Jewel Lie

One of the perks of working as a CHP officer is the time off. I get quite a bit. This whole month in fact. Which begs the question, why has it been since June since we posted? No excuse. But here's our month and as always (in whiny mocking voice) "we'll promise to do better.

We have this blueberry farm right down the road from us, literally five minutes. We've always wanted to go and finally had a reason. Our Sunday school class decided to make a day of it on the 4th of July. Needless to say, Nick ate a lot of blueberries and fortunately his poo did not reflect his level of consumption. Although one child who went on the trip, reportedly did poo blue, but it's not confirmed!

Nick enjoying his bucket

Our friends the Baldizon's (Rebecca, Kevin, and Kade)

Katy not quite done picking

And the whole fam outside of the staging area

Afterward we went to the Najoqui Falls, which at this time of year is apparently a trickle, but a good little hike.

Last year I worked on the 4th but I got it off this year. We made the huge mistake of trying to watch the Pismo Beach fireworks show. Bad idea. Very, very, bad idea. We got to Pismo at ten to 7, I dropped Nick and Katy off near the beach and went on an hour long trek to find parking. I ended up finally finding a spot in Grover Beach (And for you folks well versed in the geographic locations of cities near Pismo I heard your collective sighing), approximately 2.5 miles from Katy and Nick. I also made the mistake of telling Katy I would pick up drinks while looking for parking, so as I walked I found a 7-11 and stood in line for longer than it took me to walk to Pismo from the car. Next year, if we even leave the house, we're parking one car near the beach a week before the 4th, I'm bringing my running shoes to get a workout, parking in Grover Beach again, changing clothes in the previously parked car, and then watching the show. Afterwards, we'll pick up the closer car, drive to the other one, and be phone before you can say, Bazinga!

Nick didn't do too bad with the sound, just the not allowing him to eat sand part upset him!

"Well if I can't eat sand, you're going to have your nose picked mom!"
A nice moment before the show

A bath the next day, as we were in way too late for one that night

And happy once again...it might have something to do with the Chippie gear

The aforementioned Kade turned 1 this month, so, prepare for cute first birthday party pictures:

The birthday boy about to have some cake and eat it too

Nick and Kade and their friend Jude, all a month apart

Luke Detter getting some face time

Jude enjoying a carrot

Jude not so much enjoying the pool


Annie and Finn enjoying a little relaxation time

Aaron and Kevin playing some sling darts

Cosette getting sunscreened up by her dad Ryan

Cosette and Kade wondering why Nick is leaving before full prunage?

Izzy doesn't look like she's enjoying her cupcake very much...

Rachel making Justus crack up

After a fun-filled Saturday party, we took a flight up to Roseville to visit with my dad's side of the family as the Illinois Grindy's were visiting. We were hesitant at first of how Nick would do on the plane, but with some good advice from friends on how to fly with an infant (nurse/feed on take off and landing), it went off with out a hitch. Almost. On the way back to Buellton, Katy started to nurse Nick as we started to take off. Unfortunately, we got delayed and had to wait a few minutes. Nick then finished nursing before the wheels left the ground and thus, as the plane finally took off and climbed, his ears popped and he fussed. This stinky old man directly in front of Katy, who mind you was in the aisle and I was on the other side of the aisle, glared back at me, then lifted his rusty old coke bottle lenses, mad dogged Katy and queried, "Can you keep your kid quiet?!?" I about came unglued. Here's how the rest of the conversation went. Oh, and FYI, SOM is an acronym for Stinky Old Man.

SOM: Can you keep your kid quiet?!?
Me: What more would you like her to do?
SOM: Well if you can't keep him quiet then maybe you shouldn't be on the flight!
Me: Oh really? So infants shouldn't be allowed on planes?
SOM: Not if they can't be silent!
Me: Maybe you should think back to when you had kids, if you did, and remember what that was like!
SOM: I did have kids and now I'm done with 'em! (turns around gruffly)

The conversation was not whispered and both stewardesses heard it loud and clear from their jump seats at either end of the cabin. Later on in the flight, the SOM asked one if he could switch seats to an empty one further up. The stewardess sharply declined. Even later, the SOM asked if he could have ear plugs. The other stewardess quickly related they had none. Gotta love those stewardesses!

Katy and Nick getting ready to board

Nick making sure we're at the right gate
Nick's first plane ride

Happy as can be with a full belly and at 20,000 feet. Oh, and no SOM on this flight!

What plane ride would be complete without a naked dip in pappy's pool afterward!

The next day was a family get together. Most of the time was spent in the pool. Nick is quite the water baby much to my disdain, and chants of H2O polo go on and on in the Bernard household as my father shakes his head in disgust at me. Just kidding, I love swimmers...anyway...moving on.

Nick feeding the dogs some Cheerios

My cousin Anna entertaining Nick, deep breath....

And fart noises!!!

Her father, my uncle, my dad's brother, and my namesake, in disbelief at the level to which she went to with the silliness, either that or making fart noises of his own. I think the latter.

At the end of the month on a random weekday, we met Katy's sister Michelle and her two kids Jake and Brieana at Avila Beach. We randomly ran into the Mason's (their son Jude is up above at Kade's party) which was cool but of all the beaches on the coast and all the area at Avila, how weird to run into someone you know on an odd day of the week! Cool nonetheless.

I buried Jake in the sand up to his head. Good times.

Nick being swung through the waves and loving every minute of it.

Nick and his Aunt Michelle

What month would be complete without one more episode of bath time fun?!?! None I tell you!

After being doused with water, still smiling!

Hmmm, how does this thing work

Heiny cuteness

This boat does not taste like I thought it would

Drying off with dad and the puppy

What smell?

I have a confession to make. I have been a very bad dog mom since the kiddo was born. The other night I realized that Lucy had not had a bath in months and my nose could tell. So the next day I was determined to correct this but I did not want to give her a bath during nap time because that would be too easy. After nap, the boy and I got everything ready and called Lucy into the room with us where she got a much needed (and much too EASY) washing. We then went outside and played while she dried off and went back inside for another nap. Upon waking up I remembered that I needed to make a phone call so I came out into the family room and set the boy down in front of some toys and picked up the phone. I looked back at my son and he was playing with his soccer ball but I noticed there was something a little different about it. Then this horrible smell filled the room and I figured out that it was POOP on the ball. You see, over the past few days the boy has been a little backed up so we have been giving him nature's laxative, prunes. The fruit had done its job. There was so much poop that it had filled his diaper and came out the legs of his shorts and was all over the carpet and his toys. I was a little bit unsure of how to handle this so I picked up the boy, holding him as far away from my body as possible, and took him to the bath tub fully clothed. After I got the situation under control in trots Lucy all clean and shinny but wait. There was something brown all over her neck. It then hit me that there was still poop all over the floor in the family room. Needless to say, I'm tired. Really, really tired.

We don't swim in your toilet so don't pee in our pool!

We received a Target gift card a while back from some good friends and had yet to use it until about a week ago. Katy had been meaning to buy a little pool for Nick to play in on those hot days where living on the Central Coast with no air conditioning is not very tolerable, so the Target gift card got used on this:


Needless to say there were a lot of escape attempts as we just filled it up directly out of the hose and put him in it, not letting the sun heat up the water hardly at all. Not much playing. Plus, when mom's trying to take pictures and dad's working, makes it even harder to keep the little bugger in there.

Escape attempt #1. Result: foiled.

Escape attempt #2. Result: foiled again.

Escape attempt #3. Result: foiled thrice. Realized resistance was futile.

Subjected himself to some light splashing

What long day in a cold pool would be complete without a ride in a convertible to dry your hair?

And since Nick felt tormented by his first baby pool experience, he felt the need to do the same to Lucy

The second go around went a lot smoother. Warm water, and not just from Nick's pee, two parents. We had this thing dialed in!

Let's go mom, hurry up!

Oooh, it's warmer this time!

Pool's are cool!

You'll never guess what I'm doing right now...

Yup, I know you didn't think I would, but I did...twice!

Splashing is fun

Our favorite pic of the day

Holy Moses this thing spits!

I swear I'm trying to keep the hose from leaking not spray Nick with more water...swear.

Is this halibut or mahi-mahi? Whatever it is, its good!

The reward for playing so well in the pool...an apple with dad. Exhilarating.

Fulfilling an Ordinance

Last Saturday Katy and I attended a membership class at our church, Grace Baptist of Santa Maria. While there, we discussed the importance of fulfilling the ordinances of the church described in Scripture, communion and baptism. Thinking we were both good for both ordinances, I thought nothing of it and was ready to proceed, as I'd been baptized at Cornerstone in Semi Valley in 2003 and Katy had been baptized by her dad when she was 12. Apparently, Katy got convicted. She realized that her faith was not her own and fairly superficial when she professed her faith publicly in 1994. Knowing the need, not for her own salvation but out of a desire to be obedient due to her love for Christ, she immediately knew that she needed to be re-baptized, this time as a definite believer. Not wanting to hurt her dad due to the special bond they had from the event in 1994, was her only hesitation, so after calling him to let him know of her decision, she had a completely clean conscience and tonight at a little after 6:00pm she was baptized! The pastor in the pictures is our senior pastor Duane Johnson, an awesome lover of the Lord. Thanks for the prayers for those who knew what was transpiring and thanks for the post prayers for those who now know!

Being led by Pastor Duane into the baptistery

Introduction

Just a quirky shot

Giving her testimony

Affirming her faith in Christ

Getting ready for the dunking, er, full immersion

Dead with Christ and raised again! And not looking at the camera while soaking wet...

Nick with his newly baptized and soaked momma!

A little improvisation...

Tonight we had a BBQ/Going Away Party for two families in our church, the Gilman's and the Detter's. The Gilman's are being transferred to Georgia where Derek has been reassigned and the Detter's are moving to San Antonio where Jared will be taking a job as a psychologist with the San Antonio Police Department. If I had my way, we'd have one psychologist for every peace officer. Then our state budget would be in even deeper dog doo. I digress. It was also a cool way to get together and thank another family in our church, the Youngbloods, who have faithfully served as our Sunday school leaders for a long time. Eons in fact. Right after Jesus died. We all broke out our best summer recipes, and by we, I mean people who actually can cook, like my wife, definitely not me or I, along with everyone else in attendance, would still be perched over a porcelain necessity in every household for the next three hours, that's including the previous four hours that have passed since we left the church. I digress again. Thesis: it was fun. Since you either were there and missed the conversation photographed or weren't there and don't give a Moses (that's the word Katy wants me to insert instead of crap. I think it only works with "Holy Moses!" instead of "Holy Crap!" which is an interesting phrase in itself to dwell on. I digress thrice), I'll give you some improvisation because it's late and I'd like to.

"Phew! That chipotle sausage is giving me the meat sweats! Good thing I have my trusty blue raspberry Kool-Aid!"

"C'mon in! It really is church and not a jail, I swear! They do make you like the Dodgers to join though..."

"Real good Mr. Baldizon, I was just giving Mr. Grindy my best 'pensive' look for the shoot!"

"I'm pretty sure I'm the queen of the BBQ in this high chair."

No comment.

"Good thing the heroes are here since we have all this smoke!"

"Hey Rob, the Dodgers are still awesome!"

"Being a baby is the best!"

"Katy is the most meticulous chewer I have ever seen!"

"I'm good Dad, I'm good! No need for a safety net composed of your hands!"

"I know you all think my Dad is holding me up here...but you'll see!"

"Told you! Suckas!"

And now, a slide sequence

Top

Middle

Bottom

One creepy grinning father, almost evil looking. *shudder*

And finally, sheer joy.

It took 9 months, but we finally did it!

So we've lived on the central coast now for almost a year and a half. I think total, we've been to the beach 3 times since living here. We went more when we didn't live on the coast than we do now. We finally took Nick over to the beach, even though we forgot his, as Katy calls it, "cute beach clothes," we did it anyway since we were in Pismo for the evening. Once we got out to the surf it was a beautiful sky and we figured we take a few with Nick and the clouds in the background. After shooting 4 pictures we took him down to the surf to take a few shots there without getting our camera wet, only to have the infamous "replace battery" sign pop up on our screen. In any event, here's Nick on his first visit to the beach, but I promise, even though there is no sand, water, or anything resembling a beach in the shot, he's there.

9 months!!!

Nick turned 9 months old on the 4th of this month! To celebrate, we thought we'd give him his favorite meal...prunes. Here he is showing his gratitude.

Lovely I know.