The Joker

Riley rarely smiles, so when he does, I've got to post it!  Doesn't he look like the joker here?

From Riley and friends

Why does my dog love eating my lip gloss?!?!

From Hiking to Century Lake in Malibu

Hiking the Chumash Trail and La Jolla Valley in Malibu

We decided to hike on July 4.  The Chumash Trail starts on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu and goes straight up--almost 900 feet with no switchbacks.  The Chumash Indians used this trail as long as 7000 years ago to go from the ocean to where they lived in the valley.

On the way up the trail you can see the Mugu Lagoon in the distance

From Hiking La Jolla Valley via the Chumash Trail-July 4, 2009

From Hiking La Jolla Valley via the Chumash Trail-July 4, 2009

From Hiking La Jolla Valley via the Chumash Trail-July 4, 2009

The view from the top of the Chumash Trail, 886 feet in 1/2 mile

From Hiking La Jolla Valley via the Chumash Trail-July 4, 2009

Once we got to the top of the Chumash Trail, we descended into the La Jolla Valley. This is a protected area as it is one of the last areas of native California grassland

From Hiking La Jolla Valley via the Chumash Trail-July 4, 2009

Boney Ridge in the distance

From Hiking La Jolla Valley via the Chumash Trail-July 4, 2009

The grass was as tall as me!

From Hiking La Jolla Valley via the Chumash Trail-July 4, 2009

From Hiking La Jolla Valley via the Chumash Trail-July 4, 2009

From Hiking La Jolla Valley via the Chumash Trail-July 4, 2009

From Hiking La Jolla Valley via the Chumash Trail-July 4, 2009

From Hiking La Jolla Valley via the Chumash Trail-July 4, 2009

From Hiking La Jolla Valley via the Chumash Trail-July 4, 2009

From Hiking La Jolla Valley via the Chumash Trail-July 4, 2009

From Hiking La Jolla Valley via the Chumash Trail-July 4, 2009

From Hiking La Jolla Valley via the Chumash Trail-July 4, 2009

From Hiking La Jolla Valley via the Chumash Trail-July 4, 2009

Our July 4th tradition is to go to the top of a tall parking garage so we get to see multiple firework displays. We always take Riley with us so he doesn't get scared! As you can see, we also got a bad sunburn on that hike!

From Hiking La Jolla Valley via the Chumash Trail-July 4, 2009

Our 2nd Anniversary

Since our anniversary was on a Tuesday we went to lunch together at Cecconi's in West Hollywood.  We took some pictures at home on the 16th just to remember:

From 2nd Anniversary

We were invited to a birthday party in Palm Springs at the house where we got engaged the weekend after our second anniversary, so we got to reenact the engagement for pictures since we were alone last time!

We walked the trail to the ledge overlooking the valley surrounding Palm Springs--it looked so different in the daylight!

From 2nd Anniversary

I tried my best to act surprised!

From 2nd Anniversary

Believe it or not, the first words after Chris asked me to marry him were not "Yes!" but, "What did my dad say?" I'm not kidding!

From 2nd Anniversary

Our hotel, the Korakia Pensione in Palm Springs

From 2nd Anniversary

From 2nd Anniversary

From 2nd Anniversary

This cat lived at the hotel and was 19 years old!

From 2nd Anniversary

Boise in June

This post is going to be full of dogs! Chris and I went to visit his family in Boise the first week of June.  First, Hailey, an English Setter.

From Visiting family in Boise in June

She completely stole my heart. I now know that my childhood dog, Snowball, was definitely part English Setter! They looked so similar.

From Visiting family in Boise in June

From Visiting family in Boise in June

We took a walk on the Boise Greenbelt, a trail that runs beside the Boise River for several miles.

From Visiting family in Boise in June

The Boise River was very flooded due to the water being let out of the dam at Lucky Peak.

From Visiting family in Boise in June

Mallards on the Boise River

From Visiting family in Boise in June

A husky on the greenbelt

From Visiting family in Boise in June

Cozette and I at the nature center on the greenbelt

From Visiting family in Boise in June

I stumbled upon these three yellow labs at the Boise Co-op. The one on the left is one year old and the one on the right is 11!

From Visiting family in Boise in June

Remember Finn? He has a special place in my heart because he is so lovable and beautiful. Here he is after a run through the pond.

From Visiting family in Boise in June

From Visiting family in Boise in June

Missy is new to the neighborhood. She's young and doesn't trust many people, but hopefully when we go back for the holidays she will let me play with her!

From Visiting family in Boise in June

Missy running through the pond

From Visiting family in Boise in June

From Visiting family in Boise in June

Good boy Sam

From Visiting family in Boise in June

Here is beautiful Parker

From Visiting family in Boise in June

Chris is allergic, remember?

From Visiting family in Boise in June

Parker and his mama

From Visiting family in Boise in June

Look at those blue eyes!

From Visiting family in Boise in June

From Visiting family in Boise in June

We visited grandma at her home

From Visiting family in Boise in June

This is the dam at Lucky Peak reservoir letting water into the Boise river

From Visiting family in Boise in June

From Visiting family in Boise in June

Here is the whole family in Idaho, minus grandma. Left to Right: Cousin Emily, Mom Cozette, Uncle Matt, Tia Missy, Cousin Joseph, Jessica, me, Chris, Bud (Jessica--am I really this much shorter than you?)

From Visiting family in Boise in June

A snoozing Gabe

From Visiting family in Boise in June

This is Maxine, Tia Missy's calf, just a few weeks old.

From Visiting family in Boise in June

From Visiting family in Boise in June

That's all for Boise.  More dog pictures to come after we visit in December!