Afloat

Ellie would like to invite you over to swim in her pool.

Toys

I was browsing ebay in search of some vintage toys for Leighton's room. And boy did I have a blast from the past. It is amazing to me how I can remember toys I played with over 30 years ago. When I see the pictures I think, hey that was mine. I always hope to get lucky thrifting and find some of the old classics. Or maybe I'll just give in and bid on ebay instead.

Could this be my ringing apple?

Could this be my first record player?

Beach

Leighton's first time at the beach

Today was our first day at the beach this year. June gloom couldn't scare us away- although it seemed to have scared lots of others away considering we were the only ones on the beach. I have to admit its always a let down when the sun is shining brightly here and I imagine a warm sunny day in the sand and waves (well, me in the sand, and the kids in the waves) and yet as we get closer and close to the coast, the skies turn grayer and grayer. Now realize for me, the beach has always been about the sun. Windy and overcast doesn't work for me. If it had been just me, I would have turned around and headed back to the pool in my sunny, warm neighborhood. But I must realize the beach is not about sun for everyone, including my husband and kids. For him, its about waves, for the girls, about playing. And that's exactly what we got today. A little surf for Brett, and lot of shell collecting, sand castle building, and burying for the girls.

RIP Orchidus Maximus

Another one bites the dust...
over-watering, under-watering,
too much light, too little light,
too much humidity, not enough humidity,
I'll never know.

You are my Sunshine

Completed project #2 this week. Lots of paper cutting and mod podge. Of course it would have taken waaaaaay less time if I had one of those high falootin' circuit cutters. It turned out to be busier than I had originally intended, a bit too circusy I think, but definitely not worth redoing.

Cousins

Brooklyn and Ellie have a special place in their heart for their cousin Adina. They adore her and ask to see her almost daily (Ellie's request is always for Disneyland and Adina, or ice cream and Adina, or swimming and Adina). Lots of times she saves part of her snack for "when Adina comes" even if she's not coming until next week.

Exersaucer pt. 2

fig. 1


fig. 2


fig. 3

Exersaucer

This is Leighton's newest form of entertainment, that is when Ellie isn't in it. I love hand-me-down baby things. This belonged to Ellie after it belonged to Brooklyn after it belonged a friend's 3 children. And its still kickin. May not be the latest and greatest, but what baby knows the difference.

Coolest house in the neighborhood

We celebrated Ellie's birthday with family this week at Nino's house. On our way there Brooklyn said, "All my friends will think Nino's house is the coolest house in the neighborhood because he has 2 pools, a trampoline, and tons of videos." The girls have a blast every time we go there and usually have to be dragged out to leave. It could be the unlimited candy stash that is dumped on the bed when they watch videos, the plethora of activities that they can jump to without having to cleanup the last one, the spontaneous trips to Toys R Us , or just the way they are treated like princesses by their great aunt and uncle when they are there. So in just a few short hours they fit in...

swimming in the pool,

thinking about swimming in the pool,

jumping on the trampoline,

corn hole game,

a soak in the jacuzzi,

swinging,

lots of watermelon,

and time in the sandbox.

I think Brooklyn is right, it is the coolest house in the neighborhood.

She takes the cake!

Grandma did it again. She always manages to pull off the most incredible birthday cakes for the girls. Ellie kept coming back to the cake for quick peeks and frosting nibbles all night. And the girls enjoyed eating the pillows, sheets, and rug more than the actual cake.