Beach Bum

We just got back from our second vacation of the year; this time to Newport with the Peltons.  G-Daddy and Mimi rented a beach house and we bummed around the beach, dug holes, swam in the ocean, biked to the pier, drove a duffy boat around in the Balboa harbor and had a grand ole time.  Here's a glimpse of some of my favorites from the trip:

Pop a collar

Liam,
You had your first swim lesson and proved; yet again, that you are a fish.  I swear, you have fins and gills.

Being that this was your first lesson and that I don't know all the etiquette at a swim school, I decided to wear my most conservative bathing suit--circa 1990, collar included.  Yes, you may think that I am wearing a polo shirt--but don't be deceived.  It is just borderline amazing amazingly horrid swimwear.

I want to apologize for the embarrassment my outfit may have caused you (but I won't promise that it will be the last time that happens).  Please know that I did it in love.  I had originally thought that I would avoid the bikini...I didn't want to be "that mom" in a skimpy suit.  It turns out that I would rather be the mom in the bikini than the mom in the collared swimwear.

Thank you for being a good sport.  My choice of clothing didn't hold you back in the least.  You went fully under the water, kicked and paddled.  Next week, the high-dive.

Sneak Peak. Your First B-Day Party

And so it has begun.  Planning of THE party of the year.  Your year.  Our Year.  The first year of your life.  The best year of my life.

We have one month to go, but the invitations have been assembled and posted for mailing.

 Including a project of turning this adorable picture:

 Into this even more adorable envelope liner:

In other news:  You are now standing on your own for quite a long while.  Here's a picture of you balancing with your beverage in hand.

Also in other news: You love your tent.  A LOT. (thanks Brooke).  Which is PERFECT since you are having a camp-out party!

Love. Love. Love.

Someday, you will watch us hug or kiss and you will be grossed out.  But we won't stop.  We won't stop loving you or loving each other.  That's our promise to you.

And someday, (a very long time from now) I pray that you find as great a love as I have.

A couple weeks ago, your aunt Nicole graduated from Northridge!  She is going to be a great teacher.

The whole fam bam came down for the ceremony and to celebrate her.

Fast forward a couple weeks, and we are throwing a graduation party at our home for your aunt Nicky.

We made signs...

cake pops...

Played with balloons...

Took pictures with friends...

and family...

Played with G-Daddy...

and sprinked water all over him...

Played with your new friend, Avery...

and your old friend, Shovel...

Lapped up the water...

and ended the day in your pool, entertaining all our guests.

Happy Graduation, Nicole!

Love you!

Breakfast with Great Grandma

This weekend, we celebrated your 11 month birthday with a double-date!  Your dad & mom and you and your great grandma Lois went to breakfast at the High Hand Conservatory  in Loomis.  We had a yummy breakfast and an even better time strolling the grounds and looking at the plants and flowers and fish!

Your great grandma, Lois, is one of the best there is!

You were a little unsure of the bronze statues that were in the gardens!

You loved this repurposed fountain almost as much as I did (Dad, can we buy it?!)

Dimples!

Another creepy statue.

The scenery was BEAUTIFUL!  And Grandma knew the names of almost every flower and plant!

I fell in love with this ivy.

It's a creeping fig and only $10---let's go back next weekend to pick it up for our backyard.

Blub, blub, blub...

You wanted to jump in.

and pet them.

It was a fun day enjoying the beauty of God's creation and spending time with family.