Out of the Mouths of Babes

 I was holding both girls in my lap tonight just joking around with them and Maddie was being dramatic. She kept saying, "I scared. I scared!"

I kept telling her there was nothing to be scared of. Suddenly, she grabs the front of my shirt, pulls it open, looks down and says, "Mom scary boobs!"

Thanks Mad. 

After that little episode, we've moved to the floor and Charley is "flying" on my feet. This is our conversation:

Charley (as she's flying in the air): "Mom, I know almost anything (meaning everything)"

Me: "Oh really Charley?"

Charley: "Yeah, anything except what you tell me."

Hmmm. I'm trying to decide if she meant that when I tell her about something she doesn't know about that that would fall under "except what you tell me", or if she's just being honest and letting me know that she remembers everything except what I've told her. You know, selective memory? If my experience holds true, I'm leaning toward the later!

Gotta love 'em - the little darlings.

The long road home.

As it was a vacation of sorts, we made the decision to drive down the PCH to go home. It tacked on a few hours to our trip (!), but it was a good choice. We had lunch in Monterey, missed 17 Mile Drive around Pebble Beach because we were running out of daylight (sad, but we’ll catch it next time), and ended our day in a blaze of glory. Literally. I could have taken shot after shot the drive was so beautiful. Luckily (for you) we ran out of daylight half way down! We hit some pretty intense fog in the darkness that freaked Charley out a little bit, but, other than that, I would recommend the drive to all.

Smile Charley, smile!

Can you spot the lighthouse?

Our little angels were exhausted when we got home, but they were so excited to see the Christmas tree was still there that they refused to go to their beds!

Golden Gate Bridge

We took the long loop back to Berkeley just so we could show the girls the Golden Gate Bridge. Charley loved it!

 

My cute family – San Francisco in the background.

Action shot.

Charley’s new pose. She refuses to show her teeth in pictures anymore because, “Ladies don’t smile like that Mom!” Oh, my. I’m really in for it with this one.

Me with America’s next top model.

My Maddie.

Alcatraz

Palo Alto/Stanford

We had a great Thanksgiving this year with just my brother Steven’s family. Thanks guys!

As Ameri had the next day off, we decided to take advantage of that rare gift and go up to Northern California to check out some of the schools up there that Ameri is applying to. As Ameri was going to take a class at Cal State Berkeley on Monday, we decided to stay in a nice hotel on the water there. In my opinion, it was the only redeeming thing about the city of Berkeley! I’m sure many would disagree with me about the place, but I’m hoping we don’t end up there . . . people are crammed together like sardines and it is one dirty, ugly city! But . . . that’s just my opinion!

On a better note, we also had the opportunity to visit Palo Alto and the Stanford campus. Wow. Wow. Wow. I fell in love instantly!

Charley introduces us to Stanford University. . . a HUGE campus!

The Main Quad – isn’t it gorgeous?  

Someone needs a haircut!

Even the ladybugs liked us! :)

My Princess Diana shot.

At Play.

After Charley’s Thanksgiving feast at her preschool, we decided to go and enjoy the great outdoors. Well, it’s definitely not like the great MONTANA outdoors where I grew up, but our lovely, local, manicured outdoors suffice! :) Regardless, we give thanks to God for our little slice of Heaven. As a matter of fact, as we were walking around the gardens Charley said, “Mom, I think this is what God’s garden looks like.”

I couldn’t agree more Charley!

Charley wanted to take a picture.

Checking out our next real estate purchase . . . if only!

Hills. Need I say more?