Happy Fodder's Day

Wishing all our Dads a wonderful day...as Elena says "Happy Fodder's Day!"

 Since it was Father's Day, Carl took us to the beach...Coronado Beach to be exact.  This was the first time Elena did not destroy all of Carl's castles...what a great gift!  The city was much more extensive but I only pictures from the half way point (potty emergency!).  Carl had a complete circle of towers, walls connecting the towers and people too.

 Drippy sand!!  The best kind of sand to make castles :)

 Elena was quite content in her hold...I mean hole :)

 Pop and Lorraine came over for dinner.  Elena had a blast showing them her new room (she's now the proud owner of the large green guest room.  All future guests be forewarned: we still have a guest room it's just a bit cramped).  They also played Food Toss, cardboard boat, sidewalk chalk...and there might have been a little bit of wrestling between Elena and Pop.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Parties, Parties, Parties!

 It seems from mid-May until this weekend we have been in party overload.  Our parties started with the end of the semester celebration at Elena's school.  Can you believe she's about to start pre-school?  You know time is flying when it's just another two short years and she'll be starting kindergarten.  They really do grow fast.  The above picture is Elena with her friend Tevin at the school play yard.

At Ryan's birthday party (green flip-flops) the kids had ice cream cones instead of cake/cupcakes.  Adults put a scoop of ice cream in the cone, then the kids rolled the cones in toppings.  The kids loved telling us what toppings they had.  Can you see the tunnel in the background?  Kids and parents assembled boxes into tunnels.  It was complete with turns, sky lights and kids painting/decorating the exterior.

 Elena with her boy friends: Jonah, Bennett, Ryan and Eammon.  Her friends are primarily these boys though she has two girl friends: Selah and Maral.

 Last weekend we went to Jacob's 1st birthday party (no pics) and Arthur's 3rd / Oliver's 5th birthday party.  It was located in a great neighborhood park.  This structure is like an inch worm, it moved up and down as the kids moved.  Not a very good picture of the kids but from left to right: Reagan, Claire, Matthew, Norah, Elena.

Elena and Norah checking out the Jeep someone brought.  It was a great time had by all!

We're a bit worn out from the last 3 weekends: 1) traveling to Arizona, then 2) a wedding and birthday party and 3) last weekend two more birthday parties.  This weekend we're just enjoying some time at the house with each other and maybe an outing to the beach tomorrow, if the weather warms up.  It has been unseasonable cool here lately which is great for the garden but chilly for the beach.  Wishing all the fathers out there a great weekend and a wonderful father's day!