and my eyes are burning.<br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-83265947877209700132010-03-05T17:15:00.000-08:002010-03-05T18:00:41.316-08:00It's that Time of Year Again...<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/disney2010_3sm.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Well, it was February...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />tax return time, 2fer promotion time, and low season time<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">=<br />Disneyland time!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A weekday in February is the absolute, best time to go to Disneyland. Virtually no lines. The only one we really waited for was the Finding Nemo submarine ride, and still, that was only 15 minutes. Considering it is one of the longest rides at Disneyland, that was nothing.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">(She's in funky smile stage right now.<br />When you ask her to smile she does weird things with her mouth.)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/disney2010_4sm.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">With the 2fer deal, we got to go to Disney California also.<br /><br />(There's another funky smile)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DC2.jpg" /></div><br /><br />Taylor didn't remember much from when we went to that place last year (Disneyland was much more memorable for her than Disney California), so it was like she was watching the Playhouse Disney show for the first time. I wish I had gotten video - she was totally amazed.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC03984.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC03986.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DC1.jpg" /></div><br /><br />She met Cinderella this time. She was pretty excited. Cinderella was her new favorite princess for a day after this.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DC3.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC03990.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/DSC03995.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Disneyland... it's like the first time, every time.</span><br /></div></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2010/disney2010_1sm.jpg" /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-90114645541301544172010-02-08T14:28:00.000-08:002010-02-08T20:03:50.982-08:00Sharing is Caring<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/lollipop.jpg" /></div><br /><br />One of the qualities I most wanted to foster in Taylor was a spirit of love - a heart of compassion, caring, thoughtfulness, and consideration of others. I am not always the best example, but I do my best and pray and watch as the days go by. It warms my soul when I catch her exhibiting uncoerced love.<br /><br />Right now she is all about sharing. It has become her obsession. In fact, she will split her cookies 3 ways to make sure there is enough for Mommy and Daddy. Even if we refuse and tell her she can have the whole thing, she will nibble on it for 20 minutes and ask 15 times, "are you really full, Mommy?" to make sure that there isn't a possibility that she would be eating a portion that could be shared. Also, if her and I are sharing the last of a treat while daddy is at work, you can be sure she will insist we save a bite for Daddy. This is really a great thing for me to see her so serious about, since she is an only child and sharing hasn't been a lesson she's been forced to learn yet.<br /><br />So, when she was halfway through her last lollipop from a Valentine party she went to, it was no surprise that she said she was saving the rest for Daddy. She put it on the desk, determined that Daddy would have the rest when he got home from work. I asked her if I could have a lick. She said, "Yes, but you have to save some for Daddy."<br /><br />That lollipop must have been quite tempting, however, because it wasn't long before she came back for more.<br /><br />I said to her, "I thought you were saving that for Daddy."<br /><br />She thought about it, put the sucker down and asks, "He will share some with me, right Mom?"<br /><br />I laughed, "Yes, he will share some with you, but I think it would be okay if you ate it all."<br /><br />She picked the sucker back up, "I will just lick it, okay, Mom." (By this time she had bit some of the sucker off, so I guess she resolved to only lick.)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">"I will just lick it, so Dad can bite it."<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">What daddy could say no to that. :)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/lollipop.jpg" /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-6932138455039150922010-02-08T14:07:00.000-08:002010-02-08T14:28:04.177-08:00Blue Sky Reserve<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/bluesky2.jpg" /></div><br />After many sick and rainy days, I was itching to get out of the house. Actually, I was much more than itching (think Jack Nicholson in "The Shining."), so we headed to Blue Sky Reserve. It's a nice patch of peace in Poway. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/bluesky1.jpg" /></div><br />The last time we were there, Taylor was small enough to be carried around in a baby pouch. This time she could run and explore. It is a 2 mile hike to the lake, but this time we only made it halfway. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/bluesky4.jpg" /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-53280178338188717122010-01-22T10:35:00.001-08:002010-01-22T16:27:44.425-08:00SurvivalTaylor was the first to catch Strep. For her it was mild - a low grade fever and a couple complaints of "hair in my throat." She was over it in 2-3 days - just in time for her to enjoy Christmas. I was counting my blessings and praising the Lord that she didn't get a sinus, ear, or lung infection as a result. <br /><br />So what does a princess do when she has Strep in her throat? She takes a hot, steamy bath and then has a warm cup of tea with honey, of course...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/sicktea.jpg" /></div><br /><br />Kennedy and I weren't as lucky. I woke up Christmas morning with no voice and the most swollen, sore throat I have had in my life. Two days later I developed a double ear infection and then my left eardrum ruptured. I lost all hearing in that ear for about a week, and had constant drainage. My ears are slowing clearing up, but still feel "full." I don't think I have ever had an ear infection, or at least not that I can ever remember. Maybe my mom recalls one. A few days after that I developed pain in my kidney (post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis), which lasted a few weeks and is only just about gone.<br /><br />Kennedy had his first vacation in 2 years and spent all of it sick as well. I recall we went to bed around 9 o'clock on New Year's Eve. Before we were even over Strep, Kennedy and I then caught something viral, which added sneezing, coughing, and nausea to our list of symptoms. That, at least, only lasted 3-4 days. I think we are in the clear now, but anyways, that is why I haven't posted to this blog since before Christmas. <br /><br /><br />So... the latest around here? Rain, and lots of it! It's a nice change. Our Southern California climate is usually so mild, and predictable. It's a rarity to get a tornado warning, but I heard one actually touched down in Huntington Beach, tearing off a roof and flipping an SUV. That's huge weather news around here! No tornados in Poway, but some significant wind and flooding, and church service was cancelled due to bad weather and flooding in the nursery. A little rain really turns our world upside down here. I imagine people brave snow storms for church service in Minnesota. We are quite dainty and spoiled I suppose.<br /><br /><br />Taylor wanted to play in the rain, at least until she got wet. The thrill of being out in the rain only lasted about 3 minutes, but it was enough time to snap a few pictures.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/rainsmall.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/rain3small.jpg" /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/rain4small.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/rain2small.jpg" /></div><br /><br />The sugar cane didn't fair so well in the wind and rain. Thank goodness, now it HAS to be dealt with. Since the wind knocked most of it down, it shouldn't be too difficult for my husband to finally rid our backyard of the eyesore. :)Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-25558426112132839962009-12-21T09:39:00.000-08:002009-12-21T10:10:15.379-08:00Merry Christmas!<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/merrychristmas.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/dec09037.flv" height="300" width="400"></embed><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/dec09045.flv" height="300" width="400"></embed><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/dec09001.flv" height="300" width="400"></embed><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/merrychristmas2.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/merrychristmas3.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><embed width="400" height="300" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/dec09033-1.flv"></embed></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/dec09022.jpg" /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-30972206781596983022009-12-14T10:29:00.002-08:002009-12-18T09:02:17.795-08:00'Tis the Season<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/lights7.jpg" /><br /></div><br />We went down to Balboa Park on a week night to check out their Christmas decorations. We avoided the December Nights event which was the weekend before, so things were quiet and peaceful.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/lights5.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/lights6.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br />The best part is the beautiful nativity story they have on display in the organ pavilion every year. I hope they have it for many years to come. Sadly, I imagine political correctness will phase it out soon, but for now, there is freedom to walk through it and encounter Bible college students soul-winning. They were out in full force this night. No less than 3 groups approached us with tracts. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/lights2.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/lights4.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/lights3.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/lights1.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br />Next, we swung by a neighborhood near us that puts on a great light display. There is an even better one that we will be hitting up sometime soon, but this one was pretty spectacular too.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/lights8.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/lights9.jpg" /><br /></div><br />These photos don't do it justice, since they were taken from a moving car, but the details were so awesome. Although, I can't help but think of what a mess all those wires look like in daylight.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, and Taylor went to a pajama party at church...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/jamaparty1.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />These are just a few of the things we've done so far this holiday season.<br /><br />Merry Christmas!<br /><br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-33034199624770461432009-12-07T20:45:00.000-08:002009-12-09T11:24:28.240-08:00Kora - Our Other Child<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/koracuddle1.jpg" /><br /></div><br />We love Kora. All of us do. In fact, the one who was against getting a cat at all, might just love her the most.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/koracuddle3.jpg" /><br /></div><br />Kora is part of the family. She wants to be a part of everything that is happening. When we were painting our pumpkin, there she was laying on the newspaper and batting at the paint brushes. When Taylor gets a new toy, she's right there to experience it. Unfortunately, it also means when I am folding the laundry, she wants to lay on my towels; and when I am cooking I have to lock her in another room to keep her from jumping on the counter;<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And it also means that she has laid claim to our Christmas tree...<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/koratree3.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br />The day that it was brought in I quickly couldn't wait for the day I will be tearing it down. Seriously, I can't imagine two more weeks of her knocking off the ornaments and basically living inside of it - shredding it to pieces and just making a huge mess of it. We had to tie it to a piece of furniture to keep her from tipping it over.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/koratree4.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br />But we love her. She is as fearless as she is friendly and easy-going. She will accept love from anyone and even when she could fit in the palm of our hands, she was chasing after our Rott/Akita, Bailey, to play. She loves that dog - she never tires of chasing him around, but he can only tolerate her for so long before he begs to be let outside for some peace. She does the same to Taylor; hiding under the bed and coming out for a sneak attack. It's amazing how gentle she is with Taylor. Her attacks seem to be so vicious, the way she runs and jumps at her with ears turned back, but she is careful with her claws on her and her bites are always soft.<br /><br />Since Taylor doesn't have a sibling, Kora gets a lot of attention, and a lot of 3 year old torture. Despite being carried, poked, and laid on, and having her tail pulled, she has never lost her temper. I have heard that Siamese cats can be temperamental, so I feel blessed that Kora has settled into a special place in our family.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/smkoracuddle4.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/smlwithkora1.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">She is just what I wanted, and more than Kennedy expected a cat could be.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/koracuddle2.jpg" /><br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-85391269864160342522009-11-30T11:53:00.000-08:002009-12-02T21:36:10.879-08:00Where the Wild Things Are<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/deluz1.jpg" /><br /></div><br />One of the things I have always been very grateful for is the richness of my childhood. There were times we lived in what my mom called "the boonies" - where my sister and I would spend our days exploring the creek, playing house in an empty chicken coop, and never needing to go in for a snack because we would graze all day on fruit from no less than a dozen different kinds of trees (avocados, apples, oranges, peaches, plums, apricots, cherries, grapefruits, lemons, limes, kumquats, raspberries). We also had many oak trees around our property - the evergreen/live oak variety. I was never very fond of them as a child. They seemed quite uninviting with their creepy, twisting branches and little prickly leaves that really made an ugly mess of things when they turned brown and fell off. At least that's the way I used to feel about them while futilely trying to rake and sweep them away from the front porch of that chicken coop.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/deluz6.jpg" /><br /></div><br />Once I grew up and moved to the deserts of Las Vegas, I really missed the oak trees, because I missed trees in general. I still agree with the hand-written sign I read on a highway in Hawaii - "Oak trees do not belong in Hawaii" - but the oak is so woven into the tapestry of my childhood, that I cannot deny the fondness I have for it now. There is a wildness about the oak tree that echoes the wildness of days spent hunting for frogs and guppies under its canopy.<br /><br />Yesterday, after going for a country drive and buying some produce from a road-side stand, we went looking for the old one-room school house in De Luz that I remember as a child.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/deluz13.jpg" /><br /></div><br />It is used by the Fallbrook School District which takes classes out there for a week to learn about the native plant and animal life, as well as the Native American history in the area. <a href="http://home.znet.com/schester/fallbrook/history/memories/de_luz_school.html">Here</a> is more information on the history of the school.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/deluz12.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/deluz5.jpg" /><br /></div><br />I remember having class out there for a week in the 4th grade. We got to write on slates and sit on benches instead of desks. I still have the rodent bones from the owl pellets we dissected.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/deluz22.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br />The playground is gone - probably because the government determined the old, metal equipment was unsafe and they didn't want to replace it and ruin the antiquity of the property(nevermind the concrete steps) - but most everything else seemed unchanged since 1986.<br /><br />We had gone on the 45 minute drive to find this school house twice before, and couldn't. It almost happened again. We found our way to a dead-end road and had to back-track, but I am so glad we didn't give up. The oaks were there in all their glory, and De Luz was living up to its name. We had the place all to ourselves.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/deluz9.jpg" /><br /></div><br />Here we could smell the ancient oaks, hear the sounds of woodpeckers pecking above our heads and leaves crunching beneath our feet, and see a lonely trail lit up by rays of sunshine breaking through the blanket of those twisted limbs.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/deluz8.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We explored that trail and discovered this amazing view...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/deluz2.jpg" /><br /></div><br />...and a number of scat piles from a few different types of animals. Coyote? Bobcat? Mountain Lion? Unfortunately, I left my scat identification book at home, which was probably for the best because I was nervous enough wondering if their owners were not far ahead, or watching us from a bush. Some of that scat looked very fresh.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We did stumble upon some sheep who were very curious about us.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/deluz19.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And some moss.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/deluz10.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/deluz7.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And this great tree we could peer through.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/deluz16.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And another great tree we could sit in.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/deluz21.jpg" /><br /></div><br />Taylor wasn't happy about the picture taking. She just wanted to explore. I think her grumpy face goes perfectly with this grumpy, old tree.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/deluz20.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />There was also this charming wood fence.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/deluz18.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/deluz4.jpg" /><br /><br />(See what I mean about all those little oak leaves. They are wonderful out in the woods, but you don't want an oak tree on your front lawn unless you like a perpetual carpet of toothed, little leaves. )<br /><br /></div><br />Oh, and I can't forget to mention the little bitty post office, which hasn't been used since the the 1950s and makes me sad that things will never be as they once were.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/deluz17.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Combination mail box locks. I love these.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/deluz15.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It was a special day - a peaceful, yet adventurous, memory-making day.<br />The kind you can't help but give thanks for.<br />It's great to live in Southern California;<br />where you are as close to the ocean as you are to the mountains;<br />as close to the snow as you are to the sandy beaches;<br />as close to the city as you are to the country;<br />as close to supermarkets as you are to acres and acres of farmland and tree groves;<br />where there are endless rolling hills and winding roads to get lost in,<br />yet, where big box stores, special events, and amusement parks are just as abundant;<br />where God has blessed the land with fertile ground and mild climate,<br />giving us access to a wide variety of local produce and farmers markets;<br />where the weather is usually perfect...<br /><br />like this clear, 70 degree day in late November,<br />which made the shady trails just right for a light sweater.<br /><br />And where a family can find a magically serene piece of earth...<br /><br />where the wild things are.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03527.jpg" /><br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-44342349222242930542009-11-03T09:22:00.000-08:002009-11-03T14:17:06.122-08:00Halloween - Fall FestivalThis was the first year we dressed Taylor up for Halloween. She had seen a few cartoons leading up to the holiday, so she had a bit of an idea what it was all about. She was excited to dress up and get candy. It wasn't a surprise when she decided she wanted to be Sleeping Beauty. That is her favorite princess.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Remember this picture?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/smallsleepingbeauty.jpg" /><br /></div><br />Yes, she was in awe. She still talks about meeting Sleeping Beauty and the first words Sleeping Beauty said to her, "Hi, little princess." Of course, Taylor is a mute until she warms up to anyone, especially her favorite celebrity, but that day she met Sleeping Beauty is still burned in her memory.<br /><br />I'm not sure why she likes Sleeping Beauty so much. I always thought of all the Disney Princess movies, that one was more about the story than the princess herself. Sleeping Beauty is a baby, sobbing, in a trance, or asleep through 3/4 of her screen time. All the other princesses have character development and time to become endearing. I guess the dancing scene in the woods was all it took for Taylor to get hooked. The first song she knew all the words to was "Once Upon a Dream", and she sings it while she makes her Sleeping Beauty and Prince Philip figure toys dance. She even asks to dance with daddy while she sings it.<br /><br />One day I will get a sewing machine and start making her costumes, but this year I bought an over-priced dress that began unraveling by the end of the night. I'm not sure I would have been ambitious enough to make a Sleeping Beauty dress anyhow.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">(This picture was taken before I cleaned and painted her nails.)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03260.jpg" /><br /></div><br />I was so happy to find these shoes in Target! I was concerned about the shoe situation, since I couldn't imagine her little feet walking around in large dress-up heals for 5 hours. I found these down a toy isle. They are actually play ballet slippers that I could fit around her own shoes. They passed wonderfully as princess shoes and solved our problem - nevermind that each one of them came untied and was lost as some point that night after holes were worn into the bottoms.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03329.jpg" /><br /></div><br />We didn't go trick-or-treating, but we did go down to our church's Fall Festival. Kennedy and I are in the media ministry, so I had to get there early (2:30 PM) to take some photos and video of the set-up.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03382.jpg" /><br /></div><br />Needless to say, by the time the festival started at 4:30 PM, Taylor's crown was off and her curls were long gone. Then, it was all about the jumping...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/MOV03408.flv" height="361" width="600"></embed><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And the games...<br /></div><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/harvestvideo13.flv" height="361" width="600"></embed><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/harvest8.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03385.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The craft table where she made a frame for her souvenir photo.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/harvest27.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/harvest16.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On the Tot Racing track with her friend, Coen. They got a souvenir picture taken together towards the end of the night that was hilarious. Taylor was missing a slipper and had sucker all over her mouth and in her ratted hair, and Coen had a silly look on his face.<br /></div></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/harvest10.jpg" /><br /></div>This is Miss Heather. One of the young ladies that helps out in the Childrens Church. Taylor adores Miss Heather. She is so fun and always so sweet and gentle with Taylor. It takes a long time for Taylor to open up to people, and she is still a mute around Miss Heather, but she loves the attention from her. When we arrived early for set-up, Taylor wasn't expecting to see that Miss heather was now a pirate. She hid behind my legs like she never has before!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03414.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Poway Fire Department brought a large engine out and judged the pie baking contest with our pastor. (Later, someone paid $500 to smash a pie in Pastor's face.)<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Speaking of contests... we won the pumpkin carving/painting contest with this...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03322.jpg" /><br /></div><br />Now, it was a miracle that we got this perfectly shaped pumpkin. We didn't buy our pumpkin until the night before Halloween. We went to 2 grocery stores and they were out. Henry's had a a couple smalls ones and a couple knobby ones, but none that could possibly be used well for Cinderella's carriage. We shot over to Stater Brothers and they had about a dozen odd shaped, rejects left (most without stems), and there were 4 other people there rushing to find the best one. Now, we had already bought all the craft supplies for the project, so I was determined to find what I was looking for... and I did. This pumpkin was hidden between two boxes. The shape and the stem were PERFECT. I was so happy. Do you ever have those moments that you know God was blessing you? Well, this was one of those for me, like He had saved that pumpkin just for us.<br /><br />It would have been nice if Taylor had dressed as Cinderella to go along with our pumpkin carriage and lost slipper, but I couldn't deny her the honor of being Sleeping Beauty.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03333.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03258.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">(I managed to lose her crown, each slipper at different times, and our car keys that night at the festival. Amazingly, by Sunday morning, we had found everything.)<br /></div></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-83694024541320124952009-10-26T15:36:00.000-07:002009-10-26T15:45:15.046-07:00Random Moments of Cuteness<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03290.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/atthepark.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/atthepark2.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03296.jpg" /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03295.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cutepix1.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cutepix2.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cutepix3.jpg" /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-76604013063570558492009-10-23T10:22:00.000-07:002009-10-23T15:42:03.731-07:00Zoo News<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03213.jpg" /><br /></div><br />A couple weeks ago, Uncle Bobby and Aunt Kristen gave us some extra free tickets they had to go with them to the zoo. Unfortunately, Daddy had to work, but it was still a good time. Taylor enjoyed it much more than when she was 2 years old. She was really interested in the animals and was just enthralled in watching them eat and sleep. The San Diego Zoo also just so happened to be offering free child's admission through the month of October, but it wasn't as busy as I expected.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">First stop: the sky tram!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03189.jpg" /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03184.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Taylor said her favorite animal at the zoo was the elephant. They have a new elephant exhibit at the San Diego Zoo, but for some reason I didn't happen to get any pictures of it. I think I was busy lifting Taylor up to see them and listening to her talk about them. One of my favorites, however, has always been the giraffes. I did get some pictures of them.<br /></div><br /><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03197.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We were lucky to get up close and personal with a couple of lions - a male and female. It was awesome. The male, in all his majesty, was just staring at us, right near the glass. The female laid up against the glass, and if it hadn't been there, we could have touched her. I wish I had gotten pictures, because there wasn't a fence to obscure the view, but I was too distracted by the moment to do so.<br /></div><br />Instead, you get a picture of a goat.<br /><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03192.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I am amazed that Taylor didn't catch the swine flu after using one of the combs that are touched by hundreds of kids a day.<br /></div><br /><br />The bears, which are usually sleeping in the shady caves, were out and about.<br /><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03209.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03208.jpg" /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03185.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We stopped for snacks - churros and cotton candy. Upon arriving at the zoo, the first animals we saw were the sea otters, but Taylor noticed a child there with cotton candy, and thus began the hunt for the allusive treat. All the stands seemed to be out of it, so it wasn't until the end of the day that I was finally able to indulge her.<br /></div><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03206.jpg" /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03214.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/smallDSC03195.jpg" /><br /><br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-85061878911707844512009-10-19T14:01:00.000-07:002009-10-22T11:00:29.665-07:00The Sweet End to a Ridiculous Day<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/conecollage.jpg" /><br /></div><br />This is going to be a long, detailed post. I feel it necessary to include all the events of this day, for a better understanding of how nice it was to end up in this beautiful, shady spot with my family, and an ice cream cone.<br /><br />A couple weeks ago I was so excited about hearing of the Pacific Islander Festival. The island girl in me could hear the ukuleles playing and smell the pineapple and pork roasting days before. Even though the Bears game was going to be televised, Kennedy was selfless enough to allow me his Sunday afternoon for this event. It was to be over by 4:30, so that meant we had to hurry home after church to change (and Pastor chose this Sunday to keep us past 1 PM. ) It was 2:15 by the time we made it down to Mission Bay. I researched our parking options ahead of time. There were 3 parking lots with free bus shuttles and paid parking on the island where Ski Beach is located (where the festival was being held). The website advised to forego trying to park in the paid lot, due to limited spaces. We spotted the first free shuttle lot, but were in the wrong lane and already saw 2 buses there picking up passengers. We drove further to find the 2nd lot. It was VERY empty (3 cars) so we weren't even sure that the bus was still picking people up there. We pulled in and as soon as I got out of the car my skirt was in a losing battle with the wind. Thankfully I brought pants along for just such an occurrence. Unfortunately, despite that there were only 3 cars in the lot, one of them belonged to a couple of old men who were sitting at a nearby bench watching me try to change into pants. I worked swiftly, only to jump out of the car and see the bus pulling away. Apparently, the bus was right behind us and wasn't about to wait the 20 seconds it took me to put my pants on. Assuming the buses were on a route and would be back around to the first lot soon, we headed back there. And that's where we waited. And waited - for 20 minutes, with the scent of unattainable pineapple and roasted pork teasing my tastebuds. By this time it was 2:45. Here is Kennedy checking the scores on the game I was making him miss...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/smallPCF.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After we tired of waiting, we decided to just drive to Ski Beach and see about the paid parking. By this time we were considering it worth the $10 to not have to find out how much longer we'd be waiting, and we assumed (need to stop doing that) since the festival was to be over soon, some spots would be available. Well, come to find out, Ski Beach is a headache to find. Driving around that area made my head spin. We backtracked a couple times and ended up on a freeway somehow. When we finally found that parking lot, we were met with orange cones and a sign stating that the lot was full. There was a sea of people walking across the bridge, seeming to be coming from a parking area. Despite that the two day festival was to be over in an hour and half, there were still hundreds of people pouring in. I considered finding some parking and making that long trek across that bridge with the masses for about a half a second. I'd just hold out for next year.<br /></div><br /></div> Once we decided not to go to the Pacific Islander Festival, we set out to find a place to eat. It was 3:00 PM and Taylor was the only one who had eaten a meal that day. So we drove with our eyes peeled. I was in the mood for something tropical, like fish tacos, since I was missing out on my island faire. We thought it would be easy to stumble upon a little place serving fish tacos down around the Bay. It wasn't. We inadvertently ended up in Pacific Beach, where I was reminded of how old I am and how most young people these days make me want to slap some sense into them. We become our grandparents eventually. I never thought it would happen by the time I was 32. Oh the good old days... when gas was under a dollar and kids knew the right way to wear a baseball cap.<br /><br />I caught this happening in the sky as we were driving. Another reminder that there was football going on. It says, "Go Chargers."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/smallpcf2.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So we drove our way out of Pacific Beach and considered checking out the restaurant options in Old Town. We found out after circling the parking lots that while half of San Diego was eating pork at the Pacific Islander festival, the other half was eating Mexican food in Old Town. A ways down the road, just outside of Old Town, we saw a neat looking Mexican restaurant. After doing two u-turns and missing the entrance to their small parking lot twice, we opted out of a 3rd try - it just wasn't meant to be.<br /><br />Somehow we ended up on Intestate 8, heading east, farther and farther from fish tacos. Kennedy kept saying, "Keep a look out for a restaurant that looks appetizing," but I couldn't see much from the freeway. By this time we were so hungry, we gave up on the fish tacos. The farther we drove, the closer we got to El Cajon, and the only time we ever go to El Cajon is to see a lady once a year who does our taxes. I wasn't very interested in visiting more than once this year, so, after stopping there for gas, I had expected Kennedy to get back on Interstate 8 heading west. He didn't. Why head west when you can go so much farther east? And to make a long story short (hahaha), after a bit of a drive later we ended up on an Indian reservation.<br /></div><br />It was 4:00 PM.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Indian reservations in this area have: tribes, rattle snakes, and heat (close to 100 degrees on this particular day). Oh, and casinos. That's where everyone goes to eat and shop. So, we went to the shopping outlets on the property of Viejas Casino. The first restaurant I saw was Rubios. Fish tacos! But, having spent hours waiting to eat, we weren't about to settle on a fast food chain with an establishment within a mile of our house.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There was a pasta/pizza place that I was willing to give in to. In fact, as hungry as a was, I just wanted to shovel in some pasta and bread and be done with it. Kennedy wanted to check out the outlet map. We did. And he found a sushi place. I wasn't super excited. As I expected, it was over-priced and was being made by an 18 year old caucasian kid who told someone he'd been making sushi for 4 months. I thought of our favorite sushi place in Rancho Penasquitos where we could have gotten twice as much food for the price, and much better quality. But, I was grateful to have food in my stomach.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It was a hot day, so we found a nice bench to sit on in the shade. An elderly couple walked by with ice cream cones. That looked refreshing. We found a Cold Stone on the map, but that only led us to a closed-up shop. So we headed up to a place with a sign that said they had ice cream. They didn't. Well, they did, but it was packaged ice cream. So I remembered that we had passed a sign on our walk to the sushi place advertising ice cream cones at KFC for 59 cents. You can't pay me to eat their chicken, but the huge cones of soft serve they were dishing for 59 cents couldn't be passed up.<br /></div><br />Sometimes the best memories are the ones that take a whole day to arrive at.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/smallDSC03135.jpg" /><br /></div><br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-64127891953106398482009-10-05T15:58:00.000-07:002009-10-07T09:09:52.085-07:00First Face Painting<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/tolee1.jpg" /><br /></div><br />They've been running a segment on Nick Jr. between cartoons on how to paint your face like Tolee and Rintoo from the show Ni Hao, Kai-Lan. This has had Taylor amazed and consumed with getting her face painted like Tolee. Tolee is a Koala. Sorry if that is not distinguishable from these photos. Kennedy did a craft run after work one day and happened to pick up face paints, which unfortunately did not include black. Who ever heard of a face paint kit without black. They had gray and white, but no black. The manual that came with it even suggested you can make gray by mixing black and white. How intelligent. Anyhow, their gray was too light and didn't show well against the blue, so I had to use purple.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/tolee2.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br />Taylor had been waiting so long to do this (2 weeks is like 6 months to a 3 year old, especially when the face painting segment comes on everyday to remind you!), so she wasn't too concerned with the change of colors. She was so proud to be Tolee. She acted like she was a movie star.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/tolee3.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br />Of course, someone had to be Rintoo! (Rintoo is a tiger. Not sure how a koala and a tiger are friends in China, but the kids like it.) Daddy was a good sport. The finished product was horrid, so I did not take pictures of that.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-11720898908496921372009-10-05T12:13:00.000-07:002009-10-07T09:10:08.504-07:00Fall is a Favorite<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/bates1.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I remember going on field trips to Bate's Nut Farm as a child. It was<br />a family tradition, along with fall trips to Julian for apple picking.<br />A lot has changed in 20 years - many more people than I remember.<br />I guess word has gotten around. But the store and the petting zoo are<br />still there, and the pumpkins are still growing. There was kettle corn,<br />and funnel cake, and pies, and of course, nuts. They've added pony rides,<br /> air jumpers, and a climbing wall, but we stuck with the traditional tractor hay ride.<br />Check it out before the season is over!<br /><a href="http://www.batesnutfarm.biz/content.php?content_id=1011">Bate's Nut Farm Website</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03155.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03158.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03157.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03156.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03177.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We're growing the bangs out. It's a process.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03179.jpg" /><br /><br />I just realized how creepy goat eyes are.<br />Three goats nearly knocked me over trying to get the bag of food.<br />I was lucky to get some into Taylor's hand before they ravaged it.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03180.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03173.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03167.jpg" /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/smallbates13.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/bates2.jpg" /><br /></div><br />There was a lot of whining while daddy was taking these pictures. Taylor wanted to go on the hay ride and we told her she could if she smiled for some photos with mommy. We ended up with a lot of fake smiles and more whining. She is in a whining stage. Hopefully she outgrows it soon; however, I believe it may be payback. I can remember whining at amusement parks as a child, but in fairness, I do have weak ankles, and I would get painful shin splits halfway through a day of walking. When I told my parents my legs hurt from walking, they thought I was just complaining, but really, I still have the problem. Maybe it stems back to the ankle braces I had to wear as a baby to straighten my feet. Anyway, I digress, Taylor was whining without excuse. :)<br /><br />Since we are talking about whining... something happened the other day...<br /><br />You know your child is growing up when they start out-witting you. After a full day of listening to Taylor whine about EVERYTHING, and knowing she hates to be referred to as a baby these days, I got fed up and asked her, "Are you a baby or a big girl? Babies cry and wear diapers. Do you want to cry and wear diapers or do you want to be a big girl?" She then asks, "Is Sleeping Beauty a baby?" Remembering the movie, I replied, "Yes, she was a baby, but she grew up to be a big girl princess." To which her response was, "Sleeping Beauty cried with the fairy godmothers." (Sleeping Beauty, the big girl, did cry when she found out she was betrothed.) CHECKMATE.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-28381371256347460152009-09-27T20:58:00.000-07:002009-09-27T21:03:28.866-07:00Cousin Emma Turns 1<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/emmabday.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Happy Birthday, Emma!</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Wish we could be there to celebrate with you!</b></span></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-33544209350394254902009-09-21T12:58:00.000-07:002009-09-21T14:06:17.625-07:00Cabrillo National Monument<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo58.jpg" /><br /></div></div><br />Sorry, this is going to be a long post, but won't have as much reading as "Book It". We went to Cabrillio National Monument last weekend and there were just so many photo opportunities. It was a perfect day.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo63.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo60.jpg" /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo61.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo59.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo54.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo53.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo55.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo49.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo35.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo2.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo30.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo9.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo8.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo6.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo31.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo33.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><br />The first time Kennedy and I went to the Cabrillo National Monument it was actually to see the tide pools. I was 9 months pregnant then, wearing flip flops, and trying to find my center of gravity from rock to slippery rock. The tide was too high to explore the tide pools this time, but we found some great treasures on the rocky shore anyhow.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo22.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo29.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo15.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo16.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo48.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br />I went through the day snapping pictures and noticing a haze in some of them that I just assumed to be a glare. It was a bright day and light was bouncing off the wet rocks, so I was regretting that I left my camera hood in the car. Well, turns out it was actually a smudge on the lens and it showed up in nearly all my pictures. :( In most of them you can't tell after the resizing, but in some it is a very obvious blur (like the sea snail shot above.)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo42.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br />This cute dress was a hand down from one of Taylor's friends at church. This was the first day she wore it and after a while out it was apparent that the straps needed to be adjusted. Unfortunately, the knots were too tight to undo while we were out, so Taylor went strapless all day. Oh well, it was the beach.<br /> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo25.jpg" /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo24.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo40.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo19.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo46.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo3.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo56.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/cabrillo57.jpg" /><br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-69732234642945275962009-09-17T14:38:00.000-07:002009-09-21T13:04:23.071-07:00Bubbles - Featuring Taylor's Lips<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/blowbubbles6.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/blowbubbles.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/blowbubbles5.jpg" /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/blowbubbles4.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/blowbubbles2.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/blowbubbles3.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/blowbubbles7.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/blowbubbles8.jpg" /><br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-79049847724148638642009-09-17T14:19:00.000-07:002009-09-17T16:06:34.438-07:00Beating the Heat<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC02961.jpg" /><br /></div><br />We had some pretty hot temperatures (over 100) around here for a bit. Since we don't run the air conditioning, we had to find creative ways to stay cool. Kennedy came up with the wet bandanna idea. Taylor loves it. She even had me make her a pirate patch to complete the look, but I didn't get pictures of that.<br /><br />Daddy also decided on the hair braids, which he patiently did. She had them in for a couple days.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/thetiti1.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03018.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/smsummerbraids.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC03016.jpg" /><br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-9089859007720044372009-09-17T13:25:00.000-07:002009-09-18T15:18:30.918-07:00Booking it<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC02786.jpg" /><br /></div><br />Ok... have you seen this show? Yo Gaba Gaba? I tried to find a good video clip in case you hadn't, but I couldn't find a decent one. It is bizarre. The characters are strange, and well... it's just plain weird. I know "bizarre", "strange", and "weird" are pretty much the same adjectives, but it's just really something you have to see to understand what I am talking about. I thought it was produced in a foreign country like Teletubbies was, but even more foreign, like... Singapore. Nothing against Singapore, but seemed like the problem could have been something was just lost in translation. But no, it's just plain old United States weird. Taylor only first saw an episode of it a few weeks ago by accident.<br /><br />A couple weekends back Kennedy and I took Taylor to a bookstore to pick out a book. She's three now, so I really want to get her interested in a variety of books. I set out to find some classics. She tends to be attracted to books that have characters she recognizes, so this time I planned to keep her out of the section with Disney and other cartoon characters from the shows she watches. I headed for the Dr. Seuss/Beatrix Potter/Eric Carle sections.<br /><br />Daddy went a different direction, not knowing my agenda. Taylor followed him. After mulling over the options, I went to find the duo... perhaps they had found a treasure. Well, there they were... in the cartoon character book section, surrounded by Dora the Explorer and the Disney Princesses. Taylor was holding the only Yo Gaba Gaba "book" that Barnes & Noble carried. I put that word in quotes because it isn't really a book. There isn't a story. It opens up and folds out with character descriptions and has little paper punch-outs. (Which, I might add, were all torn or lost within 2 days.)<br /><br />She wouldn't let go of it. We tried to distract her with other books. We were even willing to compromise with Dora the Explorer. She wouldn't have it. She didn't cry or pitch a stubborn fit. She just kept stating very calmly that she didn't want any book except that Yo Gabba Gabba monstrosity. (Yes, I added the word monstrosity.)<br /><br />So, we walked out of Barnes & Noble with likely the worst child "book" they carry. I'm sure we looked like intelligent parents.<br /><br />I wish she had never seen that show. I suppose it could be worse. Could be Pee Wee's Playhouse...<br /><br />EDIT: Here is a link to a Yo Gabba Gabba clip. It is no wonder the country is becoming filled with the OCD of complusive hand washing and use of hand sanitizer. The germs in this video could traumatize a 3 year old.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.yogabbagabba.com/#/dont-eat-me">Don't Eat Me!</a><br /><br />This one isn't as bad as the clip "Don't bite your friends". Apparently, biting is a serious problem in the kid circles these days.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-46717231648728720112009-08-19T13:17:00.000-07:002009-08-19T13:44:33.108-07:00Birch AquariumMy Meetup group took a trip to Birch Aquarium this week. Being summer, it was busy... lots of kids. I thought Taylor would enjoy it more than she did. She saw the ocean on our way there and just couldn't get it off her mind. I tried to dissuade her interest by showing her all the amazing things in the tanks...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/birch11.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/bircha1.jpg" /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/bircha2.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/bircha7.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">...but she couldn't get her mind of that "lotion" (ocean). She just kept saying, "I wanna go to the beach." She did recognize Dory from <span style="font-style: italic;">Finding Nemo </span>though. That interested her for a couple minutes. Dory lives in one of my favorite tanks at Birch.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/bircha4.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It's so colorful.<br />("I wanna go to the beach, Mommy.")<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/bircha9.jpg" /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/bircha8.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">("Can we see the 'locean', Mommy.")<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/bircha13.jpg" /><br /></div><br />These seahorses amaze me! Everything in the center of this photo is part of a seahorse. You think you are looking at a bunch of kelp, but no!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />("I wanna go to the beach, Mommy.")<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/birch10.jpg" /><br /><br />("Can we see the 'locean', Mommy.")<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/DSC02851.jpg" /><br /></div><br />We weren't really dressed for the beach, so I bought her a distraction. It worked. I tried putting it on her wrist as a bracelet, but she wanted to "make it fly".<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/bircha14.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />It was nice to see the "locean" today...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/bircha16.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-49109048881580938612009-08-19T12:20:00.000-07:002009-08-19T12:48:50.638-07:00Mission Bay<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/missionbay3.jpg" /><br /></div><br />After a Sunday of driving aimlessly, we ended up in an area of Mission Bay we'd never been to before. Sunday drives often lead us to great treasures. I remember Sunday drives with my parents as a kid. I liked to drive around in the hills and see the huge mansions with their immaculate landscaping. There are a lot of those to admire here in Southern California, but...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;" font="" >"I've got a mansion just over the hilltop;</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;" font="" > In that bright land where we'll never grow old;</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;" font="" > And some day yonder we will never more wander</span>;<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;" font="" > But walk on streets that are purest gold."</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/missionbay2.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Wandering around San Diego isn't so bad. Who needs Bora Bora!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/missionbay4.jpg" /><br /><br />Until we walk on streets of gold,<br />we'll enjoy the beautiful views we find wandering this land.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/missionbay.jpg" /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24878221.post-41755456635208756652009-08-19T12:04:00.000-07:002009-08-19T12:19:27.473-07:00Birdhouse<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/taylorkennedy/2009/birdhouse1.jpg" /><br /></div><br />Daddy brought home some craft projects for Taylor after work one evening. She couldn't stand that she had to wait until the next day to paint her birdhouse. Hopefully the birds who frequent our backyard have an appreciation of colorful, abstract art.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541829585334500395noreply@blogger.com0