Cousin Kayla

My cousin Kayla is out visiting this week and we are having the best time! First she came to my class to help me with the middle schoolers, then I took her to Santana Row and downtown Palo Alto. That night we ate at Maggiano's and met up with Christy and Liz, and Kalya listened while we caught up on all the latest gossip. Then yesterday she went with my mom to the ESL class and afterward up to Santa Cruz-the beach, the Boardwalk, and then to a spa party where we got all pampered before coming home. I hadn't been to the Boardwalk in years and years. It was really fun, but some of those rides are terrifying!!!One of the things Kayla wanted to do while out here was take her senior protraits for her yearbook. I thought it would be a good idea to do it on the rocks where we could overlook the ocean and the surfers. We forgot about the waves, though. I this in this photo she is wondering if this was such a good idea!!!
Frolicking in the waves...
Some views of the beautiful coast. When I am looking at this, it reminds me, it really is nice to be home.
This is a big surf spot. You can see a few specs out in the ocean, those are guys and gals waiting for a wave.

Bachelorette Party

This past weekend we stole Liz away and took her to Monterey for a weekend of girlie fun. This is a view down the peninsula. Me and Liz
Laura and Liz
Liz and Libby
Liz and Mary
Me, Liz, Laura, Mary
We're so crazy!
The bride-to-be
Getting ready to go out...
And we're off! Me and Libby partying down!
Having fun!
What a weekend!

World Cup Fever!!!

Here I am in my shirt and headband ready to root for Argentina!!! Unfortunately it was a tie game. Oh well, I was still there to support the team! On the left, a Ghana fan. On the right, an Argentina fan. I hope they play each other! How exciting!
After the game what better way to celebrate than with frozen yogurt? It's nothing like Argentina but it's a California tradition! Yum!

Liz's Bridal Shower

Here is Liz (middle) with her Sister-in-Law-to-be Christine (left) and her mom, Cathy. Laura and Libby (bridesmaids)
Mary (bridesmaid) and Ellen
Dress made out of toilet paper. This was a party game. Liz's was really pretty.
Ellen and I designed her sister's dress. Like the gloves?
Opening presents-this one's from her mom! Gonna be a fun night in that sexy number!

Sideways Weekend

This weekend I went doen to Santa Maria to visit Levi and he surprised me with a weekend in Solvang! This is the area in California where the film Sideways was filmed, so there was a map we used that showed where things are and also where these places appeared in the film. We started off down Foxen Canyon Dr. where there are about 20 different tasting rooms. The first tasting room we stopped in was Foxen. We almost missed it, because it's just a little shed on the side of the road! We liked the wines here a lot, especially the syrah. But one of our glasses broke already! Boo! In the movie, this is where, when the lady turns around, the two of them fill their glasses up to the top. We didn't get to go that, but we would have!
Hay bales. We are really out in the countryside here.
In front of Fess Parker, the next winery where we stopped. The wine we tried was just alright, but the building and grounds were beautiful! This was the place where Miles drinks the spit jar when the guy won't fill his glass. Again, a tempting scene to relive, but...
Windmill
We also stopped at this place where they breed these teeny horses. The are so adorable, and they do this little whinny and prance but they are just so little! This little one is 5 weeks old. At full grown they grow to about the size of a small pony. The man working was trying to get Levi to buy me one. We didn't get one, but I named her Button.
Finally we made it into Solvang! This town is so cute, there are little Danish shops and windmills all through the town.
Dinner, of course, at the Hitching Post. But we didn't drink merlot!
Other things to do in Solvang.

Ride a shoe...
...and train to be a soldier. Ten hut!

Too Many Tamales!

This Saturday was the Tamale Festival in San Jose. What better way to be welcomed back home? We had to go and try out what San Jo had to offer. Our favorites- Wholly Tamales pork with red sauce. Mmmm! There was also a lot of entertainment in the form of singing, mariachi music, and here, you can see the costumes of some of the dancers. What a beautiful outfit!
Levi loves tamales!
I am so full! Just enjoying the music in the shade, in the company of my boyfriend once again!