• Bug,  Super Dad

    Snow Day with Daddy!

    going to the snow!

    The day after the crazy princess party birthday bash, Toby took Bug to the snow and this time he took my point-and-shoot waterproof camera with him. I’m so glad he did because he never takes pictures of the fun stuff they do together. You know how it is, the shoemakers kids never have shoes sort of thing and I’m left wondering what they did all day.

    Toby and Bug's Amazing Day at the Snow

    It looks like they had a lot of fun! AND Toby can take hand-held self portraits too! He must have picked that up from me.

    tram

    They rode the tram up the giant mountain from Palm Springs. It’s beautiful up there.

    steep

    Great views…

    view of Palm Springs

    it's so cold!

    And snow everywhere!!! This is Bug’s first real experience with snow. We saw a small patch when we visited Washington DC in the spring but this was real snow all over the place. Toby said that Bug kept exclaiming over and over, “It looks like Christmas!” I guess that’s what happens when you learn about snow from television.

    a stream!

    tromping

    here I am! giant bones

    Toby and Bug

    I love seeing her have a good time. It makes missing her not quite so terrible.

  • 15 minute posts,  Bug,  easy on the words,  Family Matters,  heavy on photos,  I forgot to tell you this earlier,  Moody Blues,  Super Dad,  Tis the Season

    Some shots from Christmas past

    I started this post ages ago and now it seems old and moldy. I’m tempted not to even post it but I figure if I put this much effort into it, I might as well finish it.

    Christmas Eve traffic

    I’m one of those commuters now. I took this shot on our way to Toby’s on Christmas Eve. Holiday traffic is the pits. Good thing when you’re driving west, there’s usually a sunset to watch while you sit.

    Deb

    Bug spent Christmas Eve with Toby having spaghetti dinner. I spent Christmas Eve with my friend Deb down the street. She and her husband Eric always take care of me. They didn’t even mind me crashing their intimate evening. I love them.

    I chopped off her head!

    While Deb cooked up something gluten free (and no she didn’t mind that I chopped off her head when I took this photo), her husband Erik played guitar and I tried to sing a few Mazzy Star songs. Tried being the key word. I love to sing but sometimes the melodies elude me.

    singing with Deb's husband, Erik

    Nothing like Mazzy to kick the holiday blues!

    merry christmas! elf

    The next morning I was up bright and early and shivering on my old porch waiting to be let in. I somehow lost my key during the move and don’t feel it’s proper to ask for another one. I didn’t want to miss the early morning present opening so shiver away I did! Who knew they’d sleep in until NINE! My kid never sleeps past six when she’s with me. It must be all that late night Harry Potter watching.

    Yes, Toby lets her watch Harry Potter much to my chagrin. I was so steamed about it when it first happened but apparently she loves it. They both do. I don’t even know which movie it is, it’s not the first one. I bought it on sale years ago and then left it behind when I moved out. Now it’s the only “kid” movie Toby owns and they watch it religiously every time Bug spends the night. I’ve since made a point to leave behind a few other movies but I guess it’s their thing they like to do together now so I’m not going to mess with that.

    Anyway when they finally rolled out of bed, they let me in and the present opening commenced!

    PINK stuff!

    Woo hoo! Pink stuff for the pink obsessed kid! Thank you, Grandma—who doesn’t even celebrate Christmas but somehow populated half of our tree with festively wrapped presents. Gotta love my mom!

    skooter girl somebody needs a bath

    And lots of other fun stuff. This kid is not deprived.

    watching the Nutcracker

    Some Nutcracker viewing…I can’t wait until Bug gets to see this in real life. Toby says he’s going to take her next year. I really hope he keeps his word on that.

    Toby and Bug

    me and Bug

    And of course lots of hugs.

    hotel room pose

    Then we were off to the bible conference I attend with my family every year. Which is really just a great excuse to stay in a really nice hotel! Just kidding. It’s more than the hotel of course. But the hotel part is really fun.

    kickin' it

    pillow head

    me and my girl

    us

    boof!

    pillow fight

    jump!

    Especially the pillow fighting and bed jumping part!