Twilight

I finally broke down, joined the masses and read Twilight (thanks to my sweet sister-in-law for lending me her copy). It is GREAT! At first I thought it was a bit juvenile (high school biology class?), but then I got really into the love story and could not put the book down. I can't wait to read the next one. Do you think Edward should make Bella a vampire?

The Peanut Shell

Ella and I did some 'work' for the Peanut Shell, an online baby sling company based out of the Bay Area. Here are a few pictures they included on their web page. It was fun and we received a free stylish sling.

A disclaimer for Benj: he did NOT want to be in the pictures~ but the photographer thought it was really neat that we came as a family and forced him to pose with us:)

To his embarrassment, there is now a family picture of us on the site... and we're kissing!

Portland

We have never been to Oregon, so when the Bailey's suggested a double date to Portland we couldn't say no.

It is a beautiful area; green, Columbia river, lots of hills and trees. All around a great city ~ similar feel to Salt Lake. We went ward hopping to 5 different wards on Sunday... huge primaries and lots of youth; but we still think ours is best:).

If you could go somewhere next weekend, just for the weekend, where would you go?

Yosemite

How can you beat a weekend in Yosemite?

They've got it all; great hikes, great views, great weather, great accommodations and great friends to explore it with. We rented a cabin in Wowona, hiked to Inspiration Point,
ate picnic lunches with incredible views of El Capitan and Valley and wildlife,

went to lower Yosemite Falls (since it is fall the Falls are dry), and played hiking games (girls won of course:)).

The next day we hiked to Taft Point (at the end is a great view of El Capitan and a 3200 foot drop).

This is a picture of Benj, Ella and me (we are really tiny) on Taft Point.

Then we went to Glacier Point for an amazing view of Half Dome.

Ella recently did a new trick and performed for the camera while we were there.

Finally, went on an evening stroll through Mariposa Grove and saw the Grizzly Giant.

In case you haven't met him before here are some facts:

~ It is the largest tree in Yosemite and believed to be the 5th largest tree on earth.

~ It is 100 feet around at the base with a diameter of 29-31 feet (conflicting reports), it and is 209 feet high, although it presently has a snag top and once was much higher.

~ The Giant weighs an astounding 2 million pounds and comprising 30,000 cubic feet of lumber, enough to build some 20 homes.

~Its lowest limbs are 6 feet across, and the branches have branches that are the size of large trees. It is spectacular.

I scream, You scream, We all scream for ice cream!

No doubt about it... Ella likes the good stuff.

Jen and London taught Ella to color while we did our 'swap kids at the regional center and go to the temple' initiatory trip.

Weekend

We love orange juice. Whenever Simply Orange is on sale, I stock up. Both Benj and I like our OJ fresh and pulpy. Benj and Ella started going on Saturday morning breakfast dates when she was first born. They walked to a little cafe on Broadway and would get donuts and fresh OJ. How fresh, you ask? This fresh. Whole oranges at the top, get sliced in half inside, then squeezed into delicious juice right before your eyes. Yum!My friend Melissa stayed with us this past weekend~ the same Melissa who got me into Blogging, Thanks Mel. We had a great time catching up (she moved south to Orange County), going to the Ghiradelli 12 annual chocolate festival, checking out the view from the View, window shopping, people watching and dinner at Wolfgang Puck's Postrio's.

Melissa trying on a funny 'mouse shoe' in Bloomingdale's:)

Jersey Boys

Last night we went to Jersey Boys. I do not recommend it. The music is fantastic (Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons), but the language is foul, and story pretty crude. This is the only musical Benj and I have been to together that we have not bought a poster after seeing... and we did buy a poster of Cats (even though that musical is also a waste). Point being, we support Cats more than Jersey Boys and we hate Cats!:)

We did, however, recently really enjoy the Santa Cruz Shakespeare Festival. We saw "Much ado about nothing." The play was really fun and professional, the open Redwood forest theater was charming, and we definitely recommend it.

My aunt Fran and uncle Rick came to Napa for a wedding and stopped by to meet Ella. It was great to see them (they live in Anchorage) and introduce them to our little Empress.