Summer Days in Cali

Our family of four recently returned from a visit to Papa T and Mama Lynn's house (we like to call in Rancho Relaxo). It was just that...relaxation + incredible weather + memories made with grandparents + bonding with aunties and uncles + swimming with friends + water slides + accidentally launching daughter off water slide + tropical flowers and foliage + hot air balloons + hummingbirds + mother-daughter beachside luncheons + couch naps on Sunday afternoon + shaving "fuzzies" with Papa + golf, golf, golf (for Michael) + bundt cakes +puddle boots + dancing to "Jika" (an African praise song) with Kate + Del Mar + seagulls + swinging in hedgies (hammocks) + books with Mama Lynn + gelato + Carter's outlet + steel oat cookie crumble cakes = our visit to California this summer!

goofy faces & fun memories

Kate's vocabulary and sentence structure seems to have exploded over just the past few weeks. I adore the sound of her sweet voice (with the exception of whining) whether she is singing along with me, she surprisingly hits most of the notes and words, or giving Joseph the "tour" of her kitchen and food items she selected for him to taste...

Here's a banana, Joseph! Boots (the monkey from Dora) eats bananas!

Mmmmm...eat this peach. It is tasty!

I will go make something, Baby Joseph. (Lettuce and mushrooms were in her hands as she turned to cook in her kitchen.) Nummy time!

There's a princess in me!

The princess who found the eye shaddow and lip gloss...lovely!


Kate was able to join us at CFL kids' camp for the princess party...she was so excited all day long to see all the animals in the barnyard (although she would not pet them because they were "stinky, Mommy!"). She danced with the other princesses, then she heard that there was a birthday party and she was ecstatic. She donned a Hello Kitty party hat as her tiara and was transformed into a mini Cinderella. The campers were reminded that they are beautiful on the inside as well as on the outside, learned that because God showed grace to us when we didn't deserve it, they should show grace to others too. Doing your best and never ever, ever giving up were also take home points. All in all, a fantastic way to end camp!




trying on Cinderella's glass slippers

Bit of pool time fun

Some fun loving friends (aka: Semlow and Bunk families) came over yesterday and boy, did we all have a good time!





A sad attempt to get a picture of all the girls...


And Christopher bobbing through, carefree as can be.

Oasis of Relaxation turned Wave Pool

This was a few days ago, but too cute not to post...Miss Independent

Ode to the Paci

Kate has been without her beloved pacifier for three days now,
Typically this would cause her to cry and have a cow.
The paci, the paci. Oh how it gave her such delight as she slept and woke.
Then she chewed several holes in it (literally), Kate told me it was broke.
To avoid a choking hazzard and to end the habit too,
I gave the end a large snip but as far as Kate knew...
The paci has "died" says she with a sad look in her eye,
But the sucking is finished, it's over, it's through.
One day she'll look back and thank me that this happended when she was only two.