California Dreaming, Part I

Playing with rocks

When we got to Idaho we unpacked the truck and tried to settle in as much as we could before the Bear and I took off to California to see my parents for two entire weeks. We had a wonderful time. Not only did we get to hang out with Tuka for an even longer time but we got to spend time with Nana, my brother (Uncle Sean) and many of my good friends including Emily, Brian & Denise, Jenn, Shawnee, Masumi & Jessica, and Alison. The last time we were in California the Bear was maybe 8 months old or so. He was just learning to crawl and stand up. Here is one of the posts from that visit: Standing Stanley. This time (he turned two on this trip) he was better able to engage and bond with people. Especially those that he spent a lot of time with. One of the people he really took to was my good friend Alison. She's like my sister. I was trying to get the Bear to call her Auntie Alison or Auntie A but that didn't happen. He somehow started calling her Ali...but the way he says it, with a hard "L" (is that even such a thing?) it sounds like he's saying, "Addie". It's really adorable, I think. Ever since we left California and he sees a Subaru (that's what Alison drives) he says, "Addie!!!!" I have to explain that it's not her but it's definitely the same make and even, sometimes the same model. It's pretty funny. He does the same thing with Nana and CRVs. Anyhoo. Here is a Stan Bear and Alison photo-scroll-down with a short video at the end.

Opening his birthday present from "Ali"

Lookin' good in stripes at the Obon.

Storytime with Auntie

Sister from another Mister

Happiness is sitting on your Auntie's lap.

Storytime (that's Stelina on the right).

Watching fireworks from the backyard on the 4th.

Chalk love.

Alison, showing how it's done gracefully.

It was great seeing you Alison!
Here they are shuffling down the street:


shufflin' from erin kawamata on Vimeo.