the beach

so that I can move on with my life

I have an obsessive compulsion to photo document. Let's just lay that out on the table right at the get-go. I know I don't need all these pictures, and I certainly don't need to blog them all, but I simply can't help myself. And to add a little icing to the mental instability, I have to post beach pictures in a separate post...due to the number of photos and the lateness of the hour. And to the fact that we spent this last weekend in Green River at the cabin, and I have to get California out of my head before I can move on to Green River. Okeedokee. Here we are.

I have to say that my kids did much better at the character breakfast at Knott's Berry Farm than they did at Disneyland. There was no crying and begging to get away from Snoopy this time. I'd say that's a step in the right direction. Watching Olivia ride a roller coasterOk, this is really cute because this is the first time Lily and Alex rode a ride together. Awwe. Precious. They loved it!Lily thinks that "hand in the air" is required on all rides. We had Lily and Alex's portraits done. I've always wanted to do this but never did. I'm so glad I finally broke down...I LOVE it!They got a treat for being so good. OK, I know this isn't attractive, but I had to put this picture up. This meal, plus one other drink not pictured, cost me 19 clams!! (my drink was water). To make the kids lunch a meal would have cost me 8 BUCKS EXTRA! DOES ANYONE SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THIS? Of course, if there were a guy behind the counter, I'm sure Sarah could have batted her eyes and gotten us lunch, compliments of Snoopy, but I guess you only get lucky once in a day:). I think this is my favorite picture of these two. They never smile for me. Now I know...amusement park rides. Noted. aaaand this is how Sarah and I were on all the kitty rides. After a particularly traumatic plane ride to Seattle we have never been quite the same. I hate my hair right now. I know I shouldn't be down on myself, and that's really not what this next picture's about, but I hate my hair right now. Thanks, I feel so much better. Check out that gap in my boy's teeth!! And today he told me he feels molars coming in "way in the back". Have mercy. Liv worked herself up to go on this ride all day. Check out the look on her face!:)But of course while she was having the time of her life, Sarah couldn't stop wondering how this child could go from the safety of her womb to being plummeted to earth in a free fall in about 5 seconds. Boy haven't we all been there.

Good times. THANK YOU SARAH for not only inviting us to come, but for hanging with us in Snoopy land all day. I know they were the only rides we could handle (just barely).

Beach pictures comin' up.

double the pleasure, double the fun

Here's the thing about my sister and me. To say we're alike is putting it a bit mildly. I'm not exactly sure you get much closer to being twins without actually sharing the same uterus.

Yesterday, I actually had a 5 minute conversation with someone who thought I was her. True story. In fact, I was with Jake and at the end of our chat he said, "You know, I always see you in the office, but I never put two and two together until now."

My sister works in Jake's office.

So when she showed up to the St. Patty's Day party looking like this...



I laughed, but I really wasn't all that surprised. At this, and the fact that there was one other shirt we both bought at Target completely unaware that the other had as well. And the really sad thing? I didn't even notice the similarity of our pants until just now. That's kind of how we roll.

Just so you know, that is why whenever my sister gets hit on, as she did quite unabashedly by a quality gentleman working at Knott's Berry Farm, I can also claim just a little piece of that as my own. It's just my little way of telling myself I still got the juice.

We had the BEST time in Cali! More pics to come!

warning: lots of dirty photos

Sorry, I couldn't resist that title. Even though this next one's not dirty at all. It's Darling MaKaty back when she was still the youngest in her family.

So anyway, here's the story. One day Seth came home from school with Alex, and I thought that the boys would think it would be awesome to give Buster a bath, since I had to anyway because Lily loves to "feed" Buster, who usually comes away from the experience wearing noodles/peanut butter/milk/yogurt/syrup. So I got out this galvanized tub I bought just for that very purpose, and we washed Buster.

It was alright, I guess. I mean, they had fun. But It really didn't get exciting until they looked around and realized they had a giant tub, a hose, and a sandbox/dirt readily available. And just so you know, that little spark of ingenuity happened in about 5 seconds, because I went in the house, turned around, walked back out, and saw this. And yes, Lily is wearing white pants. The decision-making process that took place while standing in front of a display of pants labeled "clearance" at Old Navy which finally terminated in purchasing white pants for Lily is another post altogether. And probably lends toward my overall mental status. (Oh my goodness I'm building a house.)

So here's the damage from that little discovery. I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I have the most tolerant in-laws on the planet! Let's not forget that this all occurred in their backyard...They were so proud of their bellies. Who wouldn't be, really?I love this one of Seth-man.

So in the end it was definitely worth the hour of cleaning up and bathing that had to happen afterward.

And at least Buster got his bath...

dang.