Beach Blast

Weather is no hindrance--not to my boys, at least; the beach is appropriate at all times of year for them. We've been having a blast taking them to Marina Park--one of my favorite beaches as a child. They run and splash in and out of the water--both ending up completely soaked by the end of the day. The latest has been the sand dune adventures--leaping from the top (Rob demonstrates) or making it into a slide (see Ty). Ty has the most "jumping guts" running full speed and lunging from the cliff--totally eating it face-first sometimes. Robbie's the "water devil" braving any wave that dare comes near him. So fun (except that now my camera is BROKEN--I think there is sand in it!)

While in Utah this weekend for my little brother's wedding, Rob stayed with the boys and had a blast at low tide. They caught a crab, found a huge group of anemones to touch, and a starfish the size of Ty's torso. They didn't want to leave--I've got little beach boys in the making. Love it.

Hottest Pool Boys Ever!

The boys can't get enough of Grandma and Grandpa's pool. It's freezing cold so they haven't even been in it, but they spend most of the day by its side. They brush the steps and bottom; they get the brooms wet and "wash" the deck; the latest, though, is the sea kayak--they go for boat rides all day. So cute.

Yesterday Hunter, the dog, tried to hop in with Robbie and totally missed! He panicked, reaching desperatly for the edge but couldn't get up. Imagine the fat pregnant lady lifting the obese wet dog from the pool--hilarious, I'm sure!

Big Green Dinosaur

My mom interviewed Robbie after mowing the lawn and turned his responses into a poem.
i like it when i get to help
dad mow the lawn
it’s the funnest ever
only big boys can ride
with dad
--cause grandpa’s lawn mower
is like a tractor ride
it is REALLY dangerous

it kind of looks like
a BIG green dinosaur
but it has some black on it too
the seat is yellow
and it has lights on it
so after dark
we can see

i can’t drive it by myself yet
it is really tricky
when you turn it on
it kind of hurts my ears

i get to sit on dad’s lap
it is like a car
because it has a steering wheel
he lets me steer sometimes
i’m like a big man –a little bit

my favorite part
is when it’s going up hills
it is really fun
we go up there
and get the grass

it is like a weed eater
because it eats grass
it chops it up
then it goes into bags
sometimes it spills
on the sidewalk

when the bags are all full
we dump it out
way back in the yard
it’s hard to turn it around
but that’s alright

i like riding on it
cause it’s a little bumpy
specially when we go over rocks
sometimes I get off
and pick them up
i found a brick too
and toys and sticks

the seat tickles and shakes me
it’s kind of funny
we run over the dog poop
it’s really yucky
i wish I could do it again
right now
it’s the bestest ever

A Life of Work

My parents live on a little less than three acres, which really just means tons of room for the boys to explore. I learned to hate Saturdays growing up; it wasn't a play day at our house, it was a work day. My boys got a sweet taste of it on Saturday. They woke up and spent almost two hours mowing the lawn and yard (though it was way more fun than tedious), and that afternoon they helped Grandpa plant a plum and nectarine tree in what will be called the "Family Orchard" (we each get to pick a type of tree to plant etc.). That evening, Robbie went to the hardware store with Grandpa and got his first real hammer and wrench. What a day!

Baking with Grandmas

We're back in California for Rob's ICU rotation--a perfect escape from the snow and cold. Anyway, Grandma Harp taught the boys how to make a treat all by themselves:

One round, braided pretzel
One Rolo
Bake at 350* for one minute
Put one pecan into the warm Rolo & viola!

The boys loved, especially since they made dessert for everyone.

My Big Fat Excuse!

So I've had a few people ask to post a picture of my growing self--always a pleasure, right? Wrong. I got on the scale two weeks ago and my checkup and saw that I am only 9 lbs shy of what I DELIVERED Ty at! No worries; three months to go. But, I do have an excuse . . . I get fat shots. Well, sort of. Rob has to inject me with progesterone weekly in hopes that I won't have any complications this pregnancy. Side effect: sore muscles and an increase in appetite. Awesome. So there it is.

Thanksgiving

I haven't hosted Thanksgiving for years, so it was a real treat when Rob's family came up for the weekend--a perfect excuse to decorate!
Ty loved sledding--couldn't get enough . . .

Robbie tried out his new skis we got at a garage sale for $20! He did great, right on the ice on the street.

More sledding, but with a little more flare! Poor Aunt Kristen was freezing, but stayed on for Ty who wanted to go again and again and again.

The pretty table . . .

Robbie was introduced to Kristen's iPhone; we couldn't get him off of it. He keeps asking us for an iPhone for Christmas--not a chance--but as it turns out, the kid as a knack for video games . . . who knew.