Can't get enough of Claire? Neither can we! Click here to see more photos of our pride and joy.

This is our baby!!!

We're growing a garden!

We're starting indoors with a handy little greenhouse kit from Walmart (very inexpensive). We can't plant outside until May 15, so we're hoping to get a headstart with some help from an indoor growing light (only 10 bucks). I'm excited for all these plants--I hope I get at least one survivor from each species!

It took longer than I anticipated to expand all the peat pellets and plant the seeds, but now

everything is done and we just get to wait....

to see if anything is coming up. Check back in 7-14 days!

California pre-Christmas 2009

Dinner at CPK with siblings and spouses.

A day at Avila Beach and Barn: We met a friend on the pier.

Ernie told me that a rainbow around the sun means there is a lot of moisture in the air.

D. suggested a photo shoot in the tree--great idea.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of H. He stood outside the pigs' enclosure calling, "I love you, piggie!"

A hike at Montana de Oro. What a nice uncle!

Enjoying the new area that's just been opened at the park, owned by PG&E Electric.

What wouldn't I give to experience the serenity of this beautiful place?

Apparently this recently opened property is used to graze animals--something you don't see in the rest of the park! I love to photograph animals.

Big news: Emily and Chris's baby was born just two weeks before we got to California! Here's our darling nephew, N., being watched over by uncle Cam.

I was melted to see Cam taking care of a baby--it made me so excited to have our own!

Hopefully they grow up to be as sweet as B., who volunteered to sweep every time he went out to jump on the trampoline. :)

Granada and the Alhambra

Sorry, no time for detailed captions. There are tons more pictures.

Alhambra palace

Granada Cathedral

Funny landmarks in Seville

A painting of the Grand Canyon in the Museo de Bellas Artes in Seville. I waslked past it and said, "hey that looks like southern Utah." Then I saw the title and was vindicated.

A public toilet in the Plaza Nueva that looks like an elevator! You put coins in the slot and the door opens to let you in. Once you're inside, you have only a few minutes to do your thing before the door opens again. You better have your pants up in time, cause that door ain't waitin for ya! It does give you a warning light, however, which I suppose is helpful. :)

Looks like he made it in time. :)

Me sneaking a picture of the inside before the door closes!

A shameless play on Dunkin Donuts. Dunkin actually has stores in Spain, only they call them "Dunkin Coffee." This is something entirely different, it seems.

This graffiti mural was right around the corner from our apartment. The painting camouflages a door in the wall...sometimes the door was open and we could see a few guys in a tiny room.

Friends!

Luis Miguel Glave, a fellow historian, and his wife, who took us out for Andalucian cuisine late into the night (I got sick afterwards, unfortunately...)

And their darling 5 year old twins, M. and J.

Marcia joined us for dinner at this family's home one night. They are from Peru and loved talking to Cam!

Me and Marcia

Some cool building

The Plaza de Espana.

The amazing detailing of the city mosaics:

I caught a rainbow on camera!

Here's a shot of the whole building:

Lery, in charge of all the cultural activities for my school, showing us around

A statue commemorating the work of the playwright Becker

Inside the Hotel Alfonso 13

Out to lunch at a tapas bar outside LINC school of Spanish

My Spanish teacher laughing so hard she cried. :)

Anthony, Hugh, and Kirsty

Joey, Yukiko, and Anthony

Cam and me!

Patricia, Yukiko, Felix, Joey, and Me (students in my class during the first week, minus Spencer)

Carolin and Anthony

Kirsty and Lery making sangria (we watched)

Carolin, Minji, and Joey

Yukiko, Joey, Felix, Me, and Margo

Joey, Cam, Me, and Katie

Yay! I love this school