Celebrate 27

I turned 27. We had a small celebration. Both Charlie a and Olive were sick.  I was happy to be their mother and take care of them. I made a yummy chocolate cake, my aunt Colleen's recipe. It wasn't as good as hers, of coarse! We enjoyed. 

 

Andy wrote me this Haiku. 

Dreamt of better days
One thing led to another
Living in the dream

Love you,
Andy

Los Gatos

I just got back from the grocery store. I don't know what it is but I love this place. I feel peaceful here. I feel safe. I feel a new level of friendliness. I feel a comfortable climate. I feel happy. 

Maybe a part of it is that it's summer. Maybe it's because it's new. Maybe it's because Los Gatos is just plain wonderful! 

It's less than an hour to the beach, the redwood forests, and the big city.

We are within walking distance to shopping stores, the grocery store, a beautiful big park, an ice cream shop and restaurants. There is a little fountain water area for kids to play in. Charlie loved it! 

The scenery is amazing. Big flower plants line the highways. Fruit trees scatter the neighborhood. It feels clean and fresh.

People are so friendly! Everywhere we go we have real conversations. They talk to us like we are a new friend. We met a mom with her two sons at the park, Melanie is from the UK, we exchanged numbers and I have a new friend. The ward surrounded us like a family. It all feels like it's too good to be true. 

And it is in a way. Because we leave at the end of the month to a new place, but I am hoping with all my heart that maybe someday we can live here again, permanently. 

We will enjoy our short 3 week stay here. 

Happy girl with her daddy! Sitting in the Los Gatos plaza. 

Charlie enjoying the fountains. 

A visit to the beach. 

Pigeon Point along highway 1. 

Tide pools at Pigeon Point. 

Letting my toes touch the cold water. 

Lombard Street in San Francisco. It's a crazy zig zag road. 

Redwood Forest. 

Traveling West

My pioneer ancestors really travelled west. It's a dream they could've never imagined how we do it today. I am grateful for their faith and willingness to do hard things. In this area I know I have it much easier then they do (and that's still an understatement)! 

We travelled west, in our car, 12 hours, over the span of two days, stopping at a comfortable hotel in Reno. We are in Los Gatos in a small 2 bedroom furnished apartment. The neighborhood we are in is ideal! Cute, clean homes surround us. We are in walking distance to great parks, historic downtown, the library, and our church. 

California is beautiful! It's green. Beautiful flowers line the freeways. Orange trees across the street. 

We visited the Redwood forest today and plan to go again. We had dinner in Santa Cruz and did a drive by the ocean. Charlie was very disappointed not to go onto the beach but it was already getting late. 

We'll be here all summer so we have plenty of time to play at the beach. 

Olive is a happy girl! She has been pleasant through all the traveling. Her personality is showing more everyday.

                        Redwood trees are awesome! I felt so small. 

Charlie was great on the drive too! I felt so grateful! 

A unique trunk we saw.