Snapshot #829: Straight Lines

June 18, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Hazel has a new fascination with lining up similar things into straight lines.

Snapshot #828: Celebrate Fathers

June 17, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Hazel and her Daddy; the two most precious gifts in my life.

Snapshot #827: View from Oakland Temple

June 15, 2013.  Oakland, California.  Magnificent view today of the San Francisco Bay from the Oakland LDS Temple.

Snapshot #826: Long Walk

June 14, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Hazel and I went for a long walk this afternoon around the neighborhood.  She even got out of the stroller and walked on her own for about a mile.  I was quite impressed.

Snapshot #825: Updated Floor Plan

June 13, 2013.  Sunnyvale, California.  All the hard work is beginning to pay off.  I met with my client today and submitted a few updates and changes to the proposed floor plan for his new chiropractic office.  I also had samples representing all the proposed new finishes.  We're moving forward and I should have the complete set of Design Development Drawings ready for bidding within the month.

Snapshot #824: Chicken & Spinach Salad

June 12, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Today's lunch was too pretty not to take a picture of.

Snapshot #823: Chasing Birds

June 11, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Hazel has become disenchanted with slides ever since she went down a steep one and got her breath taken away.  She spent more time today in the park chasing birds than playing on the equipment.  I was pleased to see it.

Snapshot #822: Ideas for Shared Boy's & Girl's Room

June 10, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I just can't stop designing and ideating as of late.  I put together a pinterest page for a friend pulling together some ideas for a Shared Boy's & Girl's Room.  Surprise, there are non-Pottery Barn ways of doing such a thing.  

Snapshot #821: Drafting House Plans

June 8, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I've spent all my spare time the last couple days drafting up a floor plan for my brother's prospective house to be built in Utah.  I thoroughly enjoy the problem-solving process of space planning...especially for new-home construction.  I could do custom home design day-in and day-out and be extraordinarily content as a designer.  This photo shows one option for the exterior facade of the house.  Dreamy.  

Snapshot #820: John Adams Book Review

June 7, 2013.  San Jose, California.  This evening Dave and I attended a potluck dinner and BBQ with couples from my book club.  After dinner I led a review and discussion of the book John Adams, by David McCullough.  It is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it.  It was a lot of work for me, personally, to get through the book because it is so long and so dense.  Reading it, I hung on to every detail and attempted to absorb and comprehend the characters and the time period in their fullness.  I now have an even greater respect for John & Abigail Adams and the Founding Fathers of our nation.  For John & Abigail Adams especially, the sacrifice was great despite the thankless job it was the majority of the time.  If ever I were to describe a man possessing model integrity it would be John Adams.

Snapshot #819: Hazel and Friend

June 6, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Little Miss Hazel with one of her really good friends.  This morning after I told her we were going over to her friend's house I found her sitting in the garage in her stroller, just waiting.

Video Snapshot #818: Laughing with Daddy

June 5, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I don't know who was smiling bigger...Hazel, Dave, or Me?!

Snapshot #817: Snail Crossing

June 4, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Yesterday morning I looked out the window to see that Dave had moved our trash can only halfway to the curb.  When I inquired on the subject he sheepishly indicated that he could not move it any further at this time because there is a 'crossing in progress.'  I laughed and laughed.  Dave truly does have a deep respect for nature and animals; so much so that he wouldn't endanger Mr. Snail in progress of crossing our sidewalk.  Dave, you're my favorite.

Snapshot #816: Living Room Plan

June 3, 2013.  San Jose, California.  This morning I sketched up a living room plan for a friend.  Once they got me going I just couldn't stop.  Click here for a link to the photo ideation room for K&K's living room.  I hope you like the ideas, K&K!

Snapshot #814: Playing in the Park with Daddy

May 31, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Daddies are the best!

Snapshot #815: Work Party

June 1, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Dave invited over his team from work for a BBQ and baby shower.  It was nice to finally be able to put a face with the names.

Snapshot #813: Hide & Seek

May 30, 2013.  San Jose, California.  The best hiding spot, ever.

Snapshot #812: Halloween Wreath

May 29, 2013.  San Jose, California.  It's that time of year again...to start thinking about and planning Craft Day 2013 for my local relief society.  The big day isn't until October, but I like to get a head start to keep from being overwhelmed at the last minute.  Click Here to see some of the ideas I've compiled.

Snapshot #811: Park Day

May 28, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Park Day...again.

Snapshot #810: Memorial Day Mayhem

May 27, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Last minute, Dave and I decided to host a Memorial Day BBQ and talked 32 of our closest friends into joining us...and so glad we did.

Snapshot #809: Urgent Care

May 25, 2013.  Mountain View, California.  Urgent Care is not where we originally planned to spend our Saturday evening, but we broke down and went after three days of fevers spiking to 105.  Today I am extraordinarily thankful for doctors who work on holiday weekends and for pharmacies that are also open on holiday weekends so that my baby with an ear infection can receive the healing she needs; a fact, I realize, I take for granted. 

Snapshot #808: Quiet Book Progress: Butterfly Net

May 24, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I still need to tweak the netting and I may have to replace the felt buttons for real ones at the flowers...but I'm really pleased with how this page is turning out.  I'm  back on task because I've made a goal to finish all eight pages before Hazel's second birthday (in August.)

Snapshot #807: Color Palette

May 23, 2013.  Sunnyvale, California.  I met with my client today and got this color palette approved for the re-design of his chiropractic office.

Snapshot #806: Working from Home

May 22, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I've tried doing my professional design work from home with little Hazel running around hours and days at a time while I draft at the computer before a deadline, and have been consistently dissatisfied with the effect on mine and Hazel's relationship.  Consequently, I've determined that it's better for Hazel to spend a day or two a week with a friend while I work from home before a deadline. Today was one of those days and I am very happy with the results of our decision.  Now, Hazel has a fun and productive day playing with friends at the park or attending Music Makers while I'm in my zone.  Then, when I'm with her--I can really be with her.  

Snapshot #805: Hide and Seek

May 21, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Today I was very aware of how complete mine and Dave's life is now that Hazel is a part of it.

Snapshot #804: Zucchini Ribbon Salad

May 20, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Had this for dinner.  Yum!

Snapshot #803: First Garden

May 18, 2013.  San Jose, California.  It was a whole lot of work preparing this little plot of land for our very first garden.  If nothing grows I will be very, very sad.  We planted cherry tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, green onions, basil, cilantro, green salad mix, yellow onions, bell peppers, cucumbers, and zucchini.  (That was after starting the seeds indoors, cleaning out the cat litter, removing the crabgrass, digging a trench and laying the brick, breaking up the soil, mixing in compost and potting soil, and making water troughs.)

Snapshot #802: Dinner and a Movie

May 17, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Dinner and a Movie.  It's always a good night when I don't have to make dinner.   

Snapshot #801: A Day for Hazel

May 16, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I've spent so much time in the last two weeks focusing on this house, people outside this house, preparing to host book club, planning Dave's birthday, etc., etc. that Hazel has been left to her own devices on many occasions.  So today I just focused on her...all day long.  We built towers out of mega blocks, played house with her baby dolls, gave her pushes in her new swing, had a shapes and colors lesson using chalk on the back patio, and studied her ABC's.  It was a great day. 

Snapshot #800: Celebrate Dave

May 15, 2013.  Sunnyvale, California.  Today we celebrate Dave and everything he means to us.  I can't imagine a better man for me nor a better dad for Hazel.  We are thankful he is ours forever.

Video Snapshot #799: Somersaults

May 14, 2013.  San Jose, California.  She's figured out the somersault.

Snapshot #798: Baby Reminiscence

May 13, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Hazel found her old car seat in the garage, dragged into the house and sat in it for a good long time.

Snapshot #797: Game Night

May 11, 2013.  San Jose, California.  In celebration of getting the first coat of paint on an old set of patio furniture I found, we strung some lights and had friends over.  All that tedious painting was totally worth it. 

Snapshot #796: Half-Bucket Swing

May 10. 2013.  San Jose, California.  One of Hazel's favorite things at the park is the swing.  We are lucky to have a tree in our backyard that is suitable for a swing...so Hazel's birthday present, a half-bucket swing, came three months early this year.  Lucky her!  When she remembers that it's there she runs into the house, grabs my index finger and pulls me outside to put her in it and give her a push...or two...or three...or forty...

Snapshot #795: Music Makers

May 9, 2013.  San Jose, California.  So cute in pigtails; Hazel and I went to Music Makers this morning.  A class put on by neighboring mothers involving drums, rattles, a parachute, marching, stopping, dancing, freezing, clapping, singing, etc.  Of course, she loved it and kept asking for "Mas, mas!"

Snapshot #794: Putting my Feet Up

May 8, 2013.  San Jose, California.  It was a busy evening followed by a busy morning because I hosted Book Club today.  Finally a break--and I can put my feet up.

Snapshot #793: Society of Caregivers

May 7, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I taught the lesson in my Relief Society on Sunday, drawing from President Henry B. Eyring's talk given in the general relief society broadcast last fall, "The Caregiver."  It blesses my life in miraculous ways being given the opportunity to serve in this incredible Society of Caregivers.  The most precious moments of my life have come while in the service of others.

Snapshot #792: Good Kitty

May 6, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Who knew there were so many good uses for Mega Blocks?

Snapshot #791: Asiatic Lilies

May 4, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I am in the process of furnishing and beautifying our backyard patio.  This morning I potted our planter with Asiatic Lilies and Alyssums.  So pretty!  I haven't been known for a green thumb...so I hope these last.

Snapshot #790: Fun in the Sun

May 3, 2013.  Sunnyvale, California.  A friend invited us over for some fun in the sun.  Hazel hated every minute of it...can you tell?

Snapshot #789: Angels Watching Over

May 2, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I have no doubt that angels are watching over us.  Yesterday morning a portion of our back fence collapsed when Hazel touched it.  It scared her a good deal, but she came away without a scratch; like an angel moved her just out of the way.

Snapshot #788: Places

May 1, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Sometimes when Hazel puts things in cute places I leave them there for a couple of days because whenever I see it, it makes me smile.