More wedding pics

I've got a backlog of photos that I haven't posted, from the wedding/trip to California, and even before that. Here are some cute photos from J's brother's wedding a couple of weeks ago.

Doodle and Aaron, the ring bearer. Featured previously in their photo booth photos.

Action shot. This was about when Doodle started telling Aaron he was supposed to slow down and wait for her. She knew how to do the flower girl thing, and wasn't going to let a silly, too-fast-walking little boy mess it up. He slowed down and it all worked out fine.

Of course this was after she'd approached the seating area and did a kickass fist pump in the air as if she were saying "HELL YEAH I'M THE FLOWER GIRL!" This was followed by her grinning hugely and giving thumbs up to everyone as she walked about a third of the way down the aisle, too busy with the thumbs up to scatter petals.

She was later complimented by the bridesmaids for lightening the mood of the ceremony and being the best flower girl ever. I think she pretty much rocked too.

J's paternal side of the family. Cuteness all around.

Bound for California!

Looking out the window at the pouring rain it's hard to believe that in ~13 hours we'll be in sunny, HOT, dry California. We're bound for the greater L.A./Orange County region for a few days of celebration. First up: J's brother's wedding. Doodle will be the flower girl with a fabulously twirly dress and, most importantly for my purple-loving diva, a beautiful purple bow. J is a groomsman and will be looking snazzy in his nice new suit. For Roo, a white button-up shirt, grayish pants and possibly a little vest if it's not too hot. For me a dress that's dressy enough to blend with my fabulous crew. I'm even planning to wear mascara. Yep, big deal. It's sure to be a big, fun bash and I'm looking forward to it.

After the wedding we'll have a mellow day, then J's grandma is hosting a birthday party for Roo. On the guest list: 40 people so far. Yes, 40. Including kids. Forecast: loudness and mayhem and lots of love all around. It'll be great.

I'll give a full report when we're back. Until then, I'm off to pack. Gotta get the swimsuits for the beach! :D

Waterplay

It began so innocently, just wanting to touch the water.

Sleeves got wet, so the jacket came off. Splashing continued.

Then the sandals came off.

Before we knew it, she was in.

She seemed to be enjoying herself, so we let her play.

One soggy kid and a change of clothes later, no one would know how much fun a toddler had just had in the CalTech Gene Pool.

Nympheaceae (water lilies)

Some photos of water lilies from a pond at CalTech.

Same photo stylized with Photoshop.

Same photo stylized with Photoshop.

Tuckered out

The after-effects of a day spent at the beach playing in sand, listening to music, and eating one messy ice cream cone.


Sometimes it's tough to be a kid.

Cali pics, part 1

In lieu of a post of substance, I present photos from our recent whirlwind trip to California.


Doodle with her Great-Grandma May. Me, 22 weeks pregnant (please ignore the blurriness and double-chin. Those really only happen in photos. Really.).


Doodle, J, and Great-Grandpa playing.


Doodle being cute, with strawberries on her face. Luring in the turtles at CalTech.


Giggling uncontrollably at Auntie H and bubbles. Group photo at the turtle pond.

The Cabin

We had a couple of reasons for driving to California rather than flying this time around.  First, the cost was comparable.  Second, we would be able to help run wedding-prep errands if we had our own vehicle down there.  Third, we could stop by the cabin on the way.  Once we realized the third option, there was no way we were flying.  

The Cabin belongs to J's dad, and is located in the Eastern Sierra Nevada, a little north of Bishop.  It is J's favorite part of the whole world.  He grew up visiting his grandparents' cabin up there (incidentally, their cabin is right next door to J's dad's cabin), and loves that area.  He even spent a summer working up there.  Plus I had only seen the cabin in winter (a one-night stay after fleeing an impending Death Valley storm on New Years Eve 2005) and spring (our first roadtrip, spring break 2003).  I needed to see the cabin in summer.  So we had to go.

There are a couple of ways you can go to get to the cabin from SLC.  You can drive across the top of Nevada on I-80, then head south on Hwy 395.  Or you can drive diagonally southwest across Nevada on Hwy 6.  Most people will opt for I-80.  Why?  It's a major interstate with predictable gas stations, more traffic, and towns along the way.  Highway 6 does not have this.

View Larger Map  

Highway 6 is in the middle of nowhere.  This would deter most road-trippers.  But not us.  It's the faster way to go, and so we went.  Turns out it's a really beautiful drive.  Yes, we kept a close eye on the gas gauge with the sparseness of towns on the map.  But that was fine.  We were free of bazillions of billboards and the same set of fast food signs peeking up from each exit along major interstates.  We got to see the Basin and Range region in all its glory.  The passes were pretty, the traffic was minimal, and it was easy going.  I'd definitely recommend that route.

Our stay at the cabin was wonderful.  We turned off our cell phones, and settled into a few days of just being together and enjoying the area.  We went on an epic adventure (post to follow), and spent the rest of our time relaxing.  Here are some cabin pics.  I really hope to spend more time there in the future.  (As you can see, Miss Doodle loves it there too!)

  

We're back!

Day one back from the roadtrip: already taught a section of Human Anatomy lab, and am now catching up on emails. Soooo much tidying and unpacking left to do, plus mowing, weeding, and seedling transplanting. But it's raining now, so the outdoors stuff will have to wait.

Here's a summary of the trip, with more details and pics to follow.

31st - Drove to SLC. Danced in the Shah Sitara Showcase. Crashed at a friend's house.
1st - Drove to The Cabin (Eastern Sierra Nevada, CA).
2nd - Crazily long hike above Mammoth Lakes.
3rd - Vegged at the cabin, recovering from hike. Bought chocolate and books in Mammoth. Went to the hotsprings.
4th - Drove to Glendora (greater LA region, CA). Stayed with J's mom.
5th - Ran errands for T's (J's sis) wedding.
6th - More wedding prep. Rehearsal at the church, rehearsal dinner afterwards.
7th - Wedding day! It was beautiful, and we had a blast.
8th - Packed up. Went to MECDA Bellydance Carnivale. Left SoCal, camped in a corner of AZ just outside St. George, UT.
9th - Puttered around campsite in the morning. Drove home to Logan.

Doodle did wonderfully with all of the driving, and really loved the cabin. She seemed to enjoy being fawned over by family once she got over her initial stranger danger with various people. She gives high fives, knuckles, and "noggin" (head bumps) on request, plus kisses or hugs to the family members she warms up to. She's such a love.

Okay, back to catching up on other things. I'll post photos of Miss Doodle in her cuteness, plus other random stuff later.

Same-sex marriage legal in California

California's Supreme Court ruled today that same-sex couples have the constitutional right to marry! From the SF Chronicle:

In a 4-3 decision, the justices said the state's ban on same-sex marriage violates the "fundamental constitutional right to form a family relationship."

Here's another article from the L.A. Times. They say Gov. Schwarzenegger says he'll follow the court's ruling.

"I respect the court's decision and as governor, I will uphold its ruling," [Schwarzenegger] said in a statement. "Also, as I have said in the past, I will not support an amendment to the constitution that would overturn this state Supreme Court ruling."

Unfortunately, it looks like hate groups such as the Campaign for Children and Families will be pushing for a ballot initiative in November for a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Think I'm extreme for referring to such a nice, wholesome-sounding group as a hate group? See for yourself what they said about this court ruling:

On a 4-3 vote, the California Supreme Court has destroyed the civil institution of marriage between a man and a woman, and law-biding Americans must condemn it in the strongest terms. By bowing down to homosexual activists and the rebel city of San Francisco, the California Supreme Court has exchanged the rule of law for the rule of unbridled power to destroy all that is good and sacred.

That sounds like hatred to me. According to the L. A. Times, "more than 100,000 same-sex couples in the state, about a quarter of whom have children," will be affected by this law (data from U.S. Census bureau). I would think a group supporting families would want the stability of the institution of marriage available to these families. That would be best, right? I guess not, when addressing something that they feel could "destroy all that is good and sacred". Yikes.

I'll be keeping a close eye on these goings-on in California. I truly hope this ruling stands, and no amendments are passed. I just want people to be able to love who they want, and if they want the state to recognize their union, then I want them to have that. Good for them. I just don't understand when people turn it into a good vs. evil thing. That doesn't help anyone, and only makes more hate.

What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
It's the only thing that there's just too little of.
What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
No not just for some but for everyone.
-Burt Bacharach