Hotel Nor Cal

Can I tell you something? I have the softest hands I've had in 3 years. I didn't get a manicure with a special add-on paraffin dip. What I got was two full weeks at my parents house, Hotel Nor Cal. Oh. My. Goodness.

Our roof was being re-done (well, I should say, considering the state that it is in today, it got started) and so, the kids and I left for two full weeks. It was full of swimming and relaxing and wiping our feet and using our napkins and not doing dishes. Seriously. I have pre-children hands.

Praise the Lord for my mom who drove north with the kids and I. As she knows (and anyone who's tried to make that drive knows) I couldn't have done it without her. And, just a word to you dad drivers who don't let anyone else drive : You have the easy job. I was ready to party when we got up north after driving instead of how I usually feel after 6 plus hours of pointing out exciting things outside and trying to assuage tears and keep the video poised just right between the two carseats while sitting in the back in the most uncomfortable seat in the car. Seriously. I'll take driving any day. (Are you reading this, honey?)

Things started off strong at Kettleman City with a strawberry shake....

And Fordy having no idea the drive that was ahead of him. Oh, and, from here on out, his name is, according to Abby, "Ba-duki". That's right. And we're all calling him that.

Neither child went to sleep, except for a 45 minute nap. Let me tell you, the last hour was brutal. But then again, I was up front driving.... and mom was doing the hard work. (loud round of applause)


And the days were full of two things. Waiting to swim and swimming. Late afternoon, after naps, once the solar was in full swing and the pool was getting close to 90, we went in for an hour or so. It was glorious and Abby did great. From there, we'd rush inside, throw the kids in the tub, try to make dinner and get the kids down. It was pretty hairy but really fun and super summery. More on that tomorrow.

Ford spent any moment not in the pool playing with the ring that kept Abby afloat and balloons from the local, fancy market. And I was happy to allow him the hours of run that provided. Up and down the hallway... and all around the kitchen.

Which of course led to balloon hair...




And one of my favorite pictures ever.



616. going back to bed in the morning after ford's 6am wake up (thanks, mom and dad!)
617. showering without interruption (thanks, mom and dad!)
618. help in the morning. help in the evening. help at night (thanks, mom and dad!)
619. reading and not cleaning during naps

Getaway

Whew! Lots has been going on. Namely, we got to celebrate our anniversary (thanks, Tam, for having a birthday!) in a glorious place that looked like this....

Where our biggest responsibility was not to break the wine glasses.

And we felt pretty much like this the entire time...

With a large, standing round of applause to Grandma and Papa, the kids survived at home! Among other things, they went to the park, had a picnic, and came home completely filthy and tired.

And they each grew about 3 feet while we were away.

611. smooth flying
612. good friends and sweet memories
613. guini juice
614. taylor's refresher
615. honestly

Day In The Mind of Fordy

If Ford could talk, here is what he'd be saying....

"Hey! I'm one! Yep."

"See this duck push toy? It's kinda for babies. I'm over it..."

"I've moved on to bigger things. Things even my sister can hardly do. Well, I can't pedal yet, but soon... really soon."

"And I like almost everything my mom puts in front of me. But sometimes I have to think about it."

"And then I decide I love it."

606. a steadier walker
607. sound sleeping
608. not worrying about food for ford
609. that lolly
610. a happy heart "yes mom!"

Princess For A....While

Let me introduce you to the latest and greatest girl at our house....our very own princess.

Grandmama got Abby her very own dress up box including both Cinderella and Snow White for her birthday. Abby was in heaven. She did the whole "bippity boppity boop" thing on Pop Pop.

And with four (yes! four!) wands.... everyone gets to join in when it's princess time.

But make no mistake. Even a princess gets thirsty. "Real thirsty, mom. Mom? Is this water fresh?" (I get this question no less than 4 times a day thanks to her dad, who always wants things "fresh and clean." Surprised?)

602. the right phone
603. cookbooking from afar
604. blurb
605. copyrighting

Day Of The Three

On Abby's actual birthday, instead of a big Disneyland thing (that we were going to do) we went to the park. And that, my friends, was a lovely decision.

Our girl swung high as the sky...

and after ripping Fordy off of the structure equipment that is meant for much older kids...

he swung a little bit...

Did I mention that he's one? He is. And if you forget, he has this cute shirt (thanks, Jenny!).

At one point, Abby took off running.... far, far away.... and I let her go (it was an enclosed park, after all) and it was one of many first steps I've seen recently of her taking some independent steps. Like getting ready for school. And on that day, coming up very soon, I might just cry. You read it here first. Someone cries over their daughter starting preschool. Yikes!

Back she came, singing and dancing.... so happy to be free (I mean!) THREE.

598. ford's nap schedule jiving
599. the party mix
600. seeing my own sin
601. being reminded of the glory of heaven

Art Festival

A few weeks ago, Grant fired us all up for the Sierra Madre art festival. After we perused the mediocre art, we listened to some music on the grass. Ford did his little double leg bend to the beat and Abby pulled out some cool moves.

See this guy? You'd think that I dragged him to the festival. It was all his idea. Believe me. As usual, the family fun days always involve crowds, sweat and strollers. We prayed for this, remember?

594. time together on the weekend
595. a new pre-festival quesadilla
596. dreaming
597. keeping track

Easter Part Deux

Easter was so long ago...but some of these pics are too good not to share! I know I gave you a sneak peak awhile ago...but, well, we got behind! And so...


here are the cousins....Abby soaked up every big girl moment.

A man and his beer...teaching his boy about beer. Seriously. He loves it. Recently, my mom said, "sorry if he smells like beer. He grabbed the glass and wouldn't let go!" This will pass, right?

For the girls, the Easter egg hunting kept going...a 3-day version of hide and seek.

While cousin AJ hit everything he could. And far. The kid can swing.

And then there was the rolling...

And rolling....

And finally some sitting...

Easter morning was pretty exciting for Fordy. This Cars basket was supposed to be his. Except that the week before, Abby got ahold of Grandmama's phone, looked at her pictures and saw a photo of it. "Grandmama! A Cars basket! Is it mine? I want that one!" she loves Cars simply and only because her cousin AJ does. Or so she thinks. She's made it through about 15 minutes of the movie 3 times. Not enough princesses I'm sure...

Paparazzi from the back...

And front...

The real egg hunt...

She found one!

Grandmama and her grandkids!

Other than rolling, the girls also taught Abs how to catch butterflies. Or at least how look cute while doing it.

Anything else in here?

A little love from Aunt Karen....

A little love for brother...

And the hilarity of trying to get two active boys to sit still.

590, sunshine
591. Safety and protection
592. Countless memories
593. The best chocolate cake ever