Loving where we live

I don't mean this post to be braggy or anything since I know that other areas of the country are having some not-so-fun weather and air quality conditions lately, but we have spent the past couple of weekends enjoying the beaches and towns near where we live.  We went to Half Moon Bay and even though it was chilly we had fun walking along the beach and looking at the waves.  Then we had the most amazing clam chowder ever at Sam's Chowder House.  Seriously, come visit and we will take you there - the view looking out on the water as the sun is setting is stunning and it is the best clam chowder in the whole world. 

 

 

We also spent a Saturday in Carmel-by-the-Sea wandering through shops, stopping for lunch at a bakery and enjoying the phenomenal 67 degree weather at the beach just below the Pebble Beach golf course.  There is nothing quite like walking on a beautiful beach in January in perfect weather, although I thought that some people were taking it to excess by actually wearing bathing suits and getting in the water.  It wasn't that warm.  And any time we pull the camera out now Clara says "CHEESE!" and makes this face, even without our prompting.  It takes a few shots for her to relax and look more normal, but this picture was so funny that I wanted to include it.

 

 

This past week we actually had a couple of days of rain and I was sitting in the house with Clara totally at a loss for what to do since we had read every book, done every puzzle, played with every toy, etc. and we were both bored.  I was SO glad when it cleared up and we could go for a walk the next day and play at the park.  I swear I do not know how all the moms who are house-bound by snow and ice do it.  Hats off to you - for reals.

Yup, it doesn't get much better than this.