Come Out, Little One!

We've been on "baby watch" with Erin's baby due any day. She and I were texting this morning:

(I was tentatively working today if there were no signs of labor)

Erin: "No babies.... no nothin'... have your meetings."

Me: "Come ON, Baby!! Go eat something spicy"

Erin: "Seriously, I am going to drink a gallon of Challula."

Me: "A poem for baby: Said Auntie Hez to the baby: Come out and see the sun! It's dark in there in Mommy's tum, come out and have some fun!"

Erin: "A poem from mama: Git out baby! Don't mean maybe!"

I will keep you posted. In the meantime, Rosie had some fun playing in a box that came for one of my school families. She kept wanting me to join her inside the box..... I think if I were to get in, I may never have been able to get out.

"Picka Punkin" Parts 1 and 2

We headed to the "punkin" patch on Sunday- we snapped some pictures of Rosie before realizing that the pumpkin patch was closed. We left with no pumpkin.... but our own teary pumpkin in the backseat. We went back today today to relive the experience and help Rosie pick a pumpkin to bring home.








 

Road Trip!

We're home from our road trip! The washing machine has been humming all day and we are slowly settling back in. We had an amazing time, but it feels good to be home. We rented an RV 10 days ago with the intention of heading to South Dakota (with many stops along the way) to visit Mt. Rushmore. I guess I should back up a little, as the idea for this trip has some history. 4 years ago after camp, Ron and I decided to take a fall trip to Wyoming to see the Grand Tetons. Ron grew up traveling through this part of the country every summer and we thought it would be fun to camp for a week and take in the sights. Let me just make a disclaimer and add that I am a fair weather camper. I can sleep on a rock, filter my water, hang my food in a tree, and tinkle in the woods with the rest of them.... but I don't exactly love it. Let me tell you what I do love: I love hot coffee in the morning, I love being able to shower at least every 48 hours, I love my sleeping accommodations to include a pillow, and I love being able to use the restroom in the middle of the night without putting on a jacket and shoes first. Our trip to the Tetons?? It rained.... it snowed.... there was no hot coffee to be found....it snowed again..... no pillow, no hot showers, and I definitely had to put on shoes and a jacket to use the restroom in the middle of the night. To top it all off, I had a 100 pound yellow lab sleeping in my sleeping bag with me, and I don't mean Ron. Let's just say I whined. I may have even cried. Ron was insensitive. We ended up the Motel 6. That brings us to the RV. This is the type of roughing it that I can totally handle, especially with a 2 year old in tow. We packed our 25 foot Tioga Ranger with plenty of snacks and toys to last us for a month and headed for the mountains. We made it to Colorado and had so much fun exploring that we decided to scrap Mt. Rushmore and spend more time in the Rockies. Some of the highlights included watching Rosie take in the sights with all of her 2 year old awe and wonder, hearing Elk bugling in the Rocky Mountains, seeing the fall colors wherever we went, exploring Telluride, visiting The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and enjoying being together surrounded by the beauty of Colorado. We even camped  with our friends, Brett and Kate Rogers who live near Denver, and spent a night with the Eckerts in Flagstaff on our way home. Check out our slideshow. We had a great time.

We Love The Rev.

Did you know that Ron was ORDAINED last weekend? Although nothing is really changing with his job at YSSC, it was a true exclamation to his hard work at Fuller and a calling that he has felt for a long time. He has become a parish associate at our church and will be working with the young adult ministry in his spare time. 3 out of Ron's 4 brothers came out for the wonderful event. We also had friends from Oakhurst, Washington, and all over California head south for the weekend. We had so much fun being together. Saturday night I threw a gathering together with my sister-in-law, Gayle's help. She is the true hostess with the mostess.... I'm just her trusty sidekick. I had 30 shirts made to surprise Ron, and we whipped up a great BBQ. Everyone enjoyed being together. Dave topped off the night by reading an amazing testimony to Ron, and gifting him with their dad's stole that he wore in their wedding. It was an amazing moment. Late afternoon Sunday, we went back to the church to set up for the Ordination Ceremony. We set up the patio for a post-ceremony fiesta for 150. I suddenly felt like I was planning Ron's wedding... 

The ceremony was incredible. It was a perfect combination of Holy moments and fun. The words spoken to, and about, Ron were heartfelt and genuine.  

Ron was surrounded by dear friends and family. It was a great evening. Monday came too soon and everyone headed home. Ron and I were sad to see everyone go and spend most of Monday feeling blue. 

Rosie spent the weekend surrounded by her family that she doesn't see too often, but adores. Rosie was enthralled by Allison, our niece, and the makeup that she brought with her from Minnesota. After everyone departed on Monday, Rosie wandered from room to room asking, "Ally?" ........."Uncle Dave?"........ "Gayle?"............ Mom and Dad are just not as fun.

We spent part of Friday showing our niece and nephew the sights of Laguna Beach. The Shake Shack was my idea...... are you surprised?

Our dearest Rosie decided to try her hand at makeup artistry, using Ally's supplies. I think she was going for kitty whiskers and a beauty mark, what do you think?
Ready to hit the beach with Uncle Steve
Pre-party decor

I'll give you 5 dollars if you can name the movie!
Surprise!











Sunday night... The Mentors, minus Dave Downs and Jon Crantz
All Eckerts! Believe it or not, there is more where this came from!!
The Eckert Brothers, minus Doug
Monday came too soon.... :(


What a gift to be surrounded and supported by such an amazing family, great friends, and an incredible church we are BLESSED!!

Make Way for Ducklings

Look at our big girl in her "new" bed! We have this Eckert family heirloom bed that Ron's grandfather made. It's a beautiful four-poster bed fit for a queen... or a tiny princess, in this case. As we're anticipating another baby Eckert girl in December, we wanted to give Rosie plenty of time to adjust to her new bed before "baby sister" comes in and takes over the crib. Rosie has not yet slept in her new bed, but she likes reading, playing, and of course, doing some hearty jumping! 

Laborious Labor Day

On Sunday afternoon, we headed back up to Bass Lake. You may be wondering why, since we've been home only a short time. Well, my dearest husband...ehhmm... got a ticket on Hwy 99 during the summer. Rosie and I were not along for that ride. He was going just a "yittle" too fast on the 99 pulling a trailer full of stuff for camp. Because of his commercial driver's license, he had to appear in court in the LOVELY little town of Lamont, off of the 99 on Tuesday. We made lemonade out of our 400 dollar lemon and enjoyed some fun activities at the lake...

We relaxed, spent time with friends, and enjoyed glimpses of fall that we will never see in San Clemente. If you sense a little bitterness in my writing, it's because I'M SO READY for summer to be over! I know, feel sorry for me because I live in San Clemente. I'm schlepping my boxes of ceramic pumpkins, fall leaf wreaths, and pumpkin spice candles from the garage while our neighbors walk by in their bikinis on their way to the beach. I'm just ready for fall.

The main event on Monday was to check out the Peddler's Fair. In my memories from childhood, this was a magical bi-annual event where the streets of Oakhurst were closed off to traffic and there were hundreds of booths selling wonderful handmade treasures and tasty treats. One might even be able to trade a hotdog in exchange for a pet turtle. Really. This happened. Now, the Peddler's Fair has been moved to a dusty parking lot in Coarsegold, and the whole thing resembles a big rusty yard sale. There were a few treasures to be had, but certainly no hotdog-for turtle trading going on. It truly was charming in its own way.

Rosie checked out an authentic TeePee.

.....and posed for a picture with "Sunny."

..... and searched for treasures with Daddy and Wrigs.
.... and checked out the finger puppets with Mama.
.... and goofed around a little, too.

We also ate at Danny's Pizza..... twice. Don't judge me. I'm pregnant and my family does whatever I say when it comes to food.

 We ate there once for dinner and then again for delicious turkey sandwiches the next day. We did get to enjoy a home cooked meal by our favorite chef, Joyce Mueller and co. but, we also stocked up on our always-craved-Danny's Pizza.

We searched for baby deer roaming the property. We saw 2 baby spotted fawns with their mama. 

And as if our escapades in Bass Lake were not enough of silver lining in our weekend, Mario Andretti,  my husband, was shown traveling mercies (literally) and walked away from his court date with no ticket and no fine! His CHP officer didn't show up! No file in the cake needed! Hurray!