California: Week 2

We picked up Nate's family from the airport on Monday and began an epic drive to our cabin at Shaver Lake. The cabin we stayed in belongs to my sister-in-law's boss. He generously let us stay there for the week. The cabin was gorgeous with an amazing view.

The view on our last morning. It rained and snowed on us!

There was plenty of room for all of us to spread out and lay on our bellies just like the baby. We went for walks around the lake and many hours were spent playing foozeball/air hockey/pool.

The Game Room.

The living room from the second floor landing.

Mena teaching Rox that tummy time is fun!

Eliza giving walking lessons. Next up: dancing!

Andrew and Eliza watching Will Ferrell on that Bear Grylls show under the heat lamp on the deck. It was awesome!

On a walk around Shaver. El Presidente got to work on his funny faces.

Pooped after a long hike. How cute are those booties?!

My family came up for dinner mid-week. Nate made delicious pulled pork sandwiches and we had pie for dessert to celebrate our 3rd anniversary. Our niece Caitlin decided Eliza is the perfect playmate - probably because Eliza didn't have some dumb ol' baby she had to take care of. (Caitlin is working through some sibling rivalry issues.)

Rox with cousins Ethan and Caitlin. Ethan is twice as heavy as Rox and half as heavy as Caitlin.

The night before we flew home, my parents hosted Nate's family for a Mexican feast. The weather was unseasonably cool, but it was still quite pleasant.

Yes, that's a bottle of vodka on the table. Zing!

Rox and her grandparents.

Hardys!

Buster fresh from the groomers. He's such a funny kitty cat and he loves his summer haircuts.

Snapped on our last morning in Kingsburg. This is my favorite picture.

Roxy seemed to grow and change immensely during our time in California. I don't know if was the California sunshine, room to stretch her legs, the California produce or being handed off from family member to friend to family member and showered with love and attention. It was probably a combination of all three. She ate her first solid food (banana mashy), sat up pretty well on her own and decided to give rolling over another try. After the trip, she became much more talkative and babbles much more than she did before. Probably she learned she needs to speak up if she wants to get a word in edge-wise with her family - just wait until she meets the extended Hardy-McCullochs!!

On the plane headed back for Australia! Plane rides make her hair flat. She's so much bigger now - that outfit (a gift from Vaughn C.) doesn't even fit her anymore!