Busy with Friends

Last week I was lucky enough that the stars all aligned and I could help out my best friend (and college roomie) with her kids during the week in San Ramon. My kids had the week off for Fall break, BONUS!! Her mother-in-law normally helps a lot but was on vacation for the week, so I jumped in to help! We had SOOOO much fun! I was "mom" to all four of the kids during the day, and they played NON-STOP for 3 days!!! And didn't want to leave!!

So nice to be close to those I love and care for these days to be able to do things like this!!

This is her little guy, Connor (18 mos)-- Such a love!~!

 Maddy loved their patio swings

 Abby loved worm hunting in the backyard

 Cailin and I even got out one night for a drink without the kids!!

10+ years, both married and 4 kids later.....STILL no surprise, we are super close!

 Duck pond visit (sad, her daughter Sienna was in preschool the days I took pics...)

Monterey Navy Ball

Two weeks ago was the Monterey Navy Ball.

Mike's mom Susanne came to stay with us, and doubled as a babysitter that night so we could escape to the event. The Ball was held at the Naval Post Graduate School campus, in the old Del Monte Hotel.

Drinks in the Trident Room Bar downstairs before the event with our neighbors!!

 The end of the evening.....a few drinks later :) GREAT night out!!

Thank you Grandma Smith for the awesome grandma-sitting!!

LOOSE Tooth!

This kid has her first LOOSE TOOTH!!!!

Bottom center! The wait for it to fall out is on!!!

Golf Time!

Last month I volunteered thru Abby's school PTA for the local Pebble Beach and Del Monte "First Tee" golf tournament. I drove around Del Monte with a friend on a golf cart, refilling water bottles in coolers and emptying trash bags!! Real pros on site!!

Dinner with Friends

WOW.....so you know I've been busy since I haven't posted anything in a VERY LONG time!!!

Early October we finally got around to a dinner date with our good friends Dan & Jessica (long time Navy friends and now neighbors here) First we took them to our wine tasting room, then off to the Rocky Point Restaurant in Carmel for dinner! What views!!!

Lucky us we got there just in time for sunset on the cliffs.

The PERFECT Package!!

Mike had a box delivered yesterday and it just so happens to fit TWO girls!

When life gives you a box of packing popcorn......your kids want to get in it!!!

 Hmmmm.....where should we send them.........???!!!!

Out to Dinner FUN

Yesterday we were in San Jose for Abby's dr. appt (Finally got into a Stanford Pediatric Dermatologist.....nothing serious, just getting the skin condition under her arm assessed; all is well)

The BONUS was we were in a real "big" city and could eat and shop!!

Monterey is great.....don't get me wrong.....but it lacks many of our favorite CA stops!!

A real mall......IN-N-OUT.......CHEVYS.....and many others!!

So we indulged at Chevy's, and went shopping!

Duck, Duck......Miss Piggy???

 The girls were playing duck-duck-goose the other night before bed....with their stuffed animals!

They are creative and have the best built-in playmates!!

Spirit Days!!

 Every Friday Abby has spirit day at school!

= one less day I have to battle what to wear with her......school shirts are AWESOME!!!

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park & Waterfall

We took a day trip down to Big Sur this past Sunday

Destination was the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

It has a 1/4 mile trail to walk out a waterfall view

Gorgeous day with beautiful scenery!! A must see if you are in the area!!

Pacific Grove- Tide Pools

My sister-in-law took some great photos over their visit here Labor Day weekend!

Here are some from our morning trying to explore the tide pools in Pacific Grove!

Our big finds were lots of sea anemones and a TON of hermit crabs ! Abby's favorite to catch and hold, play with......she would have taken a dozen home if we'd let her!! (no starfish, Maddy's favorite)

Abby and cousin Ethne were the most adventurous with the sea creatures!

Almost half (5 of 11) of the Smith grandchildren on one rock

 And US!!

Sunday Family Bike Ride

After my dad left this morning, and Mike finished up writing a paper......we ventured off on the bikes again! This time we rode North of Monterey, and did 12 miles round-trip!

We finished it off, locked the bikes up and treated the kids to a beach visit, which was right off the bike trail! A Monterey first for us!

Gorgeous day......and they loved it! Maddy loved the sand and Abby loved the kelp!