Tide Pools

cute little buddies

We headed south, a few weeks ago, to Rancho Palos Verdes with some friends and explored the most gorgeous tidepools I've ever seen.
While Lu was our brave lass and handled the tide pool folk, Charlie was content to explore the water, rocks, and caves. 

It was the perfect afternoon.  I love this little family of mine.  I am so grateful.

And I love January...here.  I'm telling you -- visit LA in January: the weather really is as gorgeous as these pictures make it look. You won't be sorry.  And you're welcome for the invitation.

And I thought it couldn't get better.

As a follow-up...
This conversation happened, spontaneously, Tuesday afternoon.

Charlie: "Lucy, what will your favorite color be when you grow up and are a cat lady?"

Lucy: "Ummmm, lellow!"

Charlie: "Oh. Mine will be beige."

Huh?!  The entire conversation was very casual, yet very matter-of-fact.  I DIED!

This guy is so fun and fantastic. I can't get over him, and never will.

When asked where he learned about beige, Charlie credited the ipad.  

A week later, I still don't know if I should be impressed, worried, or ashamed of myself as a mother.

Lofty Goals

(To put this all into perspective, you need to know that Lucy's been going through a "light pink kitty cat" obsession for a few months).

About 3 weeks ago, as we were driving, the kids and I were talking about when they will be grown-ups.  I was telling Lucy how lucky she was that she would get to be a mommy and take care of her very own babies.  To this, she quickly said

"But mommy, I'm not going to take care of babies, I'm going to take care of kitty cats!"

"Kitty Cats?  You want to be a CAT LADY when you grow up?!"

"YES MOMMY!! I want to be a CAT LADY!!!!"

Oh. My. Goodness.  My daughter wants to be the cat lady.  I'm glad she's only 2.  Let's hope she doesn't keep on with such aspirations.

Every neighborhood has the cat lady, right?  Growing up, our neighborhood's cat lady was cr-a-zy.  As in, kept up to 25 cats in her garage at a time - had CAGES of cats - kind of crazy.  So you can imagine how hilarious Lucy's declaration was. I still laugh thinking about her enthusiasm at being "the cat lady." 

At least she'll have a place wherever she goes.  Every neighborhood needs a cat lady.

She's a beaut.  Love this girl.

Let it be known that I harbor no ill-will towards cats, or cat-lovers.

In my mind, a cat-lover and a cat lady are 2 TOTALLY different things, on completely different planes.

And if our neighborhood cat-lady reads this.  I'm sorry I said you were crazy. 

In 20 years, and 20 grandkitties, I'm sure I'll understand your passion. 

 Forgive my current short-sightedness.
To each, his own.

Lucy started ballet

 

Lu and her best friend, Claire, at the barre

It's just about the cutest thing I've EVER seen.

Based on the past 2 weeks, I have a feeling Brian and I have a lifetime of recitals and tutus in our future.
Thank you, Parks and Rec, for giving our 2 year old a vision.
And such a darling vision, at that. :)

Grandma was right.

When Brian and I were dating, I went with him to his cousin's missionary farewell.  It was my big debut with the extended family and while I wasn't nervous, I definitely wasn't prepared - for his Grandma, that is.
As soon as I introduced myself to her, she exclaimed "Oh! You 2 will have BEAUTIFUL children!"  It was awesome.  And super awkward.  And now it makes for a really fun memory.

Aren't you glad you know that story now?  It was essentially my way to say "dang, we have beautiful children."

This one reminds me of something you'd see in the opening credits for The Wonder Years.

 

 

I call this one "So, a needle pulling thread."

This past year's family pictures were taken by our wildly talented friend.  Isn't she amazing?!  Thank you, wildly talented friend.  We are so grateful to you for capturing the beauty, long-ago foretold by Grandma Mac, that blesses our every day.

Living the Dream

Brian here... There is a Whole Foods next to our Dollar Store. For years (that's right, I said years), Charlie has been asking when we were going to shop there so he could ride in the race car shopping cart. His dream was finally realized and Emily's photo skills captured the moment:

BTW... we actually just "borrowed" the Whole Foods shopping cart to shop at the Dollar Store :)

Lucy at 4:30am

Brian here... we recently moved Charlie and Lucy into bunk beds and we moved Eve into the crib. This is Lucy's first time in a "big girl bed" and she's been doing great so far. Although, check out what I found on the couch at 4:30am as I was leaving for work last week...

A lot of her toys were out as well so who knows how long she was up during the middle of the night :)