San Diego 2023

Last week we traveled to San Diego to visit Gruncle and Aunt Suzie in their rental condo on Coronado. Coronado might be one of my favorite places. We had a great time.

Ally hates to leave Daisy so she spent as much time cuddling her as possible before we left for the airport.

We traveled on Becky’s birthday so she opened a gift and some cards before we left.

Airplane selfies! 



Obligatory I’m in California, look at the Palm Trees picture. 

Gruncle and Aunt Suzie had a carrot cake to celebrate Becky’s birthday with after dinner.

These two and their spite and malice. I don’t even know how many games they played this trip. Probably 20.

Morning selfie with a view.

We drove to the San Diego Safari Park to meet up with my cousin Sashi who lives in Long Beach California, we hadn’t seen him in 9 years!

Did you know there are Greater Flamingos and Lessor Flamingos? These are Greater ones. We saw the other kind later on. And the tall dark pink ones are American Flamingos.

We took a break for lunch. Becky had a corn dog. Ally and I tried to eat chicken fingers but they were inedible so we settled for ice cream cones.

Sashi!

Giraffes and Zebras



We visited the gorillas twice. We love them.

Ally had some popcorn later on.

One last group photo with Sashi and his partner Denise. 

There were these beautiful trees outside the park. 

At dinner with Aunt Suzie. Gruncle went to here an Elvis impersonator perform. 

Annual car picture of these 3 the next way on the way to dinner. 

Flowers in California are just so pretty. 

The other view from the condo.

Starting a puzzle.

Goofy elevator picture

We walked around Seaport Village in downtown San Diego one day.

Ally loved the baby ducks. And I thought Gruncle and Suzie were adorable sitting on the bench across from us.



Before dinner.

Puzzle complete.

We went for a walk on the beach







Then to Balboa Park. We split up and each went to what we really wanted to see. Ally and I walked through the Japanese Garden. It was so pretty and she liked the koi ponds. The weather was gorgeous and I wanted to be outside. 

Becky went to the Comic Con museum, Gruncle to the Natural History Museum and Aunt Suzie to the Georgia O’Keefe exhibit at the art museum. We all had a great time.





Walking to Miguel’s Mexican restaurant through the Hotel Del Coronado. Such a fun time and we have so many memories together.

Ally tried a new food. Chicken fajitas.

On the way to the airport. Ally started getting carsick in the back seat so she sat in the front on the way to the airport. 

Home finally! And reunited with Daisy.

The end of 10th grade

Ally worked so hard to finish 10th grade strong. 

Last day of 10th grade.




We just got her report card today. She did wonderful again this year. A, A, A-, A- & B+. I told her we would be just as proud of C’s and B’s we are so proud of how conscientious she is and how hard she works. But the high grades are a nice result for her effort. 

She is happy to be out of school for 3 months now and will be ready to conquer 11th grade in September. She’s taking 6 classes, 3 are Honors and her Advanced Spanish is a seminar/conversation class. Go Ally Go!

The rest of May 2023

Huge amazing accomplishment for Ally this month. She went away to Puerto Rico on a school trip for 5 nights. It’s the longest she has ever been away from us. It was hard. It was good. 

But first the goslings. Ally and I have been waiting and looking for baby geese. Above is some that were at school and below are ones on Memorial drive we see everyday on the drive to and from school. It was a lovely thing for us to await them and then watch them grow.  I’ll miss this next year when Ally drives herself to school.

Organizing. It’s such a stress relief for Ally.

I don’t even remember what they were looking at, but this is adorable.

All packed and ready for PR. All the kids going to PR met at school and took a shuttle to the airport. 

Family selfie in the car before we dropped her off.

School picture of some of the group on the bus.

For Mother’s Day Ally gave me a jar with 38 handwritten reasons why she loves me. I opened a few of the hearts while she was away. These two made me choke up a little. And laugh. 

The house she stayed at was right on the beach.

They drove to the town of Ponce on the other side of the island.





Went zip lining in the rainforest. Took a cooking class, went shopping in a couple of very large American style malls, ate in restaurants, prepared some meals at home together, toured Old San Juan. It was a lot. 

Ally asked what we would do while she was gone and we said eat out at restaurants and sleep. We did both of those things.


Here she is back home with her cat. We are so proud of her. She is proud of herself too. Which is fantastic.

School Fashion

This was Ally’s last week of classes. She is going on a school trip to Puerto Rico tomorrow for 5 nights. 

Then next Friday she has school to celebrate the end of 10th grade and the whole school comes together to present what they learned during their adventures. 

So last week of classes and Ally agreed to a photo a day to document fashion in 10th grade.

First half of May 2023

We are finally getting some warmer weather and sun after weeks of rain. It’s a very unusual life rhythm for us lately. Since her concussion has Ally out of sports she has no after school commitments. For the first time ever. So I pick her up after school at 3 and most days she comes home, eats a snack and takes a nap. Then we watch some TV, have dinner and then she does homework for a couple of hours before bed. Everyday someone has a medical appointment. Therapy, nutrition counseling, OT, acupuncture, check up, dentist. It's crazy. But that is life right now. 

Our pets continue to be a huge source of joy and comfort to us. 

sometimes Daisy is a pain, like when Ally is trying to do her homework.

We played JackBox together on our Apple TV one Friday night. We used to do this during the COVID shut down 3 years ago. We had lots of fun.

Every day Ally comes home from school and naps. She loves having Cloey to snuggle with.

We got pedicures together one Sunday.



Snuggles with Daisy always get Ally to smile.

Our most recent puzzle. I sorted it all and then Ally helped me out it together.

It was a rough day. It was the all-school Prom and anxiety and stress were pretty high. Ally worked hard to take care of herself and stay calm. In the end she decided not to go to prom and stayed home and did homework.

It was a disappointment but she rallied and we are so proud of her for taking care of herself and talking with us about what she needed.

Becky and Beth went to the Arboretum for their “hike” and enjoyed the lilacs and other Spring flowers.

Cloey did too.

Weekend relaxing while listening to an audio book! Yes Ally decided on her own to download a book to her phone and listen. Another amazing example of self care.

Warmer weather means a return to distressed jeans and tank tops to school. And a rare appearance of Jordan’s for school. Sunny days with no rain in the forecast mean it’s safe for these sneakers to be out in public.

Breakfast in bed with pets.

Guatemala Girls meet up at the mall.

Mother’s Day brunch just us moms and our daughter.

And the pug.




It’s been a pretty good month. Now we’re counting down the last 10 days of school for Ally and trying to finish up our home improvement projects.