Zoe Noelle Garrett

Pretty

Rich in love

Expressive

Cuddly

Intelligent

On the button

Utopian

Sweet

How do I feel about the anticipation of becoming a grandma?

Wow!!!!!!!!!

The most amazing thing I can think of at the moment!

How can this little baby boy I held in my arms 25 years ago be becoming a daddy?

He will be the best, so loving and proud.

Giving her a firm foundation in life, the gospel and knowledge.

So grateful for Jana and Anthony to take this step in their lives.

Zoe will be blessed to come to this home!!!!

Happiness, pure happiness!

Is it time yet??????

My cell is always with me, ready.

:)

Christmas Traditions

A couple of weeks ago, our seminary class made advent calendars. Monday I discovered a couple of the girls are actually opening their calendars and creating or reading or singing everyday -that was more than I expected, I thought they would all end up in the trash. Today, Craig asked how we were doing on our advent calendar. "Poorly" was the answer - "open today's and see what we are to do."

Write about a favorite Christmas tradition either in your journal or blog.

Christmas morning means waiting to go into the living room together. Christmas morning means opening your stocking first and seeing what trinkets Santa brought you. Christmas morning means drinking orange juice and eating cinnamon rolls before opening any more presents - according to my Dad you need to get something nutritious in you. Christmas morning means opening presents 1 at a time - the oldest member of the family picks a present from under the tree and gives it to the recipient who opens it while all watch and ooh and aww together, then the 2nd oldest member does the same and so on down to the youngest and then we start all over again. Christmas morning means taking an hour to hours to open all the presents. Christmas morning means enjoying the happiness on the faces of those who receive your gifts.

I love this and I am excited because it is one of Aimee's favorite traditions too. This tradition has been passed down from my dad to me to Aimee. I love having traditions that bind the family relationship.

What is one of your favorite Christmas traditions?

A Flat Tire - A Blessing?

Last week, Craig got a flat tire on the way to work. Which meant he was late to work, which meant he had to drive 60 miles with a spare tire, which meant he had to get new tires. We had been planning on getting new tires for his car in the next couple of weeks before we drove to Utah. His car tires were basically tread free - not a good thing. So tires were planned just not yet.

Yesterday, southern California was hit hard by rain; lots and lots and lots of rain. In Fallbrook, our streets were rivers. We had lakes at most intersections. Our backyard was flooded. Rain and bare tires are not a good combination, but Craig had new tires with plenty of tread.

Last week Craig got a flat tire.
A flat tire - a blessing, I think so! What do you think?

I fell in love all over again

Enos

Nature, peace, quiet, communion
A son lost but found
Remembrance of what he all ready knew
Remission, love, forgiveness, concern
Prayers cried, answers given

When I was in my teens I often "ran away" on my bicycle to wherever it would take me
It would calm my heart and soul
It gave me time to reflect and forget or forgive myself
It gave me time to understand and know He loves me

Throughout my life I tell people the book of Enos is my favorite in the Book of Mormon
This year in seminary I was questioned by a student why not 3rd Nephi and Christ's visit
I love 3rd Nephi and have felt the love our Savior shared
But..... there has always been something about Enos

Enos was not the perfect son
His father and grandfather were prophets
He had a "reputation" to live up to
But he had his own struggles and had to come to know for himself

He wrestled with God (Alma 8:10 "labored much in the spirit")
His soul hungered (3 Nephi 12:6 "and blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost")
He knelt before his Maker (tg: reverence)
He cried in mighty prayer (Psalms 138:3 "in the day when I cried thou answeredst me and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul")
And when the night came he still raised his voice high into heaven

His prayers were heard
His prayers were answered
My prayers are heard
My prayers are answered

How?

FAITH

Enos ends his words rejoicing in his testimony
By the power of God he preached and prophesied all the remainder of his day
He knew that he would rest with his Redeemer
And REJOICE in that day

I love his story
I know his story
I rejoice this day in my Redeemer

See What I Mean

I was reminscing through some old photgraphs and I thought I have such gorgeous children.

See what I mean.

"I glory in plainness"

2 Nephi 33:6

Simple preparation, simple lesson - great results, sweet spirit

1. Read 2 Nephi 33 - have students underline words, thoughts; share and why (credit - Heavenly Father)

2. Illustrate Nephi - or a story about him (credit - Bro. Todd Frame)

3. Write words or thoughts about Nephi around illustration (credit - Book of Mormon Seminary Student Manuel)

4. Watch "Book of Mormon Heroes" by John Bytheway (credit - John Bytheway and me (althought I thought about this for a long time and felt like it was right)

5. Share illustrations and thoughts (credit - Heavenly Father)

6. Feel the spirit (credit - students intune with the Holy Ghost)

"...but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass..." Alma 37:6

I am unique

It all started with a simple question in seminary - was there really a time when girls could only wear skirts to school? Yes, and I lived during that time. If my memory is correct, girls were allowed to wear pants for the first time while I was in 6th grade. But what makes me unique, I wore pants to school in 5th grade and with permission.

The fifth grade classes through Shelley Elementary were held in Taylorsville in a 4 room building about 5 miles outside of town. When you turned 10, you were excited to go to school because you got to got there and be away from everyone else. That is if you were one of the lucky 100 students because one class continued to be held in town. 5th grade meant you had the best school lunches in all of Idaho. You actually walked through the little kitchen holding your tray and asked for more or less of something depending on your taste. It meant being able to walk back into the kitchen and have your pickle bowl refilled with those crunchy, sweet slices as many times as you wanted. 5th grade meant you had the whole play yard to yourself, that you did not have to share the swings with the little kids or wait you turn after the "cool" 6th graders were finished. 5th grade meant you had P.E. in the broiler room in the basement during the winter months and you got to tumble on mats for fun. 5th grade just made you feel great and special, but that is not what made me unique.

Wearing pants in 5th grade is what made me unique. Why was I wearing pants then because I had a crazy knee. My knee would lock in a bent position and I could not straighten it out. It hurt too much and would ache if I tried to straighten it. I would walk with a limp because of this. My parents took me to my doctor to help but he did not know what was wrong. I remember him trying to pull it straight and it hurt too much. He decided that x-rays may help solve the mystery, so I was sent to the hospital and they took x-ray after x-ray. Miserable x-rays that seemed to last for hours. I would lie on the table with sandbags weighing my leg down so it would not move and they would take an x-ray. Then the technician would come in, move my leg slightly, readjust the sandbag and start over; again and again. After the doctor evaluated the information, my parents were told to take me to Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah and see what they could do to help. Upon arrival we were informed I was scheduled for surgery the following day, in preparation of surgery I was not allowed to eat for the next 12 hours. During the morning of the surgery the x-rays started again and this time with a "specialist" looking at them. His conclusion, NO SURGERY needed, I was sent home with the decision they did not really know what was wrong but I would grow out of it. My mom told me years later that she was under the impression the doctors initially thought I had cancer and that is why the surgery was scheduled. The other decision that came from all the testing was - cold made it worst! Thus, pants were allowed to be wore because they kept my legs warmer; making me unique - the first girl in my class to wear pants to school and with permission - according to my seminary class.

I did eventually grow out of it - but still to this day I do not know what caused the problem.

5th Grade School Picture

A POEM

This poem was written and given to me by one of my current seminary students. She has given me permission to publish it here.

Our Brother

He was despised and rejected by men.
Man of sorrows down with grief and then,
We hid our faces from him without looking back.

He was forsaken and we valued him not.
He endured our sorrows; have we forgot.
Yet we let him be stricken and afflicted?

He was wounded for our transgressions.
He was bruised for our iniquities no question,
And with His fatal wounds we are healed.

We are like sheep and have gone astray.
Everyone has turned to their own way,
And the Lord laid on Him, the sins of us all.

He was broken, and He was made miserable.
He didn't open His mouth as being taken as a lamb to the kill,
And as a sheep before the shearers is dumb, so he opened not.

He was taken from prison and from judgment unfair.
Who will remember this time during history of dispair,
For He was cut off from the land of the living.

Because of the transgressions of us was He stricken.
Now in His death because He had done no violence to sicken,
Neither was any deception in His honest mouth.

He shall divide all the wicked from all the true.
He has poured out His soul, even unto death He knew,
He'd bore the sin of many, and made an exemption for the transgressors.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was crucified for the sins of the world.
Jesus, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end to be unfurled,
Our brother lovingly lived and died on this earth for me and you.

Malary Greenwood

Learnings

Alma 37: 6 "Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise."

or in other words -

"How do you eat an elephant, one bite at a time"

I struggle with starting anything unless I can see the end in sight. Thus I rarely start goals, projects, books, etc. I am learning I do not need to know when it ends, I just need to begin. Helps for me are writing what I want to accomplish weekly and daily and checking it off.

We bought paint for the house last June and I am sure still have at least half the house to go plus all the trim. But we spend an hour or two on an occasionally weekend - "one bite at a time"

Healthier life - vegetables and fruits at lunch and dinner, morning walks with Natasha (our border collie) even if it means two showers each morning (one before seminary and one after the walk) - "small and simple things"

P.S.

1 Nephi 1:20 "...the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith..."

- a thank you from a seminary student on the day that I felt like the meanest seminary teacher ever -

Last few days of summer

In an attempt to put every picture of our fun activities this summer on my blog, I decided to try collages instead of bombarding you with about a thousand pictures.

BYU's Museum of Art Garden

Family Fun

Beautiful California

Crazy People

Aimee - Her 21st

Twenty-one years ago today, Aimee Kristine Garrett came into our family forever. She was a miracle birth, at least that is what the doctor said. Aimee was breech and the doctor decided to turn her before the delivery, upon doing so her umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck but we did not realize this until it was delivery time. She was unable to come completely out without the cord being cut. The doctor tried initially to just unwrap the cord but discovered that was not going to work, once the cord was cut, which was unusually short, she came just fine into the world.

It took us a day to decide on her name - Aimee- which means beloved and Kristine - after Craig's sister. Aimee is so beloved, she came into a family that had greatly waited on her arrival and hoped for her to come.

She has been a delight and joy to me and our family.

One of my best friends.

A short list (a very short list) of her qualities that bless her and us are as follows:

Beautiful - she has always been pretty in appearance but her true beauty is in the sweet spirit that shines through

Courageous and fearless - nothing holds her back, she sees a new adventure in everything

Kind and friendly - her friends are friends for life, there are no boundaries of who she can be friends with, all feel her love and genuine interest

Strong - both physically, mentally and spiritual, she is true to her convictions

Seeking - she loves to learn and discover

Talented - one of her gifts is photography and another is languages

I love my daughter with all my heart. I am so thankful for this blessing into my life.

Happy Birthday Aimee!!!!

Ramblings- Inspiration-Comments

Since I have been staying in Provo with Jana and Anthony, I pulled a book off the shelf to read. It was "The Peacegiver" by James L. Ferrell.

http://www.ldsmag.com/books/040430peacegiver.html



I have been wanting to read this book and finally did from cover to cover. It offered some insights to "smaller" stories in the Old Testament - Jonah (which I never really understood before) and Abigal, Nabal and David (which I do not remember reading before.) But the most powerful thoughts that came to my mind was that we were to love everyone and demonstrate that love in our actions because Christ loves them. They do not need to prove they deserve this love to us. We do not need love back, but as we give our love to them freely (part of our agency) we submit ourselves to our Heavenly Father's will.

Sunday was church with Anthony and Jana in their cute married students' ward. Our closing hymn was "Lord, I Would Follow Thee". I have always thought this was a beautiful hymn but the words hit me more closely that day.

http://www.lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer/index.html?searchlanguage=1&searchcollection=1&searchseqstart=220&searchsubseqstart=%20&searchseqend=220&searchsubseqend=ZZZ

Savior, may I learn to love thee, walk the path that thou has shown,
Who am I to judge another When I walk imperfectly?
I would be my brother's keeper; I would learn the healer's art.
Savior, may I love my brother As I know thou lovest me,

First lines of all four verses - beautiful, powerful, directionally

The other thing that I have been enjoying reading is the May copy of The Ensign. I have read a few articles before and since thinking I remembered all the talks but I did not remember hearing Elder Quentin L. Cook's talk:

Our Father’s Plan—Big Enough for All His Children

Elder Quentin L. Cook Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=1d0a230bac7f0210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

The following two paragraphs showed some of my heart's thoughts recently:

"Our leaders have consistently counseled us "to live with respect and appreciation for those not of our faith. There is so great a need for civility and mutual respect among those of differing beliefs and philosophies."
"It is equally important that we be loving and kind to members of our own faith, regardless of their level of commitment or activity. The Savior has made it clear that we are not to judge each other. This is especially true of members of our own families. Our obligation is to love and teach and never give up. The Lord has made salvation "free for all men" but has "commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance."

Today I wandered on campus to visit the BYU Museum of Art. I was hoping to see a new exhibit about Victorian art but it was not ready yet. My eye was caught by a small exhibit entitled Reflections of Christ, there were just a few paintings that were owned by the museum but I particularly was inspired by one by Bernard Sleigh, named The Crucifixion-A Triptych.

The Crucifixion - A Triptych, Bernard Sleigh (1906)

Bernard Sleigh purposely placed his wife and children into the painting in period clothing. They are located on the right hand side (facing you) looking up to Christ. This touched my heart because it told me Christ's crucifixion and atonement ascends all time. It is for you and me and those before us and those after us and for every person who ever lived or will ever live. It is not denied to any.

After wandering the campus a bit I saw a lonely dandelion. It was the only one I saw. It struck me how it was a weed and most people would pluck it out because it did not belong among the grass. But I thought I feel like a weed sometimes but I am grateful no one plucks me and do let me belong. I also know my Heavenly Father and brother, Jesus Christ love weeds.

Early childhood friends (or at least those I recall)

My first friend was my sister Katherine. She is 1 year and 3 months older than me. Apparently for the longest time she was all I knew existed in my small world. My mom tells me I did not know there really was anything else outside of my own yard. I remember we had a fence enclosing the whole yard - backyard was chain link with green slats running through it - west side yard was white wooden planks (3 layers of them with open space between each layer and the only thing between me and the neighbors ditch) - front yard was a white picket fence - driveway was open except when we were outside playing and then my parents placed a plank that covered the space from picket to picket, a plank that was about 12 inches high. I never knew I could just step or crawl over it. That was outside my realm of knowledge. It amazes me to think back that I never step over it.

I don't know what Katherine and I played together, probably with our Barbies. I had one official Barbie "Christie", she was married to the teddy bear. Hilarious to think about it. Ironic that my daughter Aimee owns about 50 Barbies, most have made their way to Grandma and Grandpa Garrett's playhouse - stripped of their dignity - but enjoyed by the grandchildren. I believe she still has 10 or so stashed in a box under her bed here in Fallbrook - the precious ones she just could not give up.

One day, while Katherine and I were playing outside, she and another friend decide to see if they could split me in half (I really don't recall the reason for the tug of war.) Katherine took one arm and the friend took the other and pulled opposite directions, this was my first experience with my elbow being pulled out of its socket. I wore a sling for about a week while the elbow mended and worked its way back into the socket. I now know how to gently slip an elbow back into its socket after taking Aimee to the doctor a few times for the same problem. The first time was when she was two having her own tug of war with me at a bank, she was ready to leave and I was not. I was holding firmly to her hand as she pulled to go the other direction. A kind "mommy and me" teacher showed me the technique on the third instance on a field trip to the San Diego Harbor.

Another favorite thing Katherine and I did together was play on the jungle gym. We would race to see who could climb to the top or cross the monkey bars the fastest. The jungle gym was also our rescue point from the "crazy" cat. We had a cat that would literally chase and tree us on the jungle gym. After he caught Katherine once and clawed her arm with numerous scratches, causing a serious wrapping of gauze for protection while healing, the cat was gone. The jungle gym had a solitary bar that stood at about 4 or so feet high. It was perfect for flipping your body around and around till you were too dizzy to see straight or to just dang with your feet over and head hanging low. I was not very careful one time and had a loose grip with my legs, just loose enough for Katherine to flip my legs over and "thump" my head hit the ground. It took a few hours of rest for that headache to go away.

It may sound like Katherine and my playtimes together seemed a bit on the bully side, but those moments were the exception. Katherine was the friend who paved the way for me to meet the outside world. Our first friends beyond each other was Katherine's friend Kristine Priest and her sister Sherrie. A favorite activity was riding our bicycles up and down the street, another was playing "capture the flag" and some silly game throwing a ball over the house and sneaking back with the ball to capture the other team while yelling some rhyme. ( I can not for the life of me recall a name or the rhyme.) We also explored the horse pasture and fields behind the Priest's home. Kristine introduced us to MaryAnn, her neighbor, and eventually the whole neighborhood opened up.

Katherine has always been one step ahead of me. When I headed to high school, she had already experience the perils of it, when I left for Ricks College she was there to rescue me from my homesickness and at BYU set the example for the next step in our degree - elementary education. Our children; Anthony and Aimee, Kristin, Trent, Alyssa and Desiree, are best friends cousins. Her home was Craig and my place of refuge from the Fallbrook fires. I am blessed that she is still my first and oldest friend.

Because of his tender care

Craig knows what the plants need, his tender care. He is sure to water, prune and feed our trees, flowers, bushes and plants on a regular basis this year. Our water bill demonstrates his daily watering schedule - the front yard one day, the back yard the next. Our plants demonstrate his daily watering schedule with their amazing growth and delivery of beautiful, full, blooms.

-Hydrangeas as big across as 12 inches -

- Zuccini pickings everyday -

- Daisies 3 feet tall and full of blooms -

- Agapanthus flowering as fully as possible -

-The hillside covered with bushes and Mexican sage -

-Roses blooming grandier than ever before -

- Magnolia blossoms for the first time on our tree -

- A beautiful yard showing Heavenly Father's creations -

What's your story?

That was the name of the R.S. enrichment activity last night. We were asked to bring an heirloom dessert; either one that had been passed down to you or one you were passing down to your family. I chose the former: my grandma's lemon meringue pie. Sadly it will not be passed down from me because my children don't like it, but I love it. It is my favorite of favorite pies. If for some strange reason or normal reason you like lemon meringue pie and need a delicious recipe I have included it in this blog.

I also included a picture of the recipe because that is part of the heritage - the recipe card is written by my mother.

Esther Reed's Lemon Meringue Pie

1 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups water

1 Tbs. butter

Combine sugar, water, and butter - heat until sugar dissolves.

1/4 cup cornstarch

3 Tbs. cold water

Blend cornstarch with cold water, add to sugar mixture, cook slowly until clear - about 8 minutes.

6 Tbs. lemon juice

1 tsp. grated lemon peel (optional)

Add lemon juice and peel, cook 2 more minutes.

3 egg yolks

2 Tbs. milk

Beat egg yolks with milk, add slowly. Bring filling to a boil.

1 - 8 inch baked pastry shell

Cool filling slightly and add to cooled baked pastry shell.

Meringue

3 egg whites

6 Tbs. sugar

1 tsp. lemon juice

Beat egg whites stiff, but not dry, add sugar gradually, add lemon juice at the last. Spread over cooled filling, Brown in 350 degree oven for 13 to 15 minutes.

Work

Shelby left on Monday - well Monday was Disneyland with her nephew for his birthday, so technically she left on Tuesday for girls' camp and has been gone all week.

Cameron - the 20 year old new intern, who wants to create - came to work on Monday

Brett - 17 year old adobe photoshop whiz is on summer vacation from school, available to work all the time, but really wants to only photoshop and be in the back room

Ryan - Willy's 17 year old grandson here for a month and to keep him entertained is working at the studio

Willy - my boss, "THE" photographer, who gets bored unless there are pictures to take or cars to look at on the Internet or errands to run

Me- the old woman, the one who supposedly knows what she is doing, the one left in charge

How do I explain that I felt like I was babysitting 4 boys. I continually had to decide what needed to be done, who needed to do what and teach them how to do it; while trying to accomplish my own responsibilities and answer all the other questions that came up. My opinion was the one sought, my answers were the ones used to solve problems, my decisions were the ones made.

My dreams became nightmares about work. I could not sleep knowing all that needed to be done and wondering how and who. I finally had to get up at two in the morning, make a list, prioritize - it took 4 post it notes with very small writing to cover everything. And then I still could not go back to sleep.

Friday - 5 days later - I figured out how to make assignments that the "boys" enjoyed and could do mostly on their own. I crossed off most of the items on the post it notes and I hope I can sleep tonight.

Saturday - I am going into work to help with pictures and accomplish a few more things on the list.

I do not want to be the one in charge, I do not have to be the boss. Someone else can have the glory - let me have my own little corner.

Monday - Shelby comes back!!!!!!!

Found

(On a scrap piece of paper that had fallen out of one of my seminary student's bible)

EVERY DAY

1. Pray

2. Smile

3. Read The Book of Mormon for five minutes

Found

(in my life)

EVERY DAY

1. Closer to my Heavenly Father

2. Renewed happiness

3. Increase love for my scriptures

Gratitude

There is a young man in my seminary class that every morning as he leaves he says "Thank you Sister Garrett." He is probably one of the most polite young men I know. He has been raised to show respect, but I believe he also knows it is important to be gracious. It is not just a passing comment slipping from his lips, but he looks me straight in the eyes, smiles and says thank you.

Elder David A. Bednar last October General Conference shared in his talk about giving a prayer of gratitude, asking for nothing but only giving thanks. I have been able to do this once in my life, it was hard. Not hard to think of things to give thanks for, there is always plenty, but hard to not ask because of my neediness and selfishness for always wanting something.

Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." I am pretty sure everything I have been blessed with is from my Heavenly Father and even the things I have not received. I hope He knows I am so grateful for this. I try to thank Him, I am just not sure I thank people enough.

One of my favorite memories about my father is he would always write thank you notes; to his students, to their parents, to a friend, to someone who gave a talk in church, or gave him a gift, etc. It is a great memory of him and I try to emulate him in this deed but know I fall short.

If I have never told you thank you, I am now because if you are reading this post then you must be important to me and if you are important to me you must have had some influence in my life and for that I am thankful.

Imagine it with me looking you straight in the eyes, smiling and saying thank you.

Sublime

Joseph Smith, Jr. said "Peter penned the most sublime language of any of the apostles."

sublime - noble, exalted, majestic, inspiring awe or admiration, beauty, elated, joyful

I asked my seminary kids today to read 1 peter chapter 1 and mark the passage or passages that inspire them. Verses that were shared - 4, 5, 7, 8, 16, 22, 23 and 25.

Which one would you chose. I choose verse 8

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:"

I love my Savior and friend Jesus Christ. I believe that He did all He did because He loves me and you. My joy is so full because of this knowledge.

A date!?!

Rambling as that it was.  I prepared Craig earlier in the week and early Saturday morning that we had no responsibilities and we were doing something together.  I even said you have until 2 or 3 Saturday afternoon to accomplish what you need around the home and then we are off.  I even suggested a few options of what we could do, but reality was I did not even care as long as it was time together.  So at 3 p.m. we were in the car driving west on the 76 toward Oceanside.  We did not even know our destination but our date had begun.  Thinking the 5 south would be slow we traveled down the main "drag" in Oceanside just enough to be blasted out by the booming music from the car behind us and me to past judgment on the high schoolers making out while sitting on the sidewalk holding their cigarettes in their hands. 

Our first stop was Carlsbad and a strolling walk past a few quaint stores and the coaster station.  We came upon a farmers' market and decided to check out their wares.  Fresh strawberries and asparagus caught our eyes and enticed our taste buds and a purchase was made.  I had never eaten raw asparagus and decided it was delicious (the rest of this week it has been thrown into salads and enjoyed.)  More strolling and then a jump into the car and our next destination.

Craig drove through UCSD campus to show where he had taken many a lunch hour power walk while he had worked at Scholarpoint.  Down toward LaJolla and the cove was the next visit.  Amazing we found a parking spot right away (if you have ever been there you know finding a spot is amazing!) and pulled right in.  More strolling along the beach front, looking at pelicans, watching the waves and people and enjoying the sun reflecting off the ocean.  We were aware of the "Cow Parade" in La Jolla.  40 life sized fiberglass cows transformed into works of art by San Diego artists to benefit Rady's Children Hospital.  CowParadeLaJolla.com   We discovered about 10 of them in about 1/2 hours time and took our picture with a few favorites.  Memories of bison in Yellowstone and bears in Berlin. 

Now I was getting hungry QUICKLY so we were off again to check out movies at AMC theaters (we had free tickets) and a dining spot.  Mission Valley was the next spot and after seeing the PeiWei Restaurant that was all that was on my mind, FOOD and good food.  We forgot the movie and enjoyed a spicy meal of PeiWei spicy chicken, honeyseared shrimp, brown rice and lots of fortune cookies.  Yummy!!!!

8 p.m., food settling in our stomachs I was getting sleepy but we went on to Kohl's in SanMarcos exchanged wrongly sized shirts for Craig and a cute flip flop purchase for me.  A full day and evening, fun, good conversation, good food and all with my sweetheart.  It was rambling indeed.