Butterflies, Beaches & Bars

This month got off to a great start with visits from good friends that we haven't seen in a long time. On the 3rd, Georgia flew into town to stay with Justine for a few days and we all got together for a walk amongst the butterflies down at Natural Bridges State Park. Like last year's visits in both January and November, we managed to go at the wrong time and see very few butterflies. Aparently, when it is too cold, the butterflies all huddle up in the tree branches for warmth, and every visit I have ever made to the reserve is on a coldish day. But I am determined to see those stinkers in the masses one day!

Despite the lack of butterflies, we had lots of fun. For a little while, we were the only ones around and we ran all over, laid on our backs, and resorted to goofy giggling! Then a couple of stoned kids wandered down and Noah kept staring at them with a look that said, "who invited you two?!" It was pretty funny! Shortly after the stoners showed up, the place was invaded. First by a class trip, that was full of well behaved kids and parents. The second group though, I think it was a brownie troup, the kids were wild and most of the parents were totally oblivious and inattentive. That group was our cue to exit, but even that proved to be a challenge trying to get through the crowd of monsters was ridiculous! We had some good laughs at their expense and made our way to the beach!











None of his pants fit his skinny booty...so he is just a saggin' baby!

when he wasn't trying to see monarchs,
he was busy pushin his truck!

can you see 'um....they are camouflaged in the trees about 30 feet up!













the lone butterfly brave enough to come down from the trees!

Noah was kinda-sotra into the sand, but was makin the stink face and showing signs of the not so distant past when he was afraid of the sand. He was however, delighted by the birds and the waves, so I scooped him up and took him down to the water. Though walking is just a bit too boring, so we flew!!! He loves when we fly him around like an airplane, and the giggles that come from him make it hard to resist. Georgia snatched up the camera and got some super cute pics of us "flying" (and a funny one where it looks like I'm using Noah as a guitar!). Thanks G!!!!


































When we got back to the blanket, Noah and I were burying my feet in the sand, and he started to dig his little shoes into the sand. Naturally, I took off his shoes and socks thinking we could bury his feet, but OH WAS I WRONG! The kid totally flipped out! So, in true Mommy fashion, I grabbed the camera and snapped pictures of him before rescuing him from the big bad sand! By the time I got the sand off his toes and his feet tucked safely back in his shoes, Noah was done, done, and done! We got a group shot and made our way back to the car...Noah was asleep before we made it down the street!

see...I did save his little toes! (after a photo opp!)

dont you just love the stink face he makes all the time









After naps, and a snack, Justine and Georgia came by the house with our designated driver and we made our way down to Santa Cruz for a girls night out! We started at the Happy Hour at the Palomar Taco Bar.....the yummiest tacos ever, and the best prices! $2.00 tacos and and $11.00 pitcher of the strongest margaritas around! After stealing a table, and consuming the cheap deliciousness, we made our way over to my old stomping ground for a pub quiz...99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall!

It seemed pretty quite when we got there, but we were greeted by one of my old co-workers and ordered some pints while trying to decide on our Team Name. With no help from the boys, who were making suggestions via text messages, we decided on Sugartits, influenced by the margaritas I'm sure! Though we answered all the questions, our 16 out of 30 didn't win us anything! But we were pleasantly surprised that some of our "shot in the dark" answers were correct and bummed that we second guessed ourselves with some of our wrong answers! All in all we had a blast and weren't ready to call it a night when the pub quiz was over.

So, we hopped on over to the 515 for some of the most delicious cocktails ever! Cozy by the fire in the comfy chairs, we got a little silly, had some good girly chats and then called in the D.D. Despite having to wait for us while we finished of our last drink, Matty waited a bit longer while we attempted the infamous self portraits on the sidewalk before piling into the car and giggling all the way home! Thanks Matty, your the best!

It was so so so fun to hang with the girls! Justine, thanks for sharing G with us! and G, you do know that frequent trips back to the mountains are now mandatory?!!





thanks to Matty our fabulous DD!







and thanks to Jason for hanging with Noah so I can be with the girls....and for letting us wake him up and take pictures of him! lol!!