california dreamin' (2012)

I dropped the ball again.  My busy-ness aside, I wanted to share some California happiness while it's still summer.  We made our annual trek to southern California last month and as always, we had a blast.

The kids had fun with their cousins, which is awesome.

More pictures in flickr.

california traditions

As we do every year in the summer, we headed west to California to visit with family and a few friends (this was at the endof June/beginning of July (at least I am still in the same season, right?).

As always the time was enjoyable.

Fun in the sun, beach, food and shenanigans that people who are on vacation normally participate in.As much as the adults love our reunion, the people who have the best time at this annual get together are the kids.We took the annual Seal Pack pic on the beach again (it's a tradition now!). Funny.

We went to Benihana (tradition!).We went to Disneyland this year, it was as chaotic as you would imagine. But it was fun.

There are a ton of pictures in flickr, which comes as a complete and total surprise, I am sure.

california days

At the end of June, we made our annual trek to the west coast to hang out with family (and a friend or two). Who can complain about a week at the beach, really?

Especially when you got to the San Diego Zoo.
And Benihana (it's like a tradition!).
And a playground or two.Oh, and Legoland.
Well, actually, you can complain Legoland if you decide to swing on a chain suspended from a barricade and almost knock yourself senseless on a cement curb. Yes, then you'd have something to complain about, I guess. But then, your parents will probably buy you tons of Lego-related plastic-y bits after you start to normally again, and that might just make you feel better.
The week, for us, is mostly about getting the kids together with their cousins and letting them hang out.

They have fun together and we have fun watching them. There are many more vacation shots in our flickr account; and tons more in (Grand)Papa Seal's flickr account too.

to cali or bust

We returned from our vacation a little over a week ago. My intentions were to process all of pictures before uploading them; but, that would mean you would be waiting till Christmas, so I figured I would just put the pictures up in flickr and give a little recap, as it was a pretty big deal, what with SP 2.0's first plane adventuring taking place. So hey, Christmas in July!

We made our annual trek to Carlsbad, California and it was a ton of fun. Getting there was a bit trying since we were sent home the Friday night we tried to depart (clearly, the airline and airport was unaware that we had some seals to see); but, the airlines fixed us up right and proper for travel on the following Saturday. Note to self (or really, Papa), do not book flights for late afternoons/evenings during thunderstorm season.

The first thing on the schedule after our arrival to the Land of Sun, was an afternoon birthday tea to celebrate a special someone turning five, I don't have to tell you how I feel about birthdays. It was great (for those interested in the requested "photo shoot" you can find those shots in flickr).
The following day included dinner, hibachi style, at Benihana. This might be one of my favorite shots from the whole trip and it's not particularly stellar, technically speaking; but, it's kind of hilarious.

There was beach play (I didn't go, this shots were taken by Papa), I stayed in the air conditioned dwelling...it was very nice.

We went to Legoland, which, while crazy, seemed particularly calm when comparing it to the slimmest possibility of going to Disneyland. But the kids (the ones who needed a ticket to get in anyway) really had fun. The babies, I am pretty sure they thought it was kind of hot; but, yay (!) bright colors!

We had a lot of fun there (I really like this shot of the three of them...it's very Breakfast Club-y).

A lot of fun.

And, as you can imagine, there were a lot of Legos there.

We were also able to see old friends (or rather, meet them in SP2.0's case).

We filled our bellies with ice cream.

And then we returned home (some of us so happy that vehicular hugs were in order).

It was a good trip.

There is a computer-crash-worthy equivalent number of photos in flickr for your perusal, should you, you know, be interested in that sort of thing.

i went to san francisco and i didn't get a t-shirt

(self-portrait in Japantown Center)

At the end of last month I took a solo trip to San Francisco to attend a conference for work. Classes had already started for the Papa Seal so he managed the homefront with the Seal Pup while I flew the coop. I missed my boys, but I have to honest, I had a really good time.

with knitblogging friends Risa and Rangsiwan

In addition to the whole professional development thing (which, admittedly was the purpose for said trip), I was able to meet up with knitbloggers that I have "known" for the last 2 years but I never really met (with the excpetion of 2 of them).

knitbloggers before the great Thai chowdown

I got a chance to hang out with my friend K who I saw in May and June, but whose company I never tire of.

taken after a REALLY good meal

I went to Chinatown with a colleague/library school friend, J, and we did a lot of shopping. (That's what Papa said when I came home and gave him receipts, "oh, you did a lot of shopping.") It was fun.

there are 3 bajillion shops like this one in a one mile stretch of road

Oh, and I ate.

lunch at Samovar Tea Lounge (right across the street from Imagiknit)

A lot.

pastry display at Tartine Bakery

With gusto, even.

ice cream consumption at Mitchell's

While I was gone, Papa and the Pup finished up their renovation project. They turned our old family room into a craft room.


Optimistically, I wish I could say it was done simply out of kindness; but, I think the real reason was that Papa Seal was tired of seeing all mechanations of craft spread out thoughout the house.


I sort of have a lot of stuff. Kind of.


Also, Papa Seal really wanted to try his hand at installing laminate flooring (the tile was kind of driving him nuts).


Obviously, the Pup helped too.


I won't question it, I now have a whole room dedicated to craft, all is right in the world.

And since I just realized that I failed to make mention of another project in development...um, here is a picture of Seal Pup 2.0. The Pup is very excited for you to know about his little brother, joining us in December (on the 2nd around 8:45 a.m. EST, to be more specific).

More San Francisco pics in the usual place.

california dreaming

Since the end of July is nearly upon us...how about some tales of California travels from June?

I had a conference to attend in LA toward the end of last month, so we decided to take the whole family and call it vacation (we do this a lot, in case you haven't noticed a trend here). We had some good times in the southern part of California, mostly because we got to see family again. And there are some people who are into the whole beach thing (I am not one of them--odd for a seal, I know; but, there you are).

We had a chance to take the Pup sailing for the first time. For people who know me and the Papa Seal, I don't have to go into what a big deal this was for us.

And, also we got a chance to see Shamu at Seaworld; the Pup is, clearly, a fan.

And then of course there was the Mouse's House (um, his summer home?).

A place for both the young and the young at heart. Whatever, the hats were free.

I was able to see a friend from undergrad days, I hadn't seen J in 9 years so it was fun to get together; also, she owns rabbits--clearly this is what set the parameter for "fun" for the Pup.

And then I went solo to my conference which was sited at a hotel as well as The Getty (a great place to have a conference, by the way). It shall never be said that special collections librarians do not know how to rock (well, it'll probably be said; but not by anyone in "the know").

After three days of dialoging about rare books in the digital world, the boys picked me up and we explored LA. The Pup cheered on the Bruins--sure he does this at whatever college or university is local to our travels; but I thought this shot especially winning (anyone in the public affairs department at UCLA should feel free to contact me about marketing, heh).

We found a place for me to buy fiber related goods (the Pup also likes to peruse).

And then we said goodbye to California and came home. It was a good trip.

There are a ridiculous number of photographs in flickr of this whole excursion. You will probably care more about them if you are related to us or we saw you in California during this trip. But of course, there are some good shots of the Pup looking cute (none showing him throwing tantrums as these are moments best left uncaptured for the ages).

Next report...Colorado.