It's Spring Break!
Not ours, somebody elses.
How do I know that somebody and I mean lots of somebodies are having Spring Break?
Because I can't drive into town or out of town without an ordeal.
The weather is beautiful right now, clear skies, temps. in the low to mid 70s.
Lots of frolicking in the water; still way too cold for me. It felt like low 60s a couple of days ago, but that doesn't stop the tourists.
I've become a bitter middle-aged woman over this traffic problem, though.
Maybe the tourists are a little rusty on their visiting skills, it is the beginning of the onslaught of visitors or I haven't developed my thick skin yet, that makes me tolerate it later in the season. Whatever it is, I just came home completely un-zen and if that is not a word, I just made it up.
I had to leave the house to take Ford to a Bar Mitzva party in the center of town. I encountered people blocking traffic with their cars and bodies, not using cross-walks, trying to make left hand turns where there are signs posted NO LEFT TURN, someone honked at me when I didn't make a left hand turn when cars were coming through the intersection still (He got me to roll down my window and shake my fist at him). He was definately a tourist, because he pulled right into a hotel after we turned. NOTE* We Lagunans don't hear honking in our town very often. We tend to be polite drivers.
After I dropped Ford off and was at a very akward four way stop, which was backed up with traffic, someone tried to take my turn. We all had to wait a long time for a turn to get into the backed up lane so when the white Prius started to take my turn I found myself wagging my finger at her and pulling my car in front of her. The last car that got into the lane was from her lane so she knew she was tring to snake me.
What bothered me about this excursion is I love being a polite driver, letting people in, always signaling etc. I don't change my style, even in gridlock.
Why can't the tourists just be civilized ? Why does it have to turn into Lord of the Flies on wheels?
As I drove north toward home the traffic thinned, my pulse slowed, I started getting a little more zen. Peace.
Wednesday: Picnic on the lawn with her class to celebrate their sandwich book report assignment.
Friday: Jogathon. Her class is on their marks, get set......
GO!
Eating their celebratory popcicle.
I guess without the covering to hide under, they were an easy target for a raccoon. Poor guys. Our back yard is empty these days.
The weather is beautiful right now, clear skies, temps. in the low to mid 70s.
Lots of frolicking in the water; still way too cold for me. It felt like low 60s a couple of days ago, but that doesn't stop the tourists. 
Maybe the tourists are a little rusty on their visiting skills, it is the beginning of the onslaught of visitors or I haven't developed my thick skin yet, that makes me tolerate it later in the season. Whatever it is, I just came home completely un-zen and if that is not a word, I just made it up.
This little girl pug was at the pet store. Whenever we see a pet store we have to stop by and see if there are any pugs. If there is a black pug we always fall in love, have to hold her and pretend we get to keep her. This one was hard to walk away from.
Mom and dad Brian came into town for a visit from Utah for almost two weeks. We went to see a BYU vs. UC Irvine men's volleyball game.
As we were leaving the game they ran into friends from college. It was great to see them reconnect and catch up with one another.
The little pug, asleep.
Ford is taking guitar lessons.
Grace gave an oral history report on Annie Oakley. She did a great job giving her presentation.
What a treat to have grandpa and grandma able to come and see her give the presentation.
We went up to Utah for ski week. We were hosted by the wonderful Kurt and Marnie at their home in Orem and had a wonderful time. We got to watch the Winter Olympics in their home movie theater. This is us after cross country skiing at Soldiers Hollow.
Skiing at Sundance.
Madeline tells me I ski too slow. I probably do.
Emerson, Grace, and Derik.
Madeline, Montana, & Ford. Ford is our lone snow boarder. Luckily his cousins snow board too. 
Ice skating at Seven Peaks. The girls got new skates for Christmas so they have been skating a lot lately.
Grace at her violin concert. Third graders are so cute with this instrument.
I took my mom out to lunch at the Sherman Gardens in Corona Del Mar for her birthday. Happy Birthday, #73 mom! My mom taught me the love of plants and flowers. I always knew the names of the flowers and trees in our yard growing up, thanks to her.
Ford just finished up with his basketball season and is gearing up for volleyball.
He is about to shoot a free throw.
Grace danced/marched in Laguna Beach's Patriot's Day Parade with the Kyne Dance Academy. She is taking Hip Hop classes right now.
Her group won the Grand Marshall Trophy!!
I bought three two-pound packs of strawberries at Cost-co on Saturday. I needed two to make some chocolate covered strawberries for a funeral and one to keep and eat ourselves.
