Carter Family Vacation 2010

We took a family vacation to California last week. We drove to Vegas, stayed the night, then drove through to Long Beach to stay with my aunt. Anda was shockingly good in the car, and even slept fine in the pack and play until the very last night when we were on our way back. Not too shabby.

My mom flew out to spend the week with us, which was great. I even got a vacation from the baby for a day.

The first evening we were there, we walked out on the pier.

This guy

came up to me and introduced himself as a Native American. He said he couldn't get past Anda

because her spirit was too strong, and that I needed to listen to it. Then he had me listen to some tribal chanting music on his headphones. I kept waiting for him to ask for money, but he didn't. He also didn't smell like anything...mind altering. He must have been legit.

We had a lot of fun spending time with Juli and her family. We listened to Julian's guitar teacher play at a restaurant and we even got to go to one of his basketball games.

Dan and I left Anda with her Nana on Monday and spent the day on Catalina Island.

Actually, we spent most of the day just off Catalina Island, since we rented a kayak and snorkel gear. The sky was overcast when we started out, so I didn't think to put on sunscreen. That was a bad decision. The weather turned beautiful by noon, and I have the wetsuit tan line to prove it.

We kayaked to Willow Cove with the wind at our backs, where we saw the best fish plus quite a few seals. When we turned around to come back, the wind was not so nice. You can thank Dan for getting us back safely, because my noodle arms were pretty much useless by the end of it. It was really fun, though, and well worth the visit.

The best pictures, of course, were from the beach. We only went one time, but I think that was enough for everyone. The sand was a big hit with Anda, and the water probably would have been too if it had waited its turn and not knocked her over while she was still busy with her buckets.

Dan took her out in the water anyway and I think she had a good time. When she was done, though, she was done, and her word is law. Dan's castle got flooded, too, so we headed home before the tantrums got out of control.

It really was a great trip. I'm sure we will go back in the future.

On Gardening

I made a goal this summer to eat one thing that I've grown, even if I have to eat a dandelion salad. I think my little garden is coming along nicely, if slowly. I've had more successes than failures (I'm looking at you, carrots) and if all else fails, I can at least use the herbs, tiny as they are.

A couple of things survived being transplanted from my indoor seedling group: the basil and a single cilantro plant, along with a painfully slow-growing watermelon.

I'm also trying peas again, which are very quick growers.

I threw down some cilantro, basil, carrot, and pumpkin seeds, too. The cilantro and pumpkin decided to sprout.

And I bought a couple of small bell pepper and tomato plants from a nursery. I am insanely proud of that little tomato. I wedge it into every conversation I have, and sometimes into conversations that strangers are having.

My best grower, by far, is this guy. I didn't invite him to the party, and for all I know he is just an extremely hearty and thick weed, but he sure is healthy looking.

I will eat him if I have to.

Stewart Falls

Over the weekend, we hiked up to Stewart Falls. It was beautiful and I'm surprised I'd never been there before. If Anda looks a little dopey, it's because she started crying on the drive to the canyon and then rubbed the tears and sunscreen into her eyes. When will she learn?

The trail

The top

The bottom

Water Park

We got season passes to Seven Peaks for the summer. I plan on spending a lot of time there instead of in our not air-conditioned house.

We spent the afternoon there on Saturday, and toward the end we thought we should try taking Anda down one of the big water slides. I went down first so I could be at the bottom when Dan came down with her. I saw them coming down the shoot in their tube, but when they hit the splash down pool, I only saw the tube. When they resurfaced, Anda was furious. She wouldn't go to Dan for the rest of the afternoon. It was hilarious, and I am really mad at myself for not filming the whole ordeal.

We did get a few pictures, though, pre-meltdown.

Family

Dan's brother David came to town this week, so we went to dinner with his family and Heather's family at The Mayan.

Since we had all the grandchildren together, we asked Kirsten to take some pictures. Here are a few (with an obvious emphasis on the ones of Anda, since this blog is pretty much for my mom).

She did a great job with so many young subjects. I think they turned out really cute.

Kiddie Pool

I took a gamble yesterday that it wouldn't snow again in the 80 degree weather and busted out the kiddie pool. She was in a mood, but she loved it for the 15 minutes she decided to play in it.

The inevitable aftermath: Diaper Butt Badonkadonk.