Waking from a Sunday Afternoon Nap

34 weeks old

See - I am still the same size as you, Bear!

Crawling toward the camera

Blurry, sweet little imp!

Still and thoughtful Clara? No...you'll notice that her right leg is blurry because she is perpetually wiggling!

Grandma and Grandpa Polderman visit us

We visited the Bishop's Mansion in Galveston, among other things. We were too busy having fun for me to take many pictures!

July 4th

We celebrated Independence Day by attending the Fourth of July concert given by the Houston Symphony Orchestra at Miller Outdoor Theater. We got there late because Nathan was working that evening and we had to park and walk a ways. It was fun to see how many people came out to support Classical music, since I'm sure that they weren't there for the great fireworks display. We were seated too far away to hear most of the concert, but we enjoyed the pyrotechnics, even if everyone else left before they started. (!)

Day seven - Big Trees!

We visited Mariposa Grove on our last day at Yosemite.

Day six - the wedding!

The lovely, glowing bride - Jennifer

The happy, handsome groom - Dieter

The wedding ceremony was carefully planned to feature aspects of Jennifer's Jewish heritage and Jennifer and Dieter's Christian faith. The officiant was a Messianic Jew who leads a congregation in Chicago where Dieter and Jen worship on High Holy days. He beautifully expressed that Christianity is the fulfillment of the hope of the Jewish people.

My aunt Hilda - mother of the groom, and my mom

Us
We don't have a single picture of Clara on the wedding day - and she was dressed so adorably! Nathan and my dad ended up becoming videographers for the mothers of the bride and groom, respectively, so the cameras' lenses were focused elsewhere. Also, our efforts were primarily concerned with keeping her happy and un-sun-burned. If any of my three readers have pictures of her, email them to me!

After the wedding, we were treated to a narrated tram tour. Although we had driven through the valley several times already, we didn't tire of enjoying God's beautiful creation, so different from the flat lands of east Texas! It was a perfect day and the smoke had cleared somewhat, so we took many pictures. As I looked through them to choose which to post, I was struck again by the inability to summarize in words or in pictures the enormity and splendor that we saw. If I can't express or take in the fullness of the glory of God's creation, how much more inadequate and mute do I feel to speak of the person of God Himself?!

Day five

The girls

Baby bug

Real bug

Upper and lower Yosemite Falls

Day four - my birthday

Clara's birthday party outfit - compliments of Aunt Emmy.

A picture from our first drive into the valley. There were forest fires in the area, so it was hazy.

My birthday cake, co-made by my Mom and Nathan.

Day three

Our hotel grounds were covered in flowers!

This was a reservoir for the San Joaquin valley that we passed on our way to Yosemite.

Our sleeping baby bug in the back seat!

Day two

The aquarium was great. It was in a building that used to be a sardine factory, so the architecture was very industrial.

These are black nettles. There was an amazing collection of different types of jellies. I had no idea that there were so many varieties! Also, did you know that jellies are considered plankton because they float with the currents?

The flowers were beautiful and were growing everywhere.

We went to a farmers' market on Tuesday evening. There was so much fresh produce I wished that we had a kitchen so that I could make dinner! We did buy some raspberries and they were some of the most amazing ones I have ever eaten! I could move to California if it weren't for the prices, politics, and the distance from family!

Vacation

We traveled to California for my cousin Dieter's wedding to the lovely Jen. We left a few days early to have our first family vacation in Monterey and then traveled to Yosemite for the wedding.

I was somewhat nervous about how things would go with Clara. We had gotten the go ahead from the pediatrician to put her to sleep flat in the crib. Up to this point she had been using a tucker sling for reflux and she had been without it for less than a week before we left. We were blessed that she slept well in the various portacribs.

One thing that was quite different from our previous trips was that she no longer fits in a sink for baths. I put in her the tub, which was novel for her, and had to take her in the shower a couple times because there wasn't a tub in one hotel room. She wasn't quite as fond of the shower.

She was a joy to be with and traveled really well in the plane and in the car. For the two of us, who both like to plan things out (read 'over-schedule'), it was a nice change of pace to just take our time and relax in the necessary flexibility that comes with having a wee one!

Pictures from Day One

In historic downtown Monterey

On the Seventeen-Mile Drive

One hole of many...

Seals? Sea lions? I went to the aquarium and I still don't know the difference.

It was very windy and in the fifties...such a nice change from Houston weather. Unfortunately, I was under the impression that it would be in the fifties at night, so you will notice that I wore the same sweater every day. I'd like you to take a good look at it, too. It is white and it stayed white the entire trip!

The famous Lone Cypress of Pebble Beach

An unfamous, dead, lone cypress

At the green of the eighteenth hole at Pebble Beach

So where was I?

That has been the operative question over the past month or so and I don't mean just physically! I feel like I am have been in a perpetual state of flux of getting settled after a trip or company and getting prepared for the next thing! Please don't misunderstand...I have loved every moment of time that we have spent visiting and hosting family and friends!

I can now finally update the blog a bit because there is food in the house, baby purees have been made, there are clean clothes in our drawers (or on the guest bed in the nursery waiting to be folded!) and I am pretty much caught up with my grading!

Enjoy!

Please pray

My sister Emily is leaving for Japan tomorrow morning, where she will be teaching English in Japan's school system for a year. Please pray for traveling mercies and a smooth transition for her. Also pray for my dear parents as they watch their littlest bird fly half-way around the world. You can follow Emily's adventures at http://thesilkenthreads.blogspot.com