Happy New Year's Eve!

pizza and Martinelli's... food of the champions?!

Happy 2010 from our family to yours!

Merry Christmas

We hope everyone's Christmas was as lovely as ours!

Three Days 'Til Christmas and...

... I spent the day in San Francisco, keeping my mom company while she drove my sister and her friends around. We went to the zoo (see the baby gorilla?) in the morning.


...we rode cable cars downtown.

...we had ice cream at Ghirardelli Square. mmmm...

... I did not get anything done from my to-do list except pick up something for Isaac's Christmas stocking. Good thing I have tomorrow wide open!

Four Days 'Til Christmas and...

... Isaac and Dad plan to finish fixing our kitchen sink tomorrow evening. It has been out of commission for about a week now and difficult to fix thanks to someone who was lazy when they worked on it previously. I can't wait to have a kitchen sink again... my kitchen is looking pretty untidy...
... we got a mattress for the crib! The plan is to pick out material next week for a custom quilt/bumper with baby arctic animals on it, something in blues. For now, I threw in an adorable and very soft blanket from a woman in our ward whom we love.

... our Christmas shopping is nearly finished! I worked on a project for Mandy today, and everything we have so far is wrapped, so we're just about done.

Bring on Christmas (and Isaac's vacation from NUMMI)! :)

Photography Final

DSC_0415_filtered
Originally uploaded by calibeccabyu

For my photography final, I am supposed to mimic a photographer from a list from the teacher. I chose Richard Misrach - http://www.edelmangallery.com/misrach-main.htm

I'm trying to decide which ten photos are my best so I can submit my assignment.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34009969@N04/
If you have time to check the 19 or so photos I posted on flickr and care to let me know which you think are better or worse, I'd sure appreciate it!

Any opinions?

New Furniture

Isaac built the crib today. We still have to get a mattress and bedding, but it's cool to see the crib in what has been a big empty space the last three or so months. I'll post a picture when it's all done, but for now, here is our dog. She was playing with the leaves we tracked in. Too bad she dropped the one that was hanging out of her mouth a second before this... but the tongue is pretty hilarious.

Keeping Busy

Isaac started a second job a week ago. He is building suspension parts for Corollas at the NUMMI plant in Fremont until they close (at this point slated for the end of March). It's nice to be putting more aside with the baby coming in a few months, but he's working crazy hours. I probably only saw him a few hours between Wednesday and Saturday last week since he's home for just a short time after his 10-hour NUMMI shift before he leaves for a 4-5 hour shift at Elephant Bar... 5-6 days a week... He's been so positive about it, even though he couldn't have gotten more than 4.5 hours of sleep most nights last week. He's my hero.

Since he's been gone a lot, I convinced my dad and sister to go to the Behold the Light dance show at the Interstake Center by the temple last Friday. I was excited to see Danielle, Jon and even Dawna dancing, and they were great! Danielle surprised everyone by doing flips across the stage, even at about 20 weeks pregnant.
Really, who couldn't love any extra reason to get up to the temple, especially in December? I love all the lights. :)

Thanksgiving

Isaac and I drove out to Utah for Thanksgiving this year. It was my second Thanksgiving in Utah and the first one without my mom, but we got to see lots of Snow family, so it was a really fun trip.
Thanks to Matthew and Stephani for putting us up and hosting this delicious Thanksgiving feast! Yes, this is quite a feast for eight people, and it was all good.

We did a temple tour in the area. It was awfully cold and windy, so we just drove around the outsides. I saw Draper (above) and Oquirrh Mountain for the first time, then Jordan River, Mount Timpanogos, and Provo the same day. The following day we walked around Temple Square in Salt Lake too, bringing us up to six temples.

We saw snow, which is great because it's pretty to look at, but we managed to avoid driving in it, which makes this experience all the better! (I'm just not a fan of snow traffic... or the cold.)

Eight Snows... We were only missing Jon and Emily's families, which was pretty impressive considering only Matthew, Stephani and Sarah live in Utah. It was a blast seeing everyone, eating at my favorite ice cream places, playing games, shopping in a Shade STORE (instead of online, lol), and then hearing that BYU beat the U on our way home. What more could we ask for? ;)

Panoramas

The assignment for my online photography class the past two weeks was to shoot strings of photos and stitch them together into 5 panoramas. This was not the first time I've put photos together for a panorama, but it was the first time I'd used the Photomerge feature in Photoshop CS4, and it's WAY better than Elements. Wow. It was so easy; I hardly had to do any of my own blending. Anyway, here are some of my favorites:

I love the golden sky from the sunset and the reflection on the water. We're so lucky to live in such a pretty part of the country that this was a less than ten minute drive from our condo. :)

This last one is from up by CSUEB, a little further away, but still within about 20 minutes.

Risk Taker

I ate this whole piece of cheesecake yesterday even though I had a doctor's appointment to weigh in at today, and I was under strict instructions not to put on more than three pounds in the last month.

It was SO GOOD. Thankfully, luck was on my side, and I only put on 2.5 pounds this month. Now the doctor and I are both happy. :)

Happy Halloween!

Last night we went to the ward activity (hot dogs, Charlie Brown for the kids, and Trunk-or-Treating). We dressed up all together again this year since Isaac didn't have to work. Isaac's iron-on didn't work, but we attempted to pull off this literary allusion anyway...

Edward Cullen, Bella Swan & Jacob Black and here we tried to be serious like the movie poster, but it just makes me laugh to see us trying so hard. I photoshopped his eyes for this one, which has served to make me very happy that Isaac does NOT have amber eyes.

Then we went to Mom & Dad's for hot chocolate. Mmmmmm...

It's a Boy!

HIS little face...

He kept putting his hand up by his face... It was bothering the tech a little bit...

It's so exciting to know what to expect now! I'll admit it feels somehow more intimidating knowing it's a boy, which I obviously can't relate to in the same way, but we're excited. The downside is that I guess I now have to take down the Sleeping Beauty pictures and the dolls I have in the spare room... there is definitely more "girl stuff" on display around here than "boy stuff." However, there are plenty of upsides I'm excited about... a boy means now I can buy those cute doggie-patterned clothes I saw that I held off on because they were predominantly blue. We agree more on boy names too, so that'll make decisions easier. Also, with the dog, we'll have even numbers in our home again. ;)

Shot

I got the flu shot a few days ago. I'm glad that's over.

In other news, the ultrasound is tomorrow (I'm sure you know if you have talked to Isaac because he has been counting down the days for about three weeks now...).

We're hoping to find out what we're having... take the poll and cast your vote!

To be Shot or Not to be Shot...

My doctor wants me to get the flu shots. I want not to get the flu shots.

My doctor says it will be even more miserable than normal if I get the flu, so I should take the precaution, especially since I am a teacher and constantly exposed to lots of germs.

I have never had a flu shot, I would prefer to avoid an unnecessary needle, I worry that I'm more likely to get the flu if I actually get the shots (I have only had it once in the last seven or so years), and I am just trying to be very good about using hand sanitizer in class and not use kids' pencils when I'm showing them something, etc.

I'm looking for people to weigh in...

Shot or Not Shot?!

Like a microphone in the wind...

Great news! We have a horse on the way!

At least, my mom says this looks like a horse. The doctor called it a blob. I think it kind of looks like a static-y bean, but hey.

We call it baby. This is Baby's first picture!

Today we had a great appointment. All my tests were normal and good, I found out I have O+ blood (it's lame that I didn't know that until today, I guess), and we got to hear the baby's heartbeat. It was even cooler than the ultrasound last time. It felt like forever before we heard the baby's heartbeat over what Isaac describes as "the sound of a microphone in the wind," but we knew we had to be hearing Baby when the doctor found the heartbeat! It made all the stress of a really rough day at work go away, and we couldn't be more excited.

:)

Let the Games Begin!

Done just in time...

I left school around 5:30 Tuesday evening, but all my furniture was dusted and organized, posters were up, the bookcase was built, desks were (mostly) labelled, copies were made, and everything was finally ready to go. Thank goodness for Mom and Isaac. It took SO LONG, but I was ready for the kids come Wednesday morning.

School Starts Wednesday...

This summer, my room was worked on. I had to pack everything up in boxes and shove it in the corners of the room where they would NOT be tearing down and retrofitting my walls. It took a long time. Putting everything back together is infinitely worse. and dirtier.

The upside is that my room now has more wall and less window, and we are now much less likely to crumble in the event of a serious earthquake. The downside is that my furniture has sticky label-yuck all over it, everything is in the wrong place (and I have to figure out how to rearrange it to fit 38 kids in a class and not look completely squished), there is dust all over because after custodial cleaned, electricians came in to install and new (and migraine-causingly-loud) fire alarm, which got everything dirty again, and I feel completely overwhelmed trying to get it ready for the first day of school and Back to School Night--the same day.

Now I have about 36 hours to turn THIS...

... into a functional classroom. You can't even see all the new blank wall or the furniture which custodial wrapped in saran wrap for me.

Good thing Isaac doesn't work tomorrow... I love you, honey. :)

The Cars

Isaac seems to have bad luck with cars. About 17 months ago, he totalled our Accord. It was a very sad day. We bought this used Avalon for him, intending to replace it as early as late 2010 if possible/necessary. It had fairly hideous, torn-up upholstery but it runs great.

Recently, Isaac was waiting for the gate to our complex to open, car stopped momentarily and minding its own business, when WHAM! Someone backed into him from a visitor parking space.

The guy who hit Isaac was cool about the whole thing, and we both have AAA insurance, so it was easy to report. It isn't pretty, and the front door takes some force to close, but we didn't think it would be too bad. We were wrong. It's totalled.

They weren't offering enough to fix the car (LAME), and rather than buy ANOTHER used car, we opted to take the money and put it towards his next car, keeping a salvage title for now. DMV deems it a "safe vehicle," so our insurance covers it still, and it seems okay. Just so long as it stays running smoothly and doesn't fall apart, I guess we'll just deal with it rather than pay THIRTY EIGHT HUNDRED dollars to fix it.

I was annoyed about the remote on my car door going out, so I have to always use the key now, but that pales in comparison to this. It's all in the perspective, right? Hooray for my car that has not been totalled.

An East Coast Adventure

Since we were gone for two weeks, I suppose this vacation deserves a long post, but I think I'll try to cut the fat and stick to the highlights.

The day after flying out to Baltimore (technically since we flew in so late, it was only hours later, I guess), we spent a day in DC. Obviously, we could not do everything in one day, but we sure crammed in a lot. I was exhausted by the time we were done. We saw the big monuments (Washington below), walked through three Smithsonians, went by the White House, and drove over to the temple. It was awesome to see all of these buildings that are in countless movies and on the news IN PERSON. We started our journey north the next day, stopping in Philadelphia to see some historical sights (Betsy Ross' house, Benjamin Franklin's old romps, the liberty bell, the oldest banks in the US...) and eat Philly Cheese Steaks, per Isaac and Dad's requests. They were way better than I expected, to be honest. This is the portrait we found of our ancestor who signed the Declaration of Independence.

We went through about ten states this trip, which was so cool. It would take a lot longer to do that on the West Coast. Not that it was a short trip... in our two weeks, we covered about 3500 miles. Woah. Needless to say, I have only been in the car about five times since we got home, all within Newark, lol.

Obviously, we had to have lobster in Maine. Look at Isaac's happy face.

Our ultimate northern destination was Prince Edward Island. I have been dreaming of this vacation for nearly 15 years. It was as beautiful as I could have hoped (although I could have gone for slightly more cheerful weather). We toured Cavendish and Charlottetown, spending one night in Charlottetown. We took a walk on Lover's Lane, had Cow's ice cream, hiked around L.M. Montgomery's old homestead foundation, and toured some neighboring sites. This is "Green Gables"... thank you little Anne actress.

What would a coastal tour be without lighthouses? We looked for more than we found, actually (how many miles are you supposed to follow those little blue signs before you give up because you don't even see the ocean?), but the ones we found were lovely. There's something serene about the way they stand so tall and purposeful by the water.

After a week, my parents and siblings went back to California, and Isaac and I got a car and headed west to see Emily. It was a quick trip, but we went through the National Forest in Vermont, spent soem time with the girls, saw Niagra Falls, and stopped in Palmyra on our way back east.

There was a deer like RIGHT NEXT TO ME in the Sacred Grove. Then Isaac scared it away in his zest to show me how tortured he was by the mosquitos. They were pretty bad.

We drover to Boston and picked up Jon & Whitney from the airport, then made a quick trip to see the Boston Temple before heading back to Maine. I like this temple. It has a lot of character.

We spent several days in Maine with Isaac's parents, sister Teresa, his grandparents and various other family. We spent a lot of time at the Hansons' cabin on Thompson Lake, and we're so thankful for how everyone took care of us! What a nice vacation it was. The boys on the lake before Isaac fell in (but maybe after Jon fell in?)...

a sunset on the lake

Finally, the time came for us to go home. On the way to the Manchester airport to catch our flight back to SFO, we stopped at Robert Frost's farm in Derry, NH to satisfy the nerdy English teacher in the car and to get a chance to stretch our legs. Who doesn't like "The Road Not Taken"? Isaac didn't know what I was talking about until I started feeding him the last two lines, and by the time I finished, he was reciting with me. We didn't take the tour, but it was a nice stop.

It was a great vacation, but now it is good to be home. I love that I am not teaching right now, and I can focus on cleaning and laundry and sorting mail (all those terribly fun things that are necessary after a long vacation). Mostly, I'm happy to sleep in my own bed and have Sophie around to keep me company. :)

Happy Fourth of July!

God Bless America

Written by: Irving Berlin

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,

Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,

Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,

As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

God Bless America.

Land that I love

Stand beside her, and guide her

Thru the night with a light from above.

From the mountains, to the prairies,

To the oceans, white with foam

God bless America

My home sweet home.

A Day at the Beach

Isaac had the day off, so we decided to pick up my sister and go to the beach. We went to not the closest one, but one that I like and that allows dogs. It was Sophie's first time actually on the beach. I think she had fun, although we should have remembered to bring a water bowl for her instead of trying to get her water from the water fountain. She wasn't a big fan of being hit by ocean waves either, but we made her try. It was a perfect beach day... quick trip with no traffic, not too hot for Isaac but warm enough that the cold ocean felt good in small doses, not crowded... I couldn't ask for better. Isaac is a little bummed that he may have sunburned on the crown of his head *where he is balding--ahem* but otherwise, it was a really lovely day.

School's Out

I can hardly believe the school year is over! I spent hours and hours packing and labelling everything in preparation for the work they are doing on my room this summer. Isaac probably wishes I had chosen some other profession because he too spent hours moving heavy boxes and climbing ladders to take down my posters, but we're officially all done now! I am thoroughly looking forward to a summer off. I am taking one class, and I have a list of things to accomplish this summer, but otherwise, I will just be enjoying the time off. It's a bittersweet ending because I loved this group of kids, but I can't be too upset--we bought plane tickets for a July trip to Maine yesterday!

One of my students brought this for me the last day of school. Isn't it sweet?

Happy Birthday Isaac!

He's 27!

When I was a teenager, I used to think that 27 was the perfect age... old enough to be settled and really know who you were, but young enough to still be kind of "acceptably goofy" and still have energy... I don't know that that's exactly the perfect description for 27, but I'm sure Isaac will enjoy it all the same. :)

Matthew & Stephani Snow

We were able to spend the weekend in Kentucky for Matthew and Stephani's wedding in Louisville. It was so much fun!

such cute little girls :)

The gorgeous bride and groom

Sunday we got to drive up to Jon & Whitney's new home in Indiana, which is awesome. I wish I had remembered my battery charger so I could have documented our little trip north, but it seems I always forget something when I travel... better the charger than my recommend again!

Happy Memorial Day from our Patriotic Pooch!

In honor of Memorial Day, I thought I would share this video of our very patriotic dog. She loves our country, specifically our current president. I wish I could say I taught her this, but I can't claim any assistance in the excitement she feels at the mention of his name.

Since you can't really tell, at the end she jumps on my lap and licks my face while wagging her tail like crazy. She usually either does this or runs around wagging her tail and looking very excited.

She started doing this totally on her own, and we have no idea why. One day we said his name and got quite a reaction, and it never fails to get a rise out of her.

Primary

I left church after Sunday School today because I have a cold and felt pretty crummy... and once I'd taught my class, I knew they would be okay for the last hour in Primary. It's nice to be home in sweats, blowing my nose all I want without feeling self-conscious or caring that I'm germy, but I kind of miss these guys.

Isn't that just the funniest picture? :)