It's a lemon!

We decided to take a quick trip to St. George to get a little family time in. Even though it is almost as much driving time as hang out time, we had a great trip. I think Ada really enjoyed it, and it was really nice to see almost the whole family.  

Ada was really excited to hug her newest cousin, Rylea. Rylea seems a little less into it, but I am sure she will warm up to Ada (Ada is irresistible after all).

Ada an Grandma got to spend a relaxing morning reading books in their PJs. It was great that they got some quality time together, and it didn't take Ada long at all to (re)warm up to Grandma and Grandpa. Hopefully, once Christmas rolls around, it will be straight to hugs and fun.

We had a great evening trip to the park where Ada and Auri hung out together on the playground enjoying the slide and the tube. Ada was a little hesitant sometimes (or just liked the idea of sliding more than the actual sliding), but she had the occasional gentle push from the cousins to get her going.

Look at all these well behaved kids!

I am kind of glad that this picture was a little out of focus because I think we would have had some issues with cuteness overload. Bedtime was so much more fun for Ada on this trip.

Ada often is rather stubborn once she is convinced she had figure something out (Thanks for that trait, Dad). We tried to convince her that she was "enjoying" a lime, but she was rather sure it was a lemon. Regardless, her reaction was pretty fun. Ty couldn't keep the camera steady through his laughter. She just kept tasting it even after saying she didn't like it. 

Joshua Tree

Since we decided that hanging at home for any given weekend was a bad idea, we booked a campsite at Joshua Tree National Park for one night. Ada's first night in a tent! Thought we should try it with one child first...

It actually went really well, considering. She did great. We had planned for a cold night in the tent, however it was cold immediately when we got there, so cooking involved Ada snuggled up on one of our laps while the other cooked. 

We attempted chili in cornbread from the Pudgie Pie cookbook, and it would have been absolutely amazing except they were slightly burnt. Will try again. 

 Ada slept through the night. Ty and I didn't but that's ok. Took this picture in the morning, definitely a favorite. 

  
In the morning we packed up and bailed on the campsite and went out to breakfast. It actually might have warmed up fast enough to hang around and cook there, but at the time it seemed cold. Then we hit the trail headed to 49 palms oasis. 

Just leaving the parking lot

The bunch of trees nestled in there is the oasis destination.

Looking back down the trail from the oasis.

snack time!

                   

Hiking back to the car we let Ada walk for a while. She kept saying boing, hop, like a bunny! It was really cute.

Lunch spot after the hike. Joshua Tree NP was actually really pretty, much more scenic than expected. Impressive desert trees and rock formations (not surprising since it's known for rock climbing/scrambling).

I hope to start camping again in a few years, though we might avoid the high desert for tent camping for a while...

Happy Halloween!

From our little Strawberry! These outdoor ones were actually also from the fair.

At daycare with Gladys and friends.

Craft with Ada's footprints made at daycare. Pretty cute. Ada calls them "boos"

 One day when I went to swim at La Jolla Shores, there was a potential contamination (when it rains they worry about runoff). My swimming buddy coworkers decided to swim anyway but I thought since I am of such a delicate state that I should skip it. So I walked down the beach and came across this castle (it was about 4x as big as what is seen in the picture, very cool). I liked the jack- o-lantern so figured it fit with this post. I also saw some dolphins from the shore on this walk, not too far from where my coworkers were swimming, but they didn't see them from the water. We saw whales a week later quite close by though, so that made up for it. 

Go Sounders!

Immediately after the Del Sur Fair, we headed up to LA for the Galaxy/Sounders soccer game. It was for Ty's birthday (belated); decided to keep tradition and get him Sounders tickets. We spent the night at a hotel, then hung out at a park most of the day before the game. Ada did really well, she was very relaxed until about 15 minutes left. I was about to take her out and let Ty finish the game in peace when the people next to us left, leaving her some room to move around and all was well. Incidentally, it was Donovan's last regular season home game. 

Ada's first amusement park rides

We were lucky enough to get invited to go to the Del Sur fair with Hai and Thao and Linh. We had such a fun time! Ada talked about riding the bees for a few days.

It was a few weeks before Halloween but kids were in costumes so Ada tried out her strawberry costume. She was really cute, though the strawberry didn't last long, it was too hot. 

There was a petting zoo. Ada liked the animals though not sure if she touched any.

Daddy daughter mini-golf.

Ada's first ride! She was scared for a few seconds but then loved it and would have stayed on for a long time.

She got to ride with Mommy and Daddy. it was not super comfortable for pregnant women...

I guess I got enough pictures.

And after the bees, the horsies!!

Not pictured are Ty and Thao on the zipline, whee!! Apparently I'm too focused on Ada, didn't get pics of Hai and Thao (though I think we took some with their camera).

By the end of the day she was pretty loopy. Maybe it was the lemonade. This doesn't fully capture her running and dancing and giggling. it was pretty funny, and tons of fun to chase her and watch!

Travis's visit

Travis decided to finish what he started when we were living in Seattle: cycling down the Pacific coast. He had made it as far as Eugene, so found 3 weeks to finish it up! He was super fast though and made it to San Diego early so got to hang out. Ada was not sure about Travis as an infant, but now thinks he's pretty cool. 

Ty was on jury duty while Travis was in town, so he went to work and Travis and I took Ada to the beach. 

it was cool so we didn't put her in a swimsuit. Might have been a mistake with how sandy she got. 

We were there for a few hours so set up the shade tent right when we got there. Apparently we arrived and set up about 20 minutes before high tide so the water temporarily encroached on the tent. This was about as high as it got so it was ok.

Travis checking out the ocean that he had just biked next to for several weeks.

Playing with buckets of water

snack time, with bonus sand!

On Sunday we went to the zoo. Ada and Travis checked out the hippo and ice caves.

It was my birthday while Travis was here so he helped us eat the yummy cake that Ty made. He called my mom (and scared her I'm sure) for the recipe and made the cake in the toaster oven at work to bring it home as a surprise. it was delicious. Ada would prefer to sing and blow out candles repeatedly over actually eating cake.

Byebye goodnight hug! Ada asked even several weeks later where Travis was. I think she liked his visit! 

Beach trip with Marilyn, Evan, and Ellie

Sometime in mid-September, we drove up to Oxnard (north of LA) and met Marilyn, Evan, and Ellie who drove down from San Francisco. We rented a nice house a few blocks off the beach. It was a really nice weekend, more relaxing than most despite a several hour drive! They actually had a longer drive (thank you!) so I hope they agree. 

Hadn't tried the Ergo as a back carrier too many times but Ada seems to like it. Sleepy baby. 

Mostly just pictures hanging out on the beach.

Her bathrobe is pretty cute. Her clothing in this picture is unusual in that is was all purchased new for her (robe, swimsuit, hat, and swim diaper) rather thanstolen from Kira.

Ada definitely warmed up to Marilyn and Evan! Which was nice. Ellie (born on Ada's first birthday) didn't seem to mind us either and was nice about sharing her toys with Ada.