Mount Diablo park.... Ummm... just a warning, Tarantulas ARE involved!

After a few hours of driving around in the pouring rain, I decided I wanted to go check out Mount Diablo even though I knew the view would be terrible because of the weather. When I paid my park fee going into the park and told the ranger I was Canadian, I guess some other traveler paid in Canadian funds so he says "what the hell am I going to do with Canadian money?" and gave me 5$ haha... I thought that was going to be my story for this little trip....

Me at the entrance of the park... again, taking my own pictures!!

Cows... I some how feel the need to photograph them now considering where I work!



Isn't always more interesting to see a person in the pictures every so often? Its kinda like proof I was there...

Ok... I warn you now... (Julie) scroll down quickly if you don't want to see this next part...

So I am driving along for probably a half hour up these winding roads to the summit when I see this thing moving on the road... I realized what it was and started screaming in the car as I drove past it!!! UGH!! A tarantula!!! I could not believe it. So, I turned around even though the hair was standing up all over my body... serious heeby jeebies!! I drove back... and there he was... I stopped the car and took this picture from the window but it really didn't give the full effect!

Still fearing for my life... I got out of the car and walked up to this enormous spider considering putting my foot next to it so you can understand the size but, I couldn't... I just took a quick video and a close up picture and got the heck out of there!!! It is about the size of my hand... Ugh... still getting shivers thinking about it!

Mt. Diablo park is beautiful... at the top it was way too foggy and windy to even bother getting out, but it was a great experience and an amazing drive (puts Westside Road to shame).

Here he is!

I wish Aaron (my brother) was here to see this! I know he was hoping to see some cool bugs on his trip a few months ago but I don't think it happened...

My Adventure...

After the pumpkin patch, I decided to go do my own thing since I have the rental car... I went for a drive through some beautiful rural areas... even though it was pouring rain, I jumped out of the car to take pictures!

My fancy beige Ford Fusion with the Oregon plates (did I mention that confused me at first?? I thought they gave me the wrong car... I am in California!)
Me enjoying the drive (since I was by myself, I had to take my own pictures!)

Aaron's trip to the pumpkin patch in Clayton

Today we managed to get everyone out to the pumpkin patch... it was raining and so windy but we thought lets get there, spend 15 minutes and then take Katie and the baby home! Aaron absolutely loved running around the pumpkin patch... we picked out 2 baby pumpkins and 1 small pumpkin to carve later.

Olivia is there... she is just all bundled up!!

Too many to pick from!!! Aaron ran from pumpkin to pumpkin... he was loving it!

Baking bread with Aaron!

I arrived yesterday at Katie and Ian's with no major events... the car rental company I was using ran out of cars and sent me to another which ended up giving me a fully loaded Ford Fusion for about 2$ more than the other rental company on a basic car. So I am driving in style with leather, sunroof, satellite radio, etc!! I was glad I was lent a GPS unit as I ended up in a different location than I expect with my car rental, so my google map I printed was useless! Driving the highway was fun... alot more lanes, but not stressful due to the fact I have driven in crazy traffic at home for the last few years.

Today we have had a busy morning! Aaron helped me make a loaf of bread!!

Yuck that dough is sticky!!! Wash my hands!

The flour is the funnest part (yes I have a video of Aaron eating the flour!)

Mommy is having a nap right now and so is Olivia... Daddy and Aaron read the new baby book from Auntie Julie!

Once everyone wakes up we will see about going to the pumpkin patch today... unfortunately the weather isn't that great so today would be the best day to go so we will see how everyone feels!

On my way...

12 hours from now I will be on a plane headed towards California! You see that bag above? I have never packed so light for anything in my life! That bag is it, along with my purse! There are even gifts in there for the kids... Anyhow, looking forward to my adventure and meeting baby Olivia! And of course, seeing Aaron, Katie and Ian!!

6km Pumpkin Fun Run

Our 2nd run this weekend, Nadia and I did the 6km Pumpkin Fun Run... it was soooooo cold and foggy when we arrived at 8:30am. The race started right at 9am and we both did awesome. We had no idea it was a very 'hilly' 6km.... I maintained a 8 min/1 km pace which I was pleased with. At the end of my run, Dad, Jeanie, Mom, Julie, Greg and Cali were waiting there cheering me on. It was pretty cool!

Pumpkin Patch

Everyone who could showed up at the end of my run and just after so we could all spend some time at the pumpkin patch. I have to admit, I was extremely tired after my run and had no ambition to take pictures. Mom had Elliott's camera and I am sure has taken some really fun shots!

Running and Dog house Renos

I got up bright and early this morning to join Nadia and the school she teaches at in a 5km run in PoCo. I have to say, it was pretty cool that we came in pretty close to first and I don't care that it was against a bunch of kids! Haha... Anyhow, it was alot of fun to see all the kids out there doing their best. Towards the end, the kids that were in front of us would scream and start running even faster for fear "Ms. Lee" would catch up or pass them! (pretty funny)

Since it was so nice out today, I headed to home depot after the run and picked out some green paint so I could give Tag's dog house a bit of a make over. Brian still needs to finish the roof that's why the tarp is still there, but otherwise it's looking pretty good! That dog house was in pretty rough shape but I think it will hold up for a few more years now!


Sneaky dog... He was doing his normal sun bathing out on the deck and only came to say hi to me 2 times while I was painting which I promptly kicked him out of his kennel, so I have no idea when he sniffed the house and got paint on his nose!! He wasn't too impressed with me when I tried to rub it off... which, it won't come off... ugh... haha

Have I said I love Halloween?

Ok... I have been working on these guys for 4 hours now... two batches of sugar cookies... rolled em out... cut them up... baked them... and outlined them... Ahhh... I have been waiting so long to start these!!! More work to be done, they are going to be super cool and I can't wait to give them to all the kids!

Another Thanksgiving Dinner and meeting baby Scarlett

Brian and I went to his brother's place for a thanksgiving dinner Monday night... We had a delicious glazed ham and a french canadien dish called a Tortier (basically a meat pie). As always, John made a delicious meal.

Here is Brian with his first little niece Scarlett. She is soooo tiny and it was pretty neat to see that Brian has gotten more comfortable with holding these little ones. (I can't wait to see Olivia now!!)

Brian with his niece and nephews (L-R Jeremy, Scarlett and Jack)

Thanksgiving BBQ and Fire Pit

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner BBQ and Fire Pit at Dad and Jeanie's tonight. Everyone who was able to come was there... even Elliott came for dinner which was nice considering Mom is still in California with Katie, Ian and family!

Special mention here... after almost 4 years together, this is me and Brian's first time sitting in front of a fire pit together.... haha, sorry Brian! I think everyone knows how much I hate smelling like fire smoke... ugh! Anyhow, it was fun, I will do it again.