It's so fun having a newborn in the house again. Having my nephew, Tristan, around gives me a chance to relish those early infancy days that passed all too quickly with my own son. Here are just a few of my favorite shots.
April 29, 2009
April 27, 2009
Old, Married Couple
Forgot to post the one nice photo we took as a couple during our anniversary getaway...
April 22, 2009
Solage Calistoga
To celebrate our ten year anniversary, we enjoyed a staycation. Have you heard of the term? Apparently, this is what they call a vacation that is taken in one's own backyard or any local vicinity. With the recent downturn of the economy, it seems that this has been the more popular option to ultra-expensive travel plans. Well, for our staycation (funny term, I know), we visited Calistoga. The great thing about having one's anniversary in the off-season is, well, you don't have to pay peak season prices! Anyhow, at Solage Calistoga, every room is a bungalow, complete with its own porch and bicycles.
Cute, isn't it?
Our home away from home for three days
Trying out the cruiser
nice chair
comfy bed
cool room
cooler porch
The Grounds
At the north end of Napa Valley, Calistoga is blessed with lovely, surrounding tree-covered hills and temperate weather. Solage was located in a relatively secluded spot that was still just a ten-minute bike ride to town. The landscaping was restrained yet lovely. The plants that were chosen with evidently great care were drought-resistant, though not in the least barren as one might suppose.
the amazing pool
the dining patio--we enjoyed very delicious breakfasts and dinners here
the bocce courts
some of the landscaping
traipsing through the bungalows
Vacation Mode
This was one of those rest and relaxation vacations. We didn't do much, other than linger and laze away the days. A rare event indeed.
vacation agrees with him
some game time
some pool time
some sun time
more smile time
some grub time
some mac time
some down time
Bocce
One of the many delights we discovered at Solage was bocce. Andre, especially, was very enthusiastic about playing this game! I don't know the exact rules but I had a general idea of the game's concept, so I taught Andre how to play my version of the game. Once he'd learned "the rules", he was very adamant that Billy play by them. lol
As far as I know, running after the ball is not one of the rules!
"I did it!"
One last game before checking out.
Solage Evenings
"I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day."
~Vincent Van Gogh~
April 17, 2009
How Romantic!
Billy surprised me with this special delivery...flowers! And not just any flowers but white roses and blue hydrangeas, just like the ones that were in my wedding bouquet! Could this be why we've managed to stay happily married for the last ten years? I'd say romantic touches like this are one reason. Truly, though, I have to give all praise and glory to God, who through his goodness and graciousness has blessed our marriage by teaching us what it means to truly love.
Written on our original wedding program:
"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." (I Corinthians 13:4-8)
April 11, 2009
Spring Fling
Today was a gorgeous day--the mild weather and crystal clear blue sky beckoned us to be outdoors, and so we heeded its siren call!
Road Trip!
This is where it all began--all buckled in and ready to go.
Lunch at the Basque Cafe in Sonoma Square
Andre in front of the Sonoma Mission
Next stop--the beach!!
Images from the road...on our way to Bodega Bay.
So we finally made it to a beach at Bodega, and oh my! It was the windiest day
ever!! I'm talking gale force winds. At least it felt like it. We lasted all of ten minutes
before deciding to pack it up. Even Andre whose been dying to go to the beach was asking to go back home!
Pit Stop!
to locate the nearest cafe for a warm beverage!
Andre finds and plays a ukelele from the cafe's toy stash.
Can you say "daredevil"?!
Since the day at the beach was a wash, we compensated by finding the nearest
park for Andre to play at. Fortunately, we did find one in Sebastopol....
My little spider monkey!
I thought it was cool how the branches framed this shot.
My son, the tree-hugger. His father would be so proud--not!
Random Shots
This bumper sticker perfectly captured the sentiment of the day!
The three of us, just standing around.
A visit to a favorite park in Yountville
Yes, we did go to another park. The day was so nice we
didn't want to head back home or indoors just yet!
my view of the sky as I look up from the blanket I'm lying on
a ground level shot of Andre
my boy's typical cheese-y grin
a macro shot with the foreground in focus
Playground fun with Daddy
The End...to a perfect spring day!
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