California or Bust. Okay, so we bust.

We did make it down to Mountain View, CA, in mid-June to visit Dwayne’s brother’s family for a week. Fortunately, I didn’t start getting sick until we got there (the 2 day road trip was hellacious enough with the carsickness). We had a great week with the family, visiting the Santa Monica Aquarium and many of the nearby parks and racquetball courts.

Good.

Better.

Playing Bucket-Head in the bath.

Clearly, I was infatuated with my sleeping children.

We visited a park with extensive trails; one led to a small working farm! We had to stop and play in the creek for a while. Kara stuck close to Piper, who held on tight to her cousin! Kyla explored on her own.

The cousins—Kara, Piper, Isaac, Esther, Kyla

Denise, Piper (age 16 months), Kyla (almost 3), Dwayne

Kara (age 12), Dan, Esther (age 9), Isaac (age 14), and Deborah—the kindest mother and most understanding and gracious aunt in the world!

Hi, everyone, we’re heading home!

Playgroup at the Crossroads Park in Bellevue

  

Hey, Aubrey, let’s go play!

There’s this huge whale to climb.  Kyla and Isaac conquered pretty quickly. 

 

Up, Up, Up!

 

Catch me, Susanne!

Hey, if she can do it, I can too!  (Mother’s note:  I held Piper’s hand as she climbed up most of the whale.  When it got to such a height that I could no longer reach her hand, she let go and kept climbing! As you can see from the above picture, kids on top are pretty much out of adult reach.  Susanne quickly ran to the other side in case Piper went backwards.  Fortunately, Piper toddler toward me and jumped into my arms.  However, you can imagine why I didn’t take out the camera to record that particular incident.)

 

Gardening

We belong to a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm so the only foodstuffs I try to grow are tomatoes. With the uncharacteristic heat wave we’ve had the last few weeks, I’ve had to call in reinforcements to help me get them watered!

Hey, Kyla, you’re watering your toes! Oh, well, at least you’re getting the dirt wet now.

Where did you say the tomatoes are, Mom? Oh, well, I guess I’ll just go the opposite way.

Whew! All that watering wore me out. Mama’s lap looks like a good place to rest.