Year: 2013

The four of us started out Christmas day with a hike up Cold Springs Trail.

We worked up an appetite, and when we got back home, a Christmas feast was waiting.

Thank you Mom and Dad for a wonderful meal! We hope you all had a wonderful day!

We all got to get together and celebrate my birthday some more by visiting the zoo! We hadn’t been in ages and a lot had changed. We brought a picnic lunch and had a view of the elephants while we chowed down. Here are some of my favorites:

I painted this handsome pup as a Christmas present for his parents.

Ta-Da!

Click HERE to see our adventures together when I was pet sitting him.

Wishing you a happy holiday season and a wonderful new year. We love you all!

Well, I am now in my late 20’s. How the heck did that happen? I had a great birthday this year. The day started off great. I was spoiled with flowers, a balloon, a happy birthday message on the window, and a donut on the way to work.

After work, Casey too me to Solvang where we enjoyed all the holiday decorations around town, went into the neatest shops (Casey’s favorite was the cuckoo clock shop!), and stopped at my favorite bakery for an almond raspberry tart (or two!) and a chocolate chip cookie for him. 

After the streets began to sparkle with holiday lights, we headed into Dos Carlitos for enchiladas and fajitas. So good. So full. 

On the way out of town, I spotted a house covered in lights in the distance. I asked Casey if we could drive by and it ended up being a place called the Recovery Ranch, a structured sober home for men. They were giving out the best hot chocolate and cookies to raise money for their scholarship fund. So glad we stopped!

Check out this video for a tour of the lights we saw. They started putting up lights on Halloween!

We came home to the rest of the family and enjoyed banana cream pie. YUMM. Thank you all for a wonderful day!

I don’t think I ever showed the sign I made for Casey’s cousin’s baby, Ariana! She was born in July and Casey and I have babysat her a couple times. She’s adorable. We love her. Her room is jungle themed. I hope she likes the sign I painted for her 🙂

At work today my Dad and I came across this handsome fox just laying on the side of a pathway. He didn’t move and looked ill so we called into the Wildlife Care Network. They sent animal control out to pick him up, so hopefully they can nurse him back to good health so he can be released again. Good luck Mr. Fox!

What will you do with your time?

What a beautiful day for a birthday!

Our little Monkey turned 5 today. We took her on a hike with our friend Tanda where we had mountains on one side and a view of the coastline on the other side. She got a special dinner and her own antler before bed. And of course we sang Happy Birthday to her! 🙂