Another Special Visitor

We had a week of fun with Chris's sister Shannon last week. I love that she can travel when school is on break – and so blessed that she chooses to travel to us so frequently! The boys had a blast with their Aunt. They read books (oh, so very many books!), played trucks and dinosaurs and we even got to see some sights together. 

Her first day with us we went to the Japanese Tea Garden. We had never been there before and didn't realize that they had free admission before 10 a.m. several times a week! We arrived at 9:55 – Whew! It was a very peaceful space with a little creak filled with fish. The fish and the stone path kept William entertained enough. Afterwards we wandered over to the fountains nearby and had a picnic lunch. I don't know what it is about kids and fountains but my boys can sit watching the water for what seems like such a long time! If Stephen wasn't trying to climb in, I might have been able to relax! The only thing to draw their attention away from the water was a large flatbed truck/trailer driving by.

The next day was supposed to be the hottest day of the week so we packed up and went to the beach in Pacifica. It was really busy (surprise!!) and parking took a while, but we had fun in the sand for an hour and headed home. I didn't realize my sister-in-law was so talented in molding sand and play-doh. William loved watching her create . . . and then promptly destroyed them. 

We made a couple trips to the library and playgrounds. We took naps when we could and played games in the evening. It almost felt like I was on vacation too!

Chris took his sister to Muir Woods on Saturday morning for a hike while I stayed home with the boys. And then she babysat that evening so we could go on a date! We went to the movie and saw Wonder Woman. I love superhero movies; William is really into comic books right now so he was very excited for me to see it.

On Sunday after naps we headed to the park and took some photos. It was so fun to capture the boys playing with Chris and Shannon. I so rarely take my camera out – but I love it when I do! Here comes the photo dump:

This is what it was really like...

His preferred method of mobility

Seriously, the boys love her. She's just so fun!

We had a week of fun with Chris's sister Shannon last week. I love that she can travel when school is on break – and so blessed that she chooses to travel to us so frequently! The boys had a blast with their Aunt. They read books (oh, so very many books!), played trucks and dinosaurs and we even got to see some sights together. 

Her first day with us we went to the Japanese Tea Garden. We had never been there before and didn't realize that they had free admission before 10 a.m. several times a week! We arrived at 9:55 – Whew! It was a very peaceful space with a little creak filled with fish. The fish and the stone path kept William entertained enough. Afterwards we wandered over to the fountains nearby and had a picnic lunch. I don't know what it is about kids and fountains but my boys can sit watching the water for what seems like such a long time! If Stephen wasn't trying to climb in, I might have been able to relax! The only thing to draw their attention away from the water was a large flatbed truck/trailer driving by.

The next day was supposed to be the hottest day of the week so we packed up and went to the beach in Pacifica. It was really busy (surprise!!) and parking took a while, but we had fun in the sand for an hour and headed home. I didn't realize my sister-in-law was so talented in molding sand and play-doh. William loved watching her create . . . and then promptly destroyed them. 

We made a couple trips to the library and playgrounds. We took naps when we could and played games in the evening. It almost felt like I was on vacation too!

Chris took his sister to Muir Woods on Saturday morning for a hike while I stayed home with the boys. And then she babysat that evening so we could go on a date! We went to the movie and saw Wonder Woman. I love superhero movies; William is really into comic books right now so he was very excited for me to see it.

On Sunday after naps we headed to the park and took some photos. It was so fun to capture the boys playing with Chris and Shannon. I so rarely take my camera out – but I love it when I do! Here comes the photo dump:

This is what it was really like...

His preferred method of mobility

Seriously, the boys love her. She's just so fun!

A Special Father's Day Weekend

Happy Father's day to all the wonderful dads in this world. I know of many and am so thankful for the one that I call dad and my husband who is dad to my two little guys. May father-in-law is pretty amazing and my Grandpa-in-law (is that a thing?!) is so wonderful too. William and Stephen are so blessed to have several strong, smart, and compassionate men in their lives.

This weekend was very special as we had two wonderful people join us on Saturday and Sunday: Chris's mom, Sheryl and her dad, Ray! So, not only did we get to celebrate Chris but we got to celebrate Ray too! It also meant that we got to take a four-generation photograph (which we missed doing at Christmas).

This was Ray's first time visiting us. It may have also been his first time to California! He was traveling around visiting other family members and we were blessed to get the weekend together. We had a great weekend with plenty of sunshine.

It was also a special weekend for us because Chris was asked to preach at church that Sunday! It was his first time behind the pulpit and he gave a really great message about the father in the story of the prodigal son. I'm hoping he can type it out for you all so you can "hear" it. He worked so hard preparing it; although he said he was nervous, he did fabulous. If his scratchy throat would have left him alone, it would have been perfect. I am so proud of him!

On Saturday we spent the morning at a nearby park and the boys all sat in the grass playing and watching some guys play basketball. After the afternoon naps Ray took us out to eat at Super Duper Burger. We rarely go out with the kids so it was nice to have reinforcements. And they didn't do that bad.

On Sunday, we went to church and had take-out at home so the boys could nap. Stephen has been testing out what life is like with just one nap in the morning so the afternoon was a little rough. We we were all very tired after lunch and stayed inside and rested. 

Then we headed out on a brief walk to take some photographs together (the ones posted in the blog). We stumbled onto this tree swing and William loved it! We may have to head back there soon.

Stephen is 13 months old now and it's fitting that Nana came to visit again this June. She had stayed with us a year ago when he was born and although we've seen each other a couple of times since then, the difference between a newborn and a one year old is amazing. He really doesn't seem like the same baby! He isn't fully walking yet but he has taken a couple of steps here and there. It won't be long now!

One comment I hear a lot is about Stephen's curls. The top of his hair is fairly straight and looks very similar to William's hair at the same age, but the back of his hair is all curls all the time! I love them. So, although he was done taking photographs, I couldn't miss the opportunity to snap a few of his curls.

Happy Father's day to all the wonderful dads in this world. I know of many and am so thankful for the one that I call dad and my husband who is dad to my two little guys. May father-in-law is pretty amazing and my Grandpa-in-law (is that a thing?!) is so wonderful too. William and Stephen are so blessed to have several strong, smart, and compassionate men in their lives.

This weekend was very special as we had two wonderful people join us on Saturday and Sunday: Chris's mom, Sheryl and her dad, Ray! So, not only did we get to celebrate Chris but we got to celebrate Ray too! It also meant that we got to take a four-generation photograph (which we missed doing at Christmas).

This was Ray's first time visiting us. It may have also been his first time to California! He was traveling around visiting other family members and we were blessed to get the weekend together. We had a great weekend with plenty of sunshine.

It was also a special weekend for us because Chris was asked to preach at church that Sunday! It was his first time behind the pulpit and he gave a really great message about the father in the story of the prodigal son. I'm hoping he can type it out for you all so you can "hear" it. He worked so hard preparing it; although he said he was nervous, he did fabulous. If his scratchy throat would have left him alone, it would have been perfect. I am so proud of him!

On Saturday we spent the morning at a nearby park and the boys all sat in the grass playing and watching some guys play basketball. After the afternoon naps Ray took us out to eat at Super Duper Burger. We rarely go out with the kids so it was nice to have reinforcements. And they didn't do that bad.

On Sunday, we went to church and had take-out at home so the boys could nap. Stephen has been testing out what life is like with just one nap in the morning so the afternoon was a little rough. We we were all very tired after lunch and stayed inside and rested. 

Then we headed out on a brief walk to take some photographs together (the ones posted in the blog). We stumbled onto this tree swing and William loved it! We may have to head back there soon.

Stephen is 13 months old now and it's fitting that Nana came to visit again this June. She had stayed with us a year ago when he was born and although we've seen each other a couple of times since then, the difference between a newborn and a one year old is amazing. He really doesn't seem like the same baby! He isn't fully walking yet but he has taken a couple of steps here and there. It won't be long now!

One comment I hear a lot is about Stephen's curls. The top of his hair is fairly straight and looks very similar to William's hair at the same age, but the back of his hair is all curls all the time! I love them. So, although he was done taking photographs, I couldn't miss the opportunity to snap a few of his curls.

Preschool Days

William started preschool last September and although the program he was in is a year-round program we decided to keep him home over the summer. Of course, I'm late in posting it, but here is his first-day photo next to his last-day photo:

I wasn't put together enough to take the photos before the day began so these are after school, which was at noon -- lunch time. The first day, he got into the mud and came home in boots that didn't belong to us! He was just about turn three.

The last day of school was just last week, May 30. He had finished his lunch in the car on the way home. And although you can't see mud on his pants, he has dirt all over his face and hands (because I always to forget to wash him up before I hand him his sandwich). He is just over 3 1/2 years old.

In just nine months, I feel like my boy has grown so much! Somehow he still looks a little baby-ish in the first photo and not at all in the second. How is this possible! I wasn't ready for this.

He loved school and made a lot of friends. He also got into some mischief and had trouble following the rules. It was an all outdoor program and I think that suited William really well. He got a lot of fresh air, played in sand, dirt and mud and came home exhausted.  

Sending him to preschool wasn't really in our master plan but I'm glad we did. It was good for me too. Even if it was one of our top three bills to pay and was hard to swallow some months, I think it was the best for our family.

And now for summer fun!

William started preschool last September and although the program he was in is a year-round program we decided to keep him home over the summer. Of course, I'm late in posting it, but here is his first-day photo next to his last-day photo:

I wasn't put together enough to take the photos before the day began so these are after school, which was at noon -- lunch time. The first day, he got into the mud and came home in boots that didn't belong to us! He was just about turn three.

The last day of school was just last week, May 30. He had finished his lunch in the car on the way home. And although you can't see mud on his pants, he has dirt all over his face and hands (because I always to forget to wash him up before I hand him his sandwich). He is just over 3 1/2 years old.

In just nine months, I feel like my boy has grown so much! Somehow he still looks a little baby-ish in the first photo and not at all in the second. How is this possible! I wasn't ready for this.

He loved school and made a lot of friends. He also got into some mischief and had trouble following the rules. It was an all outdoor program and I think that suited William really well. He got a lot of fresh air, played in sand, dirt and mud and came home exhausted.  

Sending him to preschool wasn't really in our master plan but I'm glad we did. It was good for me too. Even if it was one of our top three bills to pay and was hard to swallow some months, I think it was the best for our family.

And now for summer fun!