Deadheads

I love it that my kids are old enough to be capable workers and that they're young enough to still think it's mainly fun.  Owen and Ella deadheaded all the front yard flowers today.  Thanks, guys :-)

Brownies!

Owen really likes to help with anything that goes on in the kitchen.  Claire just likes chocolate.

Bedtime Bozos

When I was pregnant with Owen, I felt a bit sorry for him.  He was going to be stuck with me as his only playmate since his two sisters were over 4 and 6 years older than him.  Turns out that he and Ella are the best of friends and can play happily for hours.  Owen absolutely adores his big sister, especially when she's being goofy and he gets to join in the fun.

Next Door

If there is anything Claire loves in life, it's our next door neighbor's yard and front porch.  She's constantly checking to see if they're home, and even when they're not she'll go sit on their porch and wait for a bit.  One day she even opened the front door and walked on in.  Now that's what I call neighborly.

Today we were unloading the groceries and Claire spent her time on the neighbor's steps picking flowers.  It's a good thing they really like Claire!

All in Good Fun

My Tie Guys

Owen has realllly been wanting to have a tie like daddy, so what better way than to get them matching ones.  Big O is so proud, and I think that while Andrew doesn't want to admit to being all matchy-matchy, he likes the idea, too.

"Not a Good Choice"

Here's the conversation I just overheard and what I found when I went to see what was going on.

Owen in his lecturing voice:  "Mommy is going to be mad at you."
Claire, ever so happily: "Yeah!"
Owen:  "Mommy is going to be really mad."
Claire: "Yeah!:
Owen, slightly panicky now: "Claire, you have to stop it!  You are not allowed to do that!"
Claire turning serious: "Not a good choice, Owen?  NOT a good choice!"

Definitely not a good choice.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Part of beach week every year is going to the Boardwalk on cheap night and riding all the rides.  This one got six kids at once which is probably our record for the evening.  It's craziness trying to coordinate twenty-something people of varying ages and still get everyone on all the rides they want.  (Casualties this year include Kellie and me as we didn't get on a single ride.  Giant Dipper, I miss you!) 

This ride was Owen's first of the evening.  He started stomping around and whining while in line, and I thought he'd gotten scared and was wimping out.  Nope, he wanted to go ride the big roller coaster that's right behind this ride.  Grow, Owen, grow, so I can have a roller coaster riding buddy.

The Claire Bear's ride selection is limited, but she enjoyed everything she went on.  And I guess I lied above because we had adults, teens and little kids on this ride.  And also, I went on it, so I guess I did ride a ride, even if I did just stand next to Claire and make sure she didn't dismount while in motion.  I love the Looff Carousel.  I have so many childhood memories of pulling the brass rings and throwing them at the clown mouth. I never made it in.  Oh well, it's the fun that counts.  It's hard for me to believe it will be 100 next year, and I'll have been riding it for a third of that time.

Beauty and the Beach

My girl loves the beach.  She would happily play in the sand and dig for hours.  What she doesn't like is the ocean, or any one of her family members going in it.  She shrieks and panics when people go toward the ocean.  Owen loves the ocean and wants to be in it constantly, and he wants someone to come with him.  This is a pretty classic analogy for their relationship, except Claire is usually the one seeking trouble and O is holding back.

Twinners!

We stopped and saw Shelly and Kevin's new twin girls on our way to the beach.  They're just a month old but very clearly have their own personalities already.  It's always so sweet to snuggle a newborn.  Owen doesn't feel quite the same way, but I'm giving him a pass since he's four.  And we didn't even bring Claire, because I don't know what she'd do, but I'd be scared to see it.  Bryn wanted to sneak one of the babies home with us!

Last Day of Swimming Lessons

The last day of swimming lessons means you take your test and then spend the rest of the time going off the diving board.  I'm pretty impressed that Ella jumped high, looked at me, and kept her eyes open! All three kids had a great time.  Claire--not so much, since she just put on her swimsuit every morning and then never got to go swimming.  Aaaah, the disappointments of being two!