ahhh...

Have a good evening, I know I will.

Look Alike

Over the last few months I have heard a number of characters with whom Claire shares a resemblance. In the following post, I have gathered and combined some of these images. So...what do you think? Who does Claire resemble?

Wallace & Gromit?

Mr. Smee?

A kewpie doll?

Cindy Lou Who ?

her dad's personal favorite, Fred Mertz.

her mommy?

Popeye the sailor man?

I love this place!

I can walk to Trader Joes from my house. Matter of fact, you can almost spit (not that I advocate for that) and hit it. I'm less than two miles from Costco, three miles to my work , a little over that to Josh's work, we are surrounded by Safeways and Nob Hill. We live 35 minutes (without traffic) to San Francisco, three hours (give or take) to Lake Tahoe, 15 minutes to the Lafayette Resevoir, 1/2 mile to the Canal trail and less than two miles from HARVEST HOUSE.

Harvest House is a hidden local gem. Well maybe its not so hidden but it was to me until I found it about a year and a half ago. I was in search of some random ingredients for Lola's dog food (yes, call me crazy, we make her food). I don't have any idea how it came up but I mentioned looking for bonemeal, nettle leaves, kelp powder (you get the idea) and how I was trying to avoid Whole Foods (LOVE Whole Foods but we can it whole paycheck in our house). A friend from church mentioned checking out Harvest House.

Organic - Check, reasonably priced - check, random stuff - check check! You can buy carob chips (yuck) right next to the sesame seeds, dried bananas, papayas, and soy flour. Not only can I find everything I need to make Lola's grain mix but I have also found a whole host of things for our family. Probiotics for babies - check! Mineral makeup - check! Organic all natural gluten, dairy and soy free teething biscuits - check! This place has almost it all. Today my tab included barley flakes (Lola), rye flakes (Lola), rolled oats (Lola), organic, sulphur free dried apricots (Claire), teething biscuits (Claire), Local honey (Josh - apparently helps with allergies) and peanut butter chips (me - needed something a little sweet) all for the low low price of $14.00.

Life with Claire

It seems everywhere I turn I run into a mom who, upon seeing Claire and I mutters or says out right, "cherish each moment, it goes so fast." Even being only seven months or so into this adventure, I can see the truth in this statement. She changes almost daily, acquiring new skills, preferences and sounds. Enjoy this compilation of new things picked up by Claire over the last couple months.

Josh's Birthday

Thursday was Josh's birthday. Our family celebration was low key and at home - that's how we have chosen to celebrate with a little baby in the house. We celebrated again on Saturday with Josh competing with Brandon in the Great Urban Race, San Francisco. This race resembles the amazing race except that its done in one day and in one city.

Josh and Brandon have been gearing up for this day for about a month. They were at an advantage having Brandon's knowledge of the city and public transit. Brieanne and I along with Brandon's mom Linda and Josh's dad, Gary were on internet duty looking up anything they needed to help them solve clues. We were also counting on my parents knowledge until we found out the morning of the race that my mom was competing in the race with a friend and my dad had defected to her support team.



Reading over the clues before taking off.

Saturday dawned hot even for San Francisco. The hunt took the guys to several spots all over the city. Brieanne, Linda and Gary were way more help than I was. Claire and I played support to the support team, well, to Brieanne at least.

Team Pizza Pirate Command Post at the Prescott Hotel. Doesn't Brieanne look the part?Claire was more interested in rolling around and chewing on her toes than surfing the internet for San Francisco trivia.

Life back at the command post...carrots.

Josh and Bradon in front of the Transamerica building.

Eating corn for a challenge.

Shaking a dogs paw for one of the challenges.

Great Urban Race Contestants. Check out Brandon in the Orange Wheaties t-shirt.

Seven Months Old

Last week was an important week in our family. Claire passed the seven month milestone and Josh had a birthday (more on Josh's birthday later). Claire is currently fascinated with Lola's collar. Lola is fascinated with Claire's hands after she's eaten something.

How do you pass the time when the mercury is above 99? The baby pool! (She was totally sunscreened up and in the shad).

Claire and her cousin Keagan got to visit over a day at the Oakland Zoo. Keagan is Mr. Mellow.

Cousins in Vegas Part 3 aka Mother's day

Happy Happy Mothers day to all you mothers out there especially all those celebrating their first mothers day.

Mother's day was our final day in Las Vegas. We celebrated by once again visiting the strip and brunching at the Flamigo. Rubie and Claire sported darling matching outfits compliments of Grandma & Grandpa Smith.

Cousins in Vegas Part 2

Claire continues to expand her horizons. While in Vegas Claire visited new casinos adding to her Lake Tahoe Casino experience. She enjoyed the fish at the aquarium in the Silverton and the Bass Pro shop next door. She scowled at the lions at the MGM Grand and gawked at the Flamigos at the Flamingo.

Look at those bathing beauties. Here you can really see some of the differences between Rubie and Claire. Notice Claire's belly and the absence of Rubies...he he he.

Claire and Rubie relaxed at the hotel by swimming in the pool. We all got to enjoy Rubie's first moments mastering the art of sitting up.

I love the floaties.

Go Rubie Go!

Rubie continued to attempt to play with Claire, this time by putting Claire's hand in her mouth. Claire wasn't too sure about that.