Tehachapi Mountain Park

Derek and I found a treasure right in our own backyard. Saturday, we drove 15 minutes up the Tehachapi mountains to Tehachapi Mountain Park. We took the pups and went on a nature trail hike and then checked out the campsites they have up there! What an awesome place! It was beautiful and peaceful.

Tegan Winter

Friday brought the birth of a brand, new niece....Tegan Winter Gould. I couldn't stop myself from driving down the same day to see her. What a precious angel she is!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Tegan!

Poor Baby Shasta

Our poor puppy got an owie! This week we noticed a swelling between two of Shasta's right toes. So Thursday Derek took her into the vet...they checked it out and found a fox tail embedded in there, starting to get infected. They even found a nasty fox tail in one of her ears that we didn't even know about. After a brief surgical removal she has her paw all bandaged up and has to wear one of those cones for three days. She's a trooper and being patient with it all.

Now our nightly ritual includes body checks for those blasted fox tails!

What I Learn From My Nieces and Nephews

I love being an auntie...all of my nieces and nephews are precious to me!

But they are also wonderful teachers about how to embrace life and laugh with one's entire soul...here Siena enjoys the bouncy house at Garrett's party.

Garrett Turns 3!!!

Garrett turned three last week....he was so cute and excited about having a birthday. We all got to celebrate with a Diego-themed party!

Pinata time!!!

Time for presents!

Siena gets her second wind...

Aubrey and her imagination!

Hot Air Balloon

This morning on the way to work, I saw a hot air balloon in the sky above Tehachapi. How cool is that! What an awesome view they must have had. As I got on the freeway, I started to notice the colors of the balloon and thought that was a good metaphor in life -- as you get closer to what you're striving for, you see more and more details and beauty.