…nervous and cotton mouthed…

…declaring my qualifications…

…to become a mom to this sad bundle…

…who has now become this joyful son of mine!

Happy Gotcha Day Alexander Soloviev Morey!  Your energy and strength keep me hopping.  You are smart, resourceful and determined.  You have grown from a quiet and withdrawn baby boy to a rambunctious fun-loving 3rd grader.  You have changed my life and I yours.  We are bonded for life my “Little Man” and I thank God for you today and every day!

We took part of the break to drive to Sandbridge.  It is known as the Outer Banks of Virginia Beach.  We rented a house just across the street from the ocean.  We had typical spring weather with some  cold rain and some beautiful warm sunshine.  We made drip castles and moats; played in the freezing surf; ran with Shadow up and down the sand; and, of course, hunted for seashells.  Grandy and Pop came for a visit too!  It was so peaceful that none of us wanted to leave.

We had a nice lunch out and made a few errands.  It took most of the afternoon since everyone else was in  the same boat.  The roads were O.K.  Many lanes suddenly ended because of the piles of snow.  Intersections with stop signs are tricky–the high snow blocks view of oncoming cars…

We got home just a new snow flakes made their appearance!

Schools announced they will stay closed Wed. thru Fri.   They were already closed for President’s Day on Monday…

Guess I have a good chance of getting the puzzle done!

Then tonight.

The bulldozer.

We got a clear street.

And it began snowing…again!

Mountain top

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We got to do a little more sight-seeing.

We had breakfast at this diner.  We were the only one’s there because we’d been wandering around looking for a certain coffee shop that, even tho we asked many people, we never found!  So we were very happy to land here:

We then when over the mountains –stopping to make a call in to work, and take some pix–and through the woods to see the Redwood trees.  Wow.  Amazing.  Fabulous.  Incredible.  The adjectives failed us.  God is amazing!  I felt so small.

On the other side of the ridge, we arrived at the ocean once again.  This time in Santa Cruz.  We had lunch on the pier with the pelicans! (the picture is not cropped or zoomed, just right out the window from our table!)

We did some shopping and then headed back to San Jose.

It was fun trying to see how far the Prius could go on just one tank of gas, and we weren’t done yet!

Our Hotel

The hotel we stayed in, The Saint Claire, is historic.  A fantastic place for me to spend my week while Rich was at his conference.  I sat in the huge yet intimate lobby to knit and people watch; it was so peaceful and the luxury further pampered me!

I went to two museums.  The San Jose Museum of Art and the Museum of Quilts and Textiles.   It was so nice to read all the placards and to take my time.  The museum of art had some Ansel Adams and tho I am not a huge fan, the original works were almost  textural to me.  The quilts on display were Victorian “crazy quilts”; a style of various shapes and textures.  They included hand panted velvet and detailed embroidered images.  spectacular works of art!

I wandered the streets exploring.

Mostly, I relaxed.

We drove up to Napa Valley.  It was so beautiful.  We had tasting and lunch at V. Sattui where I had been with Kirsy before.  The tasting was fun.  We bought a Medeira which is a type of port.

As we were going back south, we were following a slow car into a winery.  When we got out of the car, we could hear the air flowing out of the tire!  Rich volunteered to help.  Turns out the driver was on his way to a Dr. consultation about having knee replacement surgery and would have missed the appointment if he’d had to wait for a tow truck.  They were so grateful and couldn’t believe Rich offered to help.  The lady and her two friends insisted I join them for tasting.  She is a member there and treated us not only to the tasting but also to a bottle of Cabernet!

Good wine, Good scenery, and Good deeds.

We did some of the famous things–with me as the tour-guide.  Obviously after one visit almost 2 yrs ago, I am an expert!

Ghiradelle Square was very nice.  We had an ice cream, bought some chocolate, listened to live music, and had the first California wine tasting.  Nice way to start the trip!

Rich really wanted his picture under the Haight Ashbury sign… ahh musicians.

We drove down the crookedest road.  Rich even video taped that one.

And we had a “smoochie scene” as the sun set over the ocean horizon.

I am so blessed!

Rich had to speak at a conference in San Jose and he pushed to have me go too!  When I say pushed, I mean it’s not easy to leave 3 kids at home for 8 days.  I literally had to make a spread sheet for the kids’ care givers. Thanks to all of you!

We went to San Fransisco first and stayed at Aunt Connie’s in Oakland.  She has a fabulous little place.  Thanks for lending it to us!

I will post the pix in groups.

This group is mostly the Golden Gate bridge.  There is a fort below the bridge that we climbed up into.

Retreeeeet!  I left out of the house in the opposite direction of my family for a weekend away.  It was fabulous.

Kir and I went to our church Women’s Retreat a day early so as to unplug from the summer and be able to focus.  The theme was GPS: Growing Peaceful and Secure.

We arrived in the early afternoon and walked across the parking lot to a shopping plaza that had a HUGE used bookstore where we could have spent a week, a shoe store where we both came out with new sandles, and a Dollar General where we found deals on things we didn’t even know we needed/wanted!  The afternoon had dissolved into evening and our hunt for a place of dinning ensued…without a GPS!  We drove around “nowhere’sville” for an hour before coming back to our plaza Burger King for take out!   But God is so encouraging and gave us a FULL rainbow to gaze at while munching from our room.

The conference was filled with friends, song, fellowship, lessons, discussions, laughter and tears, prayer and worship, food, and talent.  And despite the lack of a working air conditioner (and only 2 huge fans) we had a great journey!  I learned how important my relationships are, with those both older and younger than me.  We have so much to offer each other.

The sound of the ocean is constant.  We can hear it at first, but then we ignore it as background noise until we consciously listen.  In the same way, we must consciously listen to God’s voice for direction.  I realized that my peace and security are dependent on my surrender to God… Growing Peaceful and Secure!

SMILE

To Grandy and Pop’s house we go!

Why do we try to cram it all in when we visit?!

Make a new “blankie”

Re-organize/re-route wires for computer desk area

Drink wine/ eat too much
Watch ½ a movie
Read til asleep
Eat too much
Drive to beach
Shop for beach wear

Ride “suri” bike for around 25 blocks

Eat icees
Take pix
Eat too much lunch out

Play in the surf

Shop trader joes (12 bottles for around $47)
Everyone shower
Check out pix
Drink wine/Eat too much Dinner
Knitting questions answered
Adventure to museum for night shoot

Edit pix…
Tired.
Travel in the morning.

Are you SURE we did it all?!