Two weekends ago we were able to steal away from the kiddos for an entire day! (Thank you Yaya :). Our adventures ranged from the industrial centers of Oxnard to the rolling hills of way-north Goleta. The main attraction was a tour on the Santa Barbara Landshark bus/boat – SO great. Their website is www.outtoseesb.com. It’s a vehicle that goes on land like a car, then all of a sudden you drive into the harbor and – hey – you are in a boat! You ride about 8 feet up on the street, and the day we had was clear and beautiful. We actually learned a whole lot of interesting things about this area, too. Bonuses in the day also included some techie stuff Matt got to pick out, and the extremely yummy facial that I had. We had a delicious dinner with my sister Kelly and her husband Ray (also celebrating their anniversary) at Louie’s. A really super day. 🙂

Do we look old enough to have been married for 9 years? Wait – don’t answer that. 🙂

Matt and the Land Shark

Dinner with Kelly and Ray

We had some great fun this year with our kiddos. Max was Darth Vader and Lucy was a 70’s Disco girl (thanks for the outfit, Mom!). Our little downtown street does trick or treating in the afternoon in the shops – and that was very cool! Lucy mastered ‘Trick or Treat’ and ‘thank you!’ very quickly. We took Max’s good buddy Mac (a robot) with us.

Official pumpkin carving (and no – Lucy has not just seen a ghost – she’s trying to smile)

Robot Mac and Darth Vader Max

Lucy the Disco Queen and Darth Vader Max

Three weeks ago I was able to get away for 4 days to Nashville, TN. My buddy Holly from Westmont was getting married, and since I got a free plane ticket, a super cheap car rental deal and free lodging – well who could resist? My other buddy Sukie (from DC) met me there and we had an amazing girly time together. Her mom’s friend Roweena, a genteel elderly southern lady, graciously opened her house to us. It was such a blessing to stay not in a motel, but in a lovely warm home, with comfy beds and so much hospitality. Some of our highlights included – a great breakfast meal at Noshville (a New York diner), pedicures at a brand-new and totally empty nail place, and painting the presents for the bride and groom at a pottery store. We also saw a great movie – ‘The Imposter’ – that was a suspenseful and terrifically written period piece – totally satisfying for 2 girls who don’t get to the movies much. We went shopping a tad – and I tried on some boots. One pair got on okay but I could NOT get them off! Sukie had to help and pull with all her might – and of course we needed to document it with our camera. Oh yea – we got upgraded from the Economy car we had paid for to a Kia mini-SUV. We loved driving it so much we kept saying – ‘I’m going to miss this car!’ Holly’s wedding was lovely and fun – buried deep in the TN woods at an old mill. Sukie and I talked our brains out, and seemed not at all to run out of things to say. The only downer for me was the ear infection I got from the airplane descent – yuck. But, all in all – such a super time!

Sukie and some of our great eats at Noshville

Aaaa – the pedicures

Coffee mug painting

With our beloved host, Roweena

Stuck boot on Toby – Sukie’s angle

Stuck boot on Toby – Toby’s angle

Me with my dear Sukie

Holly and Nathan

Me and the beautiful bride

Bit of charm from the wedding site

Happy three gals