Hooray, we are back to "normal"

Sorry for the long delay in posting our vacation pictures. I know some of you have been patiently waiting, and waiting, checking back everyday. Thank you for caring so much, it makes us feel loved!

Caden and I left for sunny and very hot northern California June 19th and came back July fifth. It was a long trip. It is nice to have Caden visit his grandpa, they both had fun getting on each other's nerves. But mostly, it was fun. We were able to go to Monterey and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It was a wonderful experience. Caden was amazed and so were we. Sadly, we had to leave Paul at home to work, work, work. After work, he would work on the yard, he created a lovely block retaining wall.

here is our pictorial synopsis....

Caden and Paul at the airport, waiting to leave Chicago airport....


Caden with his trusty "stinkball" (yep, he still has it) as we were taking off for the long trip.


Caden swinging high above Auburn, California, in the same park that Paul asked me to marry him.


more swinging....


now, onto the slide, wondering just how hot it is going to be...Oh just a measly 105!


and down the slide.


onto Monterey....
early in the morning, we went to the beach at low tide, how it conjured up memories of our many trips to the coast and marine biology counseling....

A sea anemone, right on the rocks on lover's beach.


mussels


another anemone.

onto the aquarium...

a crab with an anemone, beautiful lighting in the aquarium.


jellies


white anemones


sea urchin


Caden trying oh so hard to touch the stingray (they have a large aquarium set up for the purpose) they felt like thick velvet. He got so soaked!


This is a spot where you can actually be under a wave, this was one of Caden's favorite exhibits, he would jump and dance and scream in delight.


Caden looking into one of the displays allowing you to see the ocean through the eyes of a bat ray.


Caden dressed up like a whale.


sea otter hamming it up for the cameras.


more otters.




We also went to Nevada City. There were some wonderful stores with great art, but it was quite expensive. Luckily for me, Auburn had a ceramic supply store, and I was able to pick up some items I needed, and my dad and I were able to make a bead stand for my kiln. I am almost ready for my first fire, I have more than enough beads and all the supplies needed, now to find the time...

I hope this post was worth the wait, hopefully, now that Paul set-up a new super dooper computer to our TV in lieu of my laptop, I can post more often! You can also see more of our pictures at my flickr site .

talk to you soon!


***post edit: this was ready to go two days ago, but we have had lovely internet problems lately...err AT&T...