Snapshot #866: Drafting Wall Details

 July 30, 2013.  San Jose, California.  It was a tedious chore today figuring out the wall construction details for my client.

Snapshot #865: Flowers for Mom

July 29, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Hazel loves picking flowers for Mom; which is OK, unless they come from the vegetable garden :(

Video Snapshot #864: Chasing Geese

July 27, 2013.  Sunnyvale, California.  Every toddler needs a lesson from Dad in chasing geese.  Hazel kept asking for "Mas! Mas!"  (More! More!)

Snapshot #863: Afternoon Snack

July 26, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Now that we've been home several days I've been successful at getting Hazel back on an eating schedule:  Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Snack, & Dinner with nothing in between.  When we stick to this schedule (instead of snacking all day long) Hazel actively sits and eats at meal times making everything easier and healthier. 

Snapshot #862: Raspberry-Apricot Jam

July 25, 2013.  San Jose, California.  The winner of this year's jam is our Raspberry-Apricot freezer jam.  Yummm!

Snapshot #861: Splish-Splash

July 24, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Hazel is SO happy to be home.  In her bath today she discovered that her Littlest Pets are magnetic and stick to the side of the tub.  FUN!

Snapshot #860: Blanketeering

July 23, 2013.  Sunnyvale, California.  This evening I worked with my local Relief Society to make 17 fleece blankets for donation to Project Linus.  In total, we will be donating nearly 40 blankets-- including the 17 we made tonight and an additional 20 handmade blankets we collected at the door.

Snapshot #859: Something Crafty

July 22, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I'm in charge of Relief Society Craft Day again this year and today spent some time finalizing our ideas.  Overall, I think this year's crafts will get better turn out than last year's crafts.  To see what I'll be making in October, click here.  To see all the ideas that didn't make the final cut, visit this page.

Snapshot #858: 15-Hour Drive

July 21, 2013.  Caribou National Forest, Idaho to San Jose, California.  It was just 15 minutes shy of being a 15-hour drive home.  And here I thought Hazel was sitting peacefully in her chair "reading" her book.  Ha!

Snapshot #857: Lava Hot Springs

July 20, 2013.  Lava Hot Springs, Idaho.  There was entirely too many people there...but the kiddie pool was fun.

Snapshot #856: Big Springs Campground

July 19, 2013.  Big Springs Campground, Caribou National Forest, Idaho.  Things to remember from this week's camping excursion: Nature walk to the Big Springs Fountain Head and discovery of a very large beaver house; Laughing with my brothers who jumped into the FREEZING cold Big Springs Pond; Delicious S'mores;  my father's invention of the game Rock Soup (if you ever get bored at a campsite, just ask.  It will entertain competitive people for hours!); my parent's camp-kitchen and shower tent (they've turned into serious campers!); sleeping very uncomfortably on a phantom mound that looked flat before and after the tent was pitched; Baby Dax's crying fit that lasted until 3AM (due to a torn ear) and his Resilient Parents; and Nelson's story"Hey, Whatcha Doing Up There?!!"  I love you guys!  It was so fun spending a long weekend camping together, unplugged. 

Snapshot #855: Off-Roading

July 18, 2013.  Pebble Creek Area, Caribou National Forest, Idaho.  Dave's phone maintained power enough to snap some photos of his adventures off-roading with my brothers.

Snapshot #854: Unplugged

July 17, 2013.  Big Springs Campground, Caribou National Forest, Idaho.  I readily admit that I allowed myself to get completely unplugged this weekend.  On the drive Wednesday to the campground my phone (and camera) died and I didn't charge it again until Sunday during our 15-hour drive back to San Jose. 

Snapshot #853: Show Me A Story

July 16, 2013.  Wendell, Idaho.  I love, love, this book introduced to me by a friend's blog.  Most of the ideas are too advanced for 23-month-old Hazel, but I figure I can modify some of the ideas to fit and she can grow into the rest.  So, I talked Dave into going down to the river with me today (despite the 100 degrees) and we collected half a bucket of future Story Stones.  

Snapshot #852: Snake River Sturgeon

July 15, 2013.  Hagerman, Idaho.  My brother took us down to the river this evening to do some sturgeon fishing.  He even caught one, 5'8" in length.  True story! 

Snapshot #851: Highway 93 Nevada

 

July 13, 2013.  Highway 93, Nevada.  We drove 11-1/2 hours today from San Jose, CA to Wendell, ID.  It was a looooong drive...but worth it to be home again. 

Snapshot #850: Mommy's Little Helper

July 12, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Ever since Dave taught Hazel how to make jam she insists on helping with EVERYTHING we make.

Snapshot #849: Faceplant

July 11, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I should start counting how many times I find Hazel in this position.  It's her new thing.  

Snapshot #848: Bread Dough

July 10, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Hazel LOVES to eat bread dough.  It's fun to pat and roll too. 

Snapshot #847: Jamming

July 9, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Dave has been commendably patient with Hazel the last few days while encouraging her to help us turn our freshly-picked fruit into jam.  We now have over 50 jars of homemade jam; including Strawberry, Raspberry, Raspberry-Apricot, and Apricot Jam.

Snapshot #846: Daddy's Girl

July 8, 2013.  San Jose, California.  They're my favorite.

Snapshot #845: Strawberry Picking

July 6, 2013.  Watsonville, California.  We went for a drive down to Gizdich Ranch today to pick ourselves some strawberries and raspberries.  Yummm!

Snapshot #844: Like Daddy, Like Daughter

July 5, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Ahhhh....sweet.

Snapshot #843: The Faces of Hazel

July 4, 2013.  Sunnyvale, California.  4th of July BBQ with lots and lots of friends.  

Snapshot #842: Grandma Mari Lou & Dave

July 3, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I found this photo in the collection from last weekend's quick excursion to Utah.

Snapshot #841: Granny Lela

July 2, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Yesterday morning we had to bid farewell to Granny Lela and her family and fly back to California.  But not before Grandpa Dave called in a prescription for Hazel's ear ache.  Thanks so much!  It's nice having a doctor in the family.

Snapshot #840: Lessons in Somersaults

July 1, 2013.  Riverton, Utah.  Aunt Britton gave Hazel lessons in somersaults yesterday.  I just love watching them play together.