The time has come for me to pack my things and say good bye to my San Diego friends.

We are moving to Montana.

No. No.No.  Not the state! The avenue! Santa Monica is famous for Montana Avenue.

 My parents and I will only we there for a year. We headed up recently to survey the scene.

 Looks like it will be a year of chasing rainbows.

Classic San Diego

San Diego is known for a few things. One being the beach, another the zoo. This week I enjoyed them both. There is a song I have heard more than once. It goes a little something like this... You belong in the Zoo. The San Diego, San Diego Zoo.

 The San Diego Zoo is a special place to my family. When my Dad was young he would come to San Diego and visit his Grandma and attend zoo camp. Neither of my Grandma's live in san Diego, If they did I'd be happy to stay with them and attend zoo camp. My Grandma Cindy was delighted to jet down from Nor Cal to share a day at the zoo with me. My Grandma Judi provided my zoo attire. If you look closely there our monkeys on my shirt. It's important to dress for the occassion. 

  My Dad is always calling me a monkey and was a little bit worried a mamma monkey might try to steal me. I made it home safe and sound though.

What would be summer without a Tri Club aquathlon. For most it is one part social and one part supper with some swimming and running for good measure. For me it was all pure sand and social.

Now I know why sleep is so important! It's my chance to dream up some more great adventures.

What's up folks? It's Annika Ruth reporting in and here is what I have to say....

 

Live Large Party Hard !

My swim coach says I have pary arms. Pretty rad eh?

If you want it you can have it but you are going to have to reach up there and grab it!

Swing it!

Spin it! Catch me if you can!

Redefine

I believe it is important to continuously be redefining and reinventing.  I would hate to miss out on something due to dogmatic ways of thinking or worse because I was curmudgeonly.

Cases in point

#1 : Redefine the Grocery Getter

 

#2: Who says you need a full set of teeth to enjoy corn on the cob?

 #3: Nap time? Party Time?

Savoring Summer

 I'm a real good helper. I help my Dad study and my Mom run.

Although my real passion is swimming and maybe swinging.

 I so could have made the 1924 Olympic team. Wait! Did women even get to swim in the 1924 Olympics? Apparently until 1972 women were only allowed to run 2 laps around the track. Looking at it from that point of view we have come a long way Baby!

Summer time in Northern Michigan

My trip to Grandma and Grandpa's was awesome. You've all heard the Kid Rock song singing about summer time in Northern Michigan. It is no joke. Let me tell you it is something to sing about. It was a very special trip in oh so many ways. I'm still working on language acquisition so I am forced to keep the details short. I'll focus on pictures instead. The pictures will jog my memory in years to come.

One of the highlights of my visit was my Christening. How this for fabulousness? I was baptised in the same church by the same priest as my Mom....and I wore the Christening dress she and my cousin Madelyn wore. I must confess I couldn't squeeze into the shoes and a larger size was purchased for the occassion.

 

Family came from near and far for the occassion. In attendance were both sets of Grandparents. My Great Uncle Tom and Aunt Robyn became my God Parents and my second cousin Hannah joined them. 

Speaking of cousins. I absolutely love cousins. I met my cousins Madelyn (aka Maddy or Mads) and Sam.

 

We had a lot of fun together. We visited a  neighbor who is in the business of breeding deer and I watched as my cousins fed little fawns milk out of a baby bottle. Boy, do the fawns suck down a bottle in a hurry.

I met some of my Mom's neighborhood pals from Pte. Aux Chenes.  They keep talking about having a formal informal reunion. Sounds like a killer play date to me.

I fell in love with Sparky. He is a soft a silk. Gook, I call him. It sounds best when squeeled.

Grandma Judi saved some very special things for me from when my Mom was young. My Mom says that Grandma Judi is the very, very, best at playing dolls. The Raggedys (Ann and Andy) are her absolute specialty. Rumor has it they keep her quite busy. Apparently every time she turns her back they are up to something. When my Mom was young and went out to play with her friends the Raggedy's would come to life and get into all sorts of mischief and excitement.

Paddington Bear is my favorite. He was made for my Mom by my Great Aunt. I love  Paddington bear. Really with the heat wave and a coat of fur  he should wise up and off the jacket.

She and Grandpa know all sorts of tricks to keep me intrugued and entertained. Our visit lasted 2 weeks and I didn't get bored once.

Being up North on the 4th is something to treasure . We celebrated a few days early . Mostly so I could wear my outfit a  few more times. My Mom has serious wardrobe envy when it comes to my boots.

That's my Uncle Tom. He is great too !

I really enjoyed the classic days of summer. Running.Sunning. Swinging.Swimming. Hanging and Ice creaming! Staying up until the sun sets which is about 10 pm.

Calssic!

Lake Superior Love. The water is crisp and clean.

A U.P. town with it priorities straight. Skiing and cycling. Can you beat it?

Roots.

I spent some time connecting with my roots in Michigan's Upper Pennisula. My Mom is a Yooper. My grandparents live in Michigan's Upper Pennisula. Therefore I declare I am part Yooper despite being born in La Jolla, California. This makes my first visit to the U.P. a big, big, deal. More on the fun I had later but first here is the trailer I made for my grandparents prior to my visit.