Black Friday Shopping

Since we are quickly approaching the busiest shopping day of the year, I thought I would reflect on my feelings about Black Friday!

I can't remember back to too many Black Friday shopping days where I didn't do some sort or shopping or venturing out.  My mom was usually the catalyst for any number of these crazy days and for that I am thankful. I have fond memories of Black Friday craziness:  sitting on Santa's lap, Christmas music, sometimes snow, hot beverages, getting dressed nicely, etc. 

Shopping and I did not always agree.  As a child and a young girl I would always complain about having to go to the mall or stop at a number of stores in one trip.  My mom said I always said I had a headache about 30 minutes into the shopping trip.  Go figure - I am sure my husband wishes this were still true.

Of course, like most adult women, that sentiment changed very quickly!  I now enjoy shopping and it's actually taken on a whole different tone these days.  The evolution of my shopping interest went from seriously high, to normal and now to disappointment that, with a 2 year old I don't get to actually go very often.  In fact, I find myself buying only for her, or for our home now and not usually for Jim or I.

So, we come to Black Friday 2011.  I can't remember which specific year changed my mind, but I will not be venturing out on Friday at ANYTIME of that crazy day with all those bargain shoppers.  The deals aren't really that good (in my opinion) - most deals actually get better the closer you get to Christmas due to retail desperation.  And, if you have the time and energy after the holidays, you can find incredible deals right before New Year's.  I have also grown extremely tired of fighting for parking spots, waiting in line at the food court, for Santa, at the cash register, you name it.  Probably some of my lack of interest comes along with a small child as well.  Any of you with little ones will understand what I mean!

So, enjoy your shopping.  Drink a hot chocolate or nice cup of coffee for me.  Watch your kiddos squirm and scream as you wait for the perfect Santa shot.  Just don't expect to see me anywhere.  I will be somewhere other than a mall or a store - enjoying the calm and quiet!

Potty Training...HELP!!!

So, for the last few weeks, as we've been spending more time at home.  We've helped Abby make some transitional changes.  The first change we made was moving to a big-girl bed.  It only took one night and went rather smoothly.  Often during naps and bedtime, she won't go right to bed, but look through a book or play with a toy.  Most times when I go in to check on her, there will be a book or toy right next to her in her bed.  Nonetheless, she always makes it into the bed!

Our next transition is to use the big-girl potty.  I am getting increasingly frustrated with the process and therefore, am asking all of you seasoned mommies and daddies to help!  I feel as if I've waited for Abby to show me that she's really ready to do this.  She let's me know when she is going pee-pee or poo-poo and she always comes for a diaper change when she's really uncomfortable.  She already knows how to flush the potty and what you do with toilet paper.  My biggest problem is that she only wants to play with the parts to her training potty and not use it.  When I put the little seat on the big potty she cries incessantly and refuses to sit down.  I'm not sure what else to do...if I can't get her to at least sit down, then how can I get her to go?  We've tried singing songs, reading books, looking at pictures, anything to get her to sit still.  But alas, this is probably every 2 year-old's problem.

So bring it on everyone.  I need suggestions, constructive criticism and help.  What do I do next!

Shrimp Cakes

I've been busy the last few days and haven't had a chance to write.  I decided tonight to share a recipe I tried for the first time this weekend.  It was a hit and we all loved it!

In 2010 Jim was fortunate enough to play in the US Open at Pebble Beach.  What a wonderful experience!  One of the best parts was a magnificent ladies day that was put together for the players wives/moms.  Part of our ladies day was lunch and a wine tasting at the Earthbound Organic Farm.  Yes, the same one that you buy your salad lettuce, baby carrots, and lots of other produce from too!  It was such a neat experience.  The food was tremendous as well as learning all of the background information about how the farm began.  As we left, we were all given cookbooks written by the Farms creator, Myra Goodman.  She is inspirational in her writing about organic farming and food consumption.

For some time now, I hadn't opened the cookbook, titled Food To Live By.  But, the last few months we've been fortunate to spend a good amount of time at home and I have used that time to commit myself to enjoying the art of cooking.  So far I've tried 5 of Myra's recipes.  Each different and very good.  Shrimp Cakes were this weekends test.  They do take a bit of preparation, but all can be done the day before you plan to serve them.  I didn't take a picture of mine, but they came out well and tasted even better!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup minced scallions, including white and 3 inches of green
3 tablespoons minced shallots
1 small red or orange bell pepper, diced
1 1/2 pounds small raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 large egg white
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons Worchestershire sauce
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons dry white wine
1/2 cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/3 cup minced fresh dill
1 cup fine, dried bread crumbs



The following you may do either 6 hours prior to serving or the night before:

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium skillet on low heat.  Add the scallions, shallots, and bell pepper.  Cook till the vegetables are soft, approx. 5 minutes.  Let the mixture cool.  Place about 1/2 pound of the shrimp in a food processor.  Add the egg white and run the machine until the shrimp are pureed.  Add the cream and blend.  Add the Worchestershire sauce, lemon juice, mayonnaise, cayenne, and salt and blend briefly.  Transfer the shrimp mixture to a medium bowl, add the scallion mixture and stir to combine.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.  Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the remaining shrimp and cook for 1 minute.  Add the wine and cook, turning the shrimp occasionally, until they are completely pink, about 2-3 minutes.  Drain the shrimp in a colander and let them cool until you can handle them.  Cut the shrimp into small pieces, about 1/3-inch dice.  Add the diced shrimp, the parsley, and dill to the pureed shrimp mixture and stir to combine.  Cover the bowl again and refrigerate until the mixture is firm, at least 6 hours or overnight.

When you intend to serve them:

Spread the bread crumbs on a plate.  Form the shrimp mixture into cakes about 2 1/2 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick.  Dip the cakes in the bread crumbs and coat them all over.  Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Work in batches so the cakes do not touch each other in the pan.  Cook the shrimp cakes until the bottom is golden brown, about 3 minutes.  Turn the cakes over and cook until golden brown and cooked all the way through, 3-4 minutes.

Ok, there you have it!  I did use cooked, frozen shrimp and still followed this recipe exactly and found the cakes to be excellent!  There is a lemon-caper aioli sauce recommended to serve with the cakes, but my family does not like capers, so we just used some fresh lemon juice.  I hope you try this out and enjoy.  You may substitute the shrimp for lump crab meat and make some delicious crab cakes as well.  Check out the book and all of Myra's other wonderful recipes!

My Favorite i-Pad Apps

Like most of you out there I am becoming more technically advanced every day.  When the iPad emerged on the technology scene, my first words about it were, "who needs an over-sized iPod?".  Well, within the last year I have been blessed to receive two of my favorite tech items.  My iPhone and my iPad.  Well, I actually share the iPad with Abby!!!  Yes, we caved and are not regretting it one bit.

I have a ton of apps, like most iPad users.  Most of them free, which is just wonderful!  But, some of my apps have been paid for.  The most expensive app I've ever paid for, a couple at $9.99.  So far those are definitely worth it.

Below find a list and description of some of my favorites.  Most are also available for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and Mac computers too!  Try them out, or go try an iPad.  You may end up liking it more than you think. 

The Weather Channel-  Since we travel a lot this is a must.  A free app that will give you local forecast information as well as several saved locations.  Get videos of weather news from around the globe.  Get alerted to severe weather conditions in your area.  Great for quick local radar and 15 minute forecast breakdowns!

Yahoo Fantasy Football '11- Yes, I play fantasy football and LOVE IT!  This app helps me keep on top of my fantasy teams, players, stats and weekly head-to-head match-ups.  Another free, wonderful app. 






Any of the Story Chimes- These are mostly free but can run up to $3.99 per story.  I have about five on my iPad for Abby to choose from.  She can follow along as a narrator reads a story and then turn the page on cue.  She can also, eventually, read the stories herself.  Some have a cute twist on traditional stories!

PBS Kids- Parents out there, if any of your kids watch the shows on PBS you will love this app!  It offers shorts from each show.  Most are 1-3 minutes in length and offer about 15 different choices per show.  Abby just loves Super Why and the Wild Kratts!  The only downside to this, you need to be connected to the internet all the time.  If your iPad doesn't have a data plan you will need some sort of a Wi-Fi connection.

Pocket Frogs- A totally mindless game that allows you to create new breeds and combinations of frogs.  Free and fun, find gifts, sell, and gift to other users.

 



Flight Track Pro- Another great tool for all you travelers.  At $9.99 this app gives you flight information and tracking all over the globe as well as maps of domestic terminals, and access to tons of other flight information.  The regular version is $3.99 I believe (don't quote me) and is nice as well!

 


Scrabble- Spend $9.99 and never lose a tile again.  Great for taking with you on the go and for having a dictionary at your finger tips for all those highly contested words!

 


Mint.com- Just like the wonderful free to use website only on your iPad.  Get notices, follow your budget, see all account transactions, and so many wonderful financial tips.

Houzz- This one is free and inspirational.  For the design buff or anyone making any kind of change in their home.  See pictures of designer and custom homes worldwide, with design tips, and items for purchase.


Also wonderful are the apps for Twitter, Facebook, and Pottery Barn (ditch your paper catalog)!

Well, that's all for today.  I hope you find something new and wonderful for your iPad.  I'm sure you'll hear more about my favorites in the future!!!!

Napping

A short message today!  As you can see by the title, I may be on my way to sleepy-town!!

Contagious actions, things like smiling, yawning, sleeping, coughing, sneezing.  Have you ever been around someone who did one of these things and then, shortly thereafter found yourself doing the same!  Well, my friends you are not alone. 

In fact, at this very moment, I am fighting falling asleep.  Didn't you sleep last night, you might ask?!  Well, of course, silly!  But, my house is currently full of sleepiness.  My 2 year old is sleeping, her jet-lagged daddy is sleeping, and all 5 cats are sleeping.  Where does that leave a very busy mommy?  SLEEPY!!!

Naps are great though...I napped just about every day in college.  A total battery re-charger.  So take your few minutes today of peace and quiet.  Allow yourself to succumb to sleepiness and enjoy your power nap!

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

This morning on my way to the gym I was greeted by a scenery of rainbows and sprinkles.  And, just yesterday I was listening to one of my favorite renditions of Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.  I began to think about what rainbows mean to me and the first thing that popped into my head was imagination!

Try to think back to the first time you saw The Wizard of Oz, or the first time you heard Judy Garland sing Somewhere Over The Rainbow.  My guess is that you were at the very ripe age of imagination.  And by that I simply mean young, innocent, and full of creative thoughts. 

I love to imagine things.  I imagine watching Jim birdie every hole while I walk the golf course.  I imagine my dream house when I see one similar.  I imagine what kind of car I will have when I finally get to choose for myself.  I imagine what my beautiful little girl will grow up to look like.  I love to imagine. 

Let me make a list for you of some great ways to bring imagination back into your life.  I feel it is rather important for adults to be able to imagine things.  It brings color and description to words and thoughts.  It allows us to remain child-like or it takes us back to our favorite childhood places and memories.

1.  Reading takes you to imaginary places.  Whether the book is one of fiction or non-fiction, we still have opportunities to imagine the people, the places, the feelings, clothing, smells, etc.  We see words on a page and can create our own version of what the characters voices sound like or how they dress.  We can imagine the places they live or the cars they drive.  Many times, I am disappointed after reading a book I loved when the imagination ends.  It's such a let-down!

2.  Spend time with a child.  I've been doing this a lot lately - lots of time with Abby!  She is just at the beginning of imagination explosion.  I can begin to see her pretending with things and clothing and toys.  I can see the imagination gears in her brain spinning in super warp speed as she looks at something new and different.  I can even see the imagination contained in her facial expressions on a daily basis.  She is going to be full of imagination and therefore so will I!

3.  Be creative.  Try writing creatively, painting or sketching.  You may find that if you try hard enough or just give it a shot that the imaginative part of your brain will dust off it's cobwebs and get down to business.  Go somewhere quiet, the library, a private room in your home, a park and just try to be creative and use that imagination.

4.  Meditate.  No, you don't have to do a whole bunch of yoga or utter strange guttural noises to get the benefit of meditation.  You may find that you become more relaxed and less stressed.  Not only that but you may find that by rejuvenation yourself you have the energy to become more creative.  The whole point of meditation is to allow the mind and body to relax.  Well, for me the first few minutes of that relaxation process is usually full of thought.  If you can just grab on idea and use it creatively you can begin your brand new journey of imagination.

5.  Go to a theme park, such as Disney World.  I firmly believe as adults we still need to experience certain activities and places as if we were still children.  Find the time to go to your local theme park or even the zoo and do child-like things.  Buy a balloon, eat some candy, skip a little, and get excited about where you are.  You will find that your imagination will run absolutely wild after you do this!  Or, at least I hope you'll find this so.

So go out and try something to get your imagination flowing.  Find the other end of your rainbow and check out the blue birds, the lemon drops, and wake up where the clouds are far away!  Put a smile back in your soul!!!!

The Need To Laugh

Have you ever had one of those days where you just needed something, anything to laugh about!!!?? No, no, don't answer that! We all have of course.


Today was one of those days for me.  Lately I do know what to expect with Abby.  She is cutting her two year molars, so all schedules have been canceled!  Life is certainly like a box of chocolates right now.


We began the day with a very simple plan.  Relax this morning, feed the turtles, have lunch, stroll the mall for an hour, nap, etc.  Well, we didn't get to the mall and the stop prior (Barnes & Noble) was a disaster.  She found a toy she wanted and it was a reasonable request, so of course, I caved.

Little did I know that toy would solve my problem today and give me just what I needed - a reason to laugh!  The company is new to me, but maybe not to you (B You).  They use a lot of recycled materials and soy based products (which I love).  I was throwing away the packaging when I came upon this cute little booklet.  I began to read it (as Abby was screaming at the top of her lungs, trying to nap) and immediately began to laugh.  It was at that moment that I knew what today's topic would be.  Below are a few of my favorite sayings from this booklet.

Robert, age 6 :  "Mom! Stop!! Be careful, there are boys in the ivy!"

Sean, age 5:  "Did you know my Uncle Tony is driving around the country in a winning bagel?"

Keely, age 2:  "Jazz is my favorite color of music!"

Skye, age 6:  "I'm going to have five children and name them Cabbage, French Toast, Table, Shower, and Chair."

Sam, age 11 on his 6th grade science quiz:  "Water is composed of two gins, Oxygin and Hydrogin.  Oxygin is pure gin.  Hydrogin is gin and water."

Callie, age 2:  "Mommy, you're the most beautiful woman in the whole world I ever saw before I left the house."

Clara, age 4:  "My triceratops is afraid of our dust bunnies."

AND THIS MAY BE MY FAVORITE!!!

Rio, age 4:  "If the day I came out of your belly is called my birthday, what is the day I went in called?"


Anyhow, I hope you all had a little chuckle at least.  It made me relax and laugh.  Lord knows I needed it today!  If you ever have a day where you don't need to laugh, try making someone else laugh.  There's a good chance they may need just what you have to offer!

Cheers

Make a Small Change

As a birthday tribute to my wonderful husband, I wanted to share a thought with all of you that he recently promoted without even knowing it.  Just last week something moved him to go out and get us a gym membership.  Little did he know it was just what I needed.  Not because I want to lose weight or fit into different clothes, but because I needed a motivator. 

I am a firm believer that there are people and events in our lives that can spur us on to better things.  Most of the time these people hardly know they were the catalyst to a life change, or the event is initially so insignificant that we don't even realize that it changed us.  Jim's purchase of a gym membership has been such a catalyst for my life. 

I had been putting off a lot of things, photo editing, blogging, keeping in touch with friends and family, doing small but necessary things around our house, writing in my journal to Abby, etc.  Being able to go to the gym and have time for myself any day that I want has been a God-send.  Our gym has daycare, so Abby gets to socialize (which she loves) and I get to think, relax, and improve myself. 

Over the course of the last 10 days, so many other habits of mine have been improving.  I have been eating better, have become more motivated, kinder, and more relaxed.  I have been cooking more, cleaning more, and have become more organized.  I am taking on challenges with fervor.  I have committed myself to giving back to charities all over the world.  I feel as if I have been a better mother to Abby, and a better homemaker.

My only fear is that this, like most sparks of energy and change, will dwindle and fade.  I am determined though, to allow this one small change to create a tidal wave of more small changes.  I encourage you all to find one small change to make in your lives and stay committed to it.  Do not let your doubt or fear in your stick-to-it-tiveness get in the way of self improvement.

Thank you Jim, the love of my life, for a gift.  I hope I will be able to give you the same kinds of gifts in your life!

The New Look

My lack of blogging recently has frustrated me and I sat for a while a wondered why.  I have come to the conclusion that the blog needs to be a bit different.  First, you'll find a cleaner, more simple look.  No more frills, crazy color changes, etc.  At least for the time being.  I have also decided not to chronicle each and every move we make (we just make too many of them).  You'll still find information about what we're doing and where we're going, just not quite as much!

I think for some of you, you may actually be more interested in the new Hello From The Hermans.  I aim to have more philosophical posts, thought provoking, creative topics.  Some of the topics I'm sure to discuss will be gardening, parenting, traveling, cooking, my Stella & Dot business, sports, politics, fitness, and many others that just happen to come up in my daily life. 

There will still be pictures, golf information, and probably a special post once a week.  Please visit daily, I do intend to post each and every day!

I love creative writing, I feel it is a wonderful way for an individual to express themselves clearly, without confusion, misunderstanding, and also to impart feeling and thought.  I hope that each and every one of our readers enjoys the topics and please feel free to comment.  Feedback is very important for one's self improvement.

San Diego (Better Late Than Never)

Our time in Palm Springs was short-lived, as Jim did not end up getting into the field at the Bob Hope Classic. We left Thursday morning and had a leisurely drive over the mountains to the coast. The terrain was very rocky, but more like rounded clumps of stone, and not craggy rock. Here you can see the mounds, or stacks, or rock in the distance. Far away you can even see some snow-covered peaks. Once we got almost to the peak, we stopped at a lookout point and took this photo overlooking Palm Springs. I was desperately hoping to see some Bighorn Sheep, as they are often viewed in these rocky mountains. Luck was not on my side that day, however, I did look down a dirt road along our journey and sitting in the middle was a coyote or wolf. Jim didn't stop and I didn't have my camera out, so it was lucky to escape my lens. Saturday we decided to go on a family outing to the San Diego Zoo. Our first encounter was with a whole bunch of sleeping Koala Bears. There must have been 15-20 of them, all in this position. Abby absolutely LOVED the first hour. She was so excited...yelling and pointing at all the animals we saw. Eventually we came across the Elephant enclosure. I don't think I have ever seen a captive Elephant with tusks! So neat. There was a keeper trying to get this big guy's attention with some hay, but to no avail. My family enjoyed a wonderful ride up an escalator incline to the aviary. Abby and Daddy were both wishing the entire zoo had the same system! The aviary was wonderful. My favorite bird was this lovely beauty! Unfortunately the light was pretty low and the picture certainly doesn't do the creature justice. After leaving the aviary we decided to stand in line to view the Panda Bears. Jim wasn't thrilled, but I insisted. So glad I did, cause we all got a glimpse of this cutie pie. I think they said this bear cub was 15 mos. old?! Anyhow, he was taking a bit of a "Panda" nap in this tree. Next, the Flamingos. They were all standing up straight and, for lack of a better term, yelling, in unison. It was amazing. Just as we were about to leave the screaming Flamingos, we looked down and saw this plant. Jim and I both did a double take when we noticed this large bird sitting in the center of this plant. With all the chaos of the screaming birds and all of the on-lookers, it's incredible that this guy was so calm and collected! I am not a huge fan of the monkey exhibits, for whatever reason, but I do LOVE the Orangutans. This was a great exhibit, they all seemed so content and all were awake, just watching us. There was one large Orangutan that was walking along the glass wall. It would stop and put it's hand up at each new person. It seemed as if it was communicating or trying to understand us. How neat. Of course there are the Giraffes, so beautiful. These two seemed a bit younger and were enjoying taking a load off those long legs! One of our last exhibits was the petting zoo. Abby was excited about petting the goats, but more excited about sitting and playing in the dirt and hay, FIGURES! Although this was a long day for Abby, it was equally long for Jim. I could have stayed till the zoo closed, but my family had had enough. Abby and I had a lot of time to spend together while Jim was practicing from Friday till Wednesday. We found this cute park in Del Mar and spent a lot of time there. What a great concept, a playground and park right on the beach. I wish someone smart would think of that in Florida. Anyhow, they had a giant sand box and the little ones gravitated towards it. Abby was mesmerized and spent a lot of her time there. This sunset picture was taken from the sandbox at the Del Mar park. I loved watching this gorgeous scene while my little girl played and laughed. A good end to any day. On Saturday, we decided to visit the Stephen Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institute. This is their kelp forest tank. What a great sight. There is a wave machine that moves the water around and simulates the ocean. It's so neat to watch the kelp and all of the fish moving back and forth. We just happened to be there during a lull and the place was virtually empty. Abby enjoyed running back and forth along the large glass tank and then going to sit in the stadium style seating opposite the tank. At one point she plopped down right in the center of the room and lay down on her back just staring at the scene. These are some photos of the gorgeous scenery on the North course at Torrey Pines. There were far too many people around to take pictures on the South course. The week was a good one, but a week at home was ahead and I think we were all looking forward to it!

Waialae and Bob Hope (A little bit of both!)

Today I wanted to begin with a little tour and re-fresher course for all of you faithful readers. Some things have changed and others have stayed the same...so pay attention! Beginning at the top of the blog page you will find three titles 1) Home 2) All About Abby 3) Stella & Dot. These are all separate pages. The home page will automatically come up each time you access our site. To view the other pages, you must click on each heading. The home page will have the current posting as well as numerous other goodies (which I will go over with you eventually). All About Abby will give you a little insight as to what's happening with our little one each week (this page is only updated weekly). Stella and Dot is also updated only weekly and will feature a new item from my favorites collection. As you read the Stella & Dot page, certain words will be highlighted. Those words can be clicked to take you to my Stella & Dot website, or to another link. You can also access the Stella & Dot page from the home page of the blog. Moving to the right of the home page you will find 8 different sections. First you will see Abby's current age and a cute, recent photo. The second section from the top is a little blurb about Jim and I and what our blog is all about. Next comes a new section this year "Noteworthy News". In this section you will find links to video clips, news articles, and interviews. I will only be removing items from this section when I can't add any more! The next section is Upcoming Tour Events. This is simply a listing of the next five PGA Tour events. This is not necessarily where you will find OUR schedule, as it may be different. To read about our doings, well, keep up with the home page and read! The next section is about our journey through the Academy Award winning best picture films. Yes, we are moving slowly, but still viewing movies. I have added a rating after each movie, just our humble opinion. Next, my section on reading. I will list books that I am reading or have read, just in case you're interested. Next, a whole bunch of family photos, our furry family that is. And finally, the blog archive. This is where you can go back to reference a past posting or catch up on the blog if you've been away for a while. Those of you who are new, I encourage you to check out some past postings! And finally, the bottom of the home page contains three different sections. The first is a collection of our favorite sites. You can click on each link to take you to that site. Next, you'll find the picture of the day. This is usually updated each time I make a new posting. These photos do not get archived, so enjoy while they last! And finally, you can find a section of links that will take you to sites that can help you decorate your own blog. I also want to point out that there are a number of icons/words at the end of each posting. You will find a small area giving the posting information including time of day and at the end of that line a section that lets you know how many comments there have been on each posting. You can comment by clicking on that small line, or by clicking anywhere on the post and scrolling to the bottom to a comment section. Under that small line you will find 5 icons. From left to right they are 1) for emailing the post to someone 2) for blogging about the post on your own blogger account 3) for sharing the post to your twitter account 4) for sharing the post to your facebook page and 5) for sharing the post to google buzz. I WILL NOT BE SENDING OUT EMAILS TO THE FOLLOWERS OF THIS POST ANY LONGER. I HOPE YOU WILL CHECK BACK WITH US OFTEN. TREAT OUR POST LIKE YOUR FAVORITE WEBSITE. OUR CONTENT CHANGES FREQUENTLY, SO CHECK IN OFTEN! To get in touch with us you may also email us from the bottom of each posting (click on the envelope icon), or write a comment! Now on to the fun stuff ...oh you can find the picture captions at the bottom of each picture!

Jim had a great first tournament, the Sony Open, in Hawaii! I am so proud of his accomplishments. We made the cut, but due to the rain the PGA Tour limited the field for the final 36 holes. Usually this happens on the final day, after the third round of golf. There was a bit of disappointment not to be playing on Sunday, but all were pleased with the weeks total results! Waialae was just beautiful. There were exotic trees and flowers all over the place.

The sunset on the 17th hole was gorgeous on Friday. I was hoping this picture would lighten up a bit, but it's still interesting.

Saturday's round brought more sun and less clouds, yea! Here you can see the famous "W" for Waialae Country Club. I'm sure this was a man-made "W", but it's awful cool either way.

This sunny picture is the same as the shadowed photo from the day before. The coastline is just beautiful! We didn't do too much on Sunday, as we had a lot of packing to do and a red-eye to LA.

Unfortunately our wishes would not work out for this week at the Bob Hope. We are leaving tomorrow for San Diego to prepare for Torrey Pines. We've had just enough time to spend with a few friends and get some laundry done.

This is our good friend Kristina Putnam and her little boy Jantzen. Jantzen is 14 weeks old and is just sooooo cute. We were fortunate to stay with them in Hawaii and again for a few days this week. It's been really interesting watching Abby react to him. She just loves him so much. Especially his hair. She pets it, just as she does with our cat.

We were also blessed this week with our other good friend Chastity Mathis (left) and her little boy, Brady. Brady is 10 weeks old. Abby seems so big and much, much different from these little guys. It's amazing that this is where we were this time last year. We all had lunch at the clubhouse together and enjoyed catching up. There was also some time today for a little R&R. Kristina and I enjoyed a lovely spa day, with massage and pedicure! Hopefully, next week will meet Jim's golfing needs. I know he is anxious to get back on the course!