Valero Family Day 2009

We spent most of the day yesterday

enjoying Valero Family Day

at beautiful Castle Rock Park

in Walnut Creek.

The day began with some

festive carnival games,

where Brad and the boys competed...
but Camille was the ultimate winner!!
After the absolute BEST picnic lunch ever
{BBQ tri tip and fresh, gourmet salads),
everyone but Mom
took a spin on the rock wall.

Camille spent lots of time on

a variety of sweet ponies

while the boys hit the jackpot

at the Bingo table!

Adam is thrilled with his

new garbage can/

secret candy hiding spot

and we're hoping that

Matt's finally found an alarm

that he won't sleep through!

The last hurrah was a trip to the face painting venue

where this rocker chick...

gave Camille this wonderful souvenier!

We had a wonderful day

and got home just in time

to hit the annual Ward BBQ,

which means...

I didn't have to cook ALL DAY!

Yahoo!!!

{that's my kind of weekend...}

Some Serious Laboring... (and playing!)- Labor Day 2009

Today we enjoyed a beautiful day

with our friends, the Quains,

at scenic Muir Woods.

Karen and I hiked the first mile

with the gang,

and then we turned around
to get the cars
while they hiked on to this beautiful spot...
the summit of a five mile hike
that would eventually take them here...
to beautiful Stinson Beach.
(And they did it
without tripping on any of the
more than 534 stairs
on the way down!)
After reuniting we were greeted by
this sea of humanity
on one of the most beautiful
Northern California
beach days ever.
The water was, of course,
freezing cold --
but these bathing beauties
and these beach boys
managed to have a bunch of fun anyways.
Thanks for a great day, Quains!

A New Definition...

barometer n., an instrument for measuring {emotional} pressure and thus forecasting {behavior}.

Camille got in trouble yesterday

{surprise, surprise...}

and had to go to her room.

While she was there,

she worked on a little project.

A barometer of sorts...

just a warning for anyone smart enough

to take a mother's advice -

when this one is showing,

STAY AWAY!!