Forty and Idyllwild

I didn't get many pictures (and those that I did get were blurry) but, rest assured, we did celebrate Nippon's 40th birthday!! He's not one for big parties so I bought a couple of little cakes, put some candles on one, and the kids and I sang him happy birthday.

I had been planning on booking a nice beach-side resort here in SD, but Nippon said he preferred to go to the mountains for a birthday weekend getaway. We decided to go to Idyllwild. It's this super cute town in the San Jacinto Mountains north east of San Diego. We rented a cottage that was within walking distance to shops, food, and entertainment.

This was the view from the master bedroom.

Foggy morning.

It was especially nice having a kitchen and a place to sit down and eat.

Everyone loved cuddling up in front of the fire. There's something about building a fire, and the subsequent smell, that completes a chilly mountain vacation experience. 

Did I mention it snowed?!! We were crazy excited when we read the weather reports that there was a chance of snow. It was the end of April, so we had our doubts about any real snow falling. 

We were wrong. And quite happy we were!

It was mostly frozen rain...

but we did get a bit of snow dusting too.

On our last day we went to Oma's for breakfast. If only our Oma was there!

Before getting in the car for the 1.75 hour drive home, we stopped and got our wiggles out at this unique and colorful park. The kids really liked the tire swing! 

Goodbye Idyllwild. We shall be back! 

Grandma C's and More Dress Up

Back in March, when I visited Safford, I went to see my Grandma Clawson. I don't know why I didn't get any pictures with, or of, her. I was probably having too much fun! I'm certain of it. I feel like I never have enough time there. I definitely need more than an afternoon to hear all the stories, see all the treasures (Sue Blake is my mom so I must use the word treasures), and enjoy all the sights (park, putt-putt coarse, upstairs (nuff said), backyard view of the pond, or hiking "down below"). Anyway, here are the few pictures I took. They are mostly dress up silliness, which is almost compulsory when visiting grandma.

I spent a good amount of time looking at items tucked inside this curio. It is full of my grandfather's things. There are American Indian relics, an old rusty barb wire that came from the Berlin Wall, coins from around the world, and lots of WWII items. This is a Japanese teacup, with lid and saucer, found by my grandfather on Iwo Jima during the war. They were the first American soldiers to come on land after the bomb was dropped.

This is a coat that my grandfather purchased for my grandmother back in the day. She didn't actually say when, but my mom saw a picture of my grandma wearing this jacket standing in front of their old house. The house my mom grew up in. This means, at the latest, he gave it to her in the 80s. I'm pretty sure it was earlier than that though. She told me that he purchased it at Peebles Department Store on Main Street. I tried searching to see if I could find out when it was there, but found only that they expanded from the east coast in the 70s. The collar is real fur. I almost fell over when she told me that I could have it!

Whilst talking with my grandma about how she always looks so beautiful, and wears the cutest clothes, she laughed and reminded me that she has been wearing the same outfits for decades! This is quite true, save a few additions here and there. The dress she had worn to church that day, was the same dress she wore to my Aunt Lisa's wedding (over 20 years ago). She then beckoned me past the vibrating weight loss machine, and into her closet to prove it. She still had shoes that I remember putting on when I was a kid! There was a pair of black velvet high heels, with a diamond buckle, that I always loved. I found this dress she bought while in Germany, and I just had to put it on! Please take note of all the awesomeness in the background, and the carpet.

My niece Adyson.

She looks just like her daddy.

Dress Up

I've lost a bit of weight and decided to try on some saris and salwar kameez (long shirt with loose pants and a dupatta aka shawl) that I haven't been able to fit into for a while. A long while. I was pretty happy to not only fit into them, but also remembered how to do the pleating and the wrapping of the sari. Afton came into my room to see what I was doing and decided to take some pictures with my phone. I will now blame him for the blurry images.

I have never worn this particular purple and green sari to any events. When I purchased it, I had it altered to fit me perfectly. I then proceeded to gain too much weight to wear it. Silly me. 

I pulled out my wedding dress to show Afton, and decided to see if it fit as well.....AND IT DID!!!

Afton exclaimed how beautiful I looked, and was sure that we were going to get married. How sweet is that!? 

It was pretty fun putting on my Indian attire. Now I just need a reason to wear them out!