The Magical Fruit

Playing with dry beans is a lot of fun.
Just ask my kids. 

Something about scooping and pouring.

And the way the beans feel against the skin.

Rowan tried to sample them all.

She did eventually stopped eating them.

For the most part.

The sound of beans *ting ting* hitting the metal pan. 

Smile.

She liked shoving her hands into the big bowl.

Where are Rowans hands?!?! 

Was the game.

Paper plate tambourine.

I remember making them when I was a kid.

Of course they had to be decorated.

Colors and tassels.

DANCE PARTY!!!

Shake Shake Shake

We also sorted the light colored beans. 

Afton planted one in the backyard.

Maybe I should make bean bags.

Z is for Zoo

I took the kids to the zoo the other day to check out the new koala exhibit. Afton had been looking forward to it for a long time. Each time we went to the zoo he would peer through the fence to check out the construction site. When I told him that it was finally completed he wanted to go that day. Fortunately I was able to convince him to wait until a weekday (the weekends are crazy there and more so since the new enclosure opened). Of course we also had to take the Skyfari, play at the play area, go on a bus tour, and check out the Reptile Walk. You should ask Afton the difference between tortoises and turtles.

Koalafornia!

So cute and snugly.

The Komodo dragon was staring Afton down.

Red and black, friend of Jack. Red and yellow, kill a fellow.

Pretty Ratsnake

 Turtles!

Happy girl ready for some lunch.

Cheesepuffstache

...and this time he didn't lose his shoe!

Tried to get a group shot.

Afton's turn with the camera.

My exhausted babies.

Dad Day

Happy Father's Day to a guy who had some awesome ties, and is a wonderful dad! 

I wouldn't be here without you. Ha!

Love you times a bazillion.

Green Thumb

I've planted a garden and I'm anxiously awaiting the fruits of my labor.

Baby avocados!
 Ok, so I didn't plant these (they were here when we moved in) but I did add citrus/avocado
 feed to them throughout the winter and spring to get them healthy and ready to feed my belly.

Crookneck squash.

Jalapeno

Okra

Pear and yellow heirloom tomatoes.

Had to throw in some flowers. These hydrangeas are the prettiest of blue.

So many green beans!

Basil

Strawberries (we've had three so far!)

Eggplant

Close-up of the heirloom tomatoes.

My lil helper.

2 Avocado, 2 Lime, 2 Orange

And I had to include my favorite succulents. :)

Mutt and Jeff

At the end of May, we had the pleasure of having Mutt and Jeff visit us. My mom and her friend Kathy came and stayed for a week. It was awesome! They were excellent house guests; not demanding, clean, and picked fun and easy activities to do. Here are some highlights...

On Memorial day we went to La Jolla Cove and walked around. We had a delicious lunch with a fabulous view of the cove, saw the sea lions, and strolled the shops . Kathy and Oma (my mom) even took Afton down to the small beach and let him get wet. There was a little cave they explored, and spotted some crabs. Afton loved it. That night we grilled steaks and watched Charade.

They took a little trip on the Amtrak up to Anaheim where they stayed the night and spent the next day at Disneyland and California Adventure. My mom hadn't been there since 1988! Kathy totally tricked her into going on Splash Mountain (the greatest ride picture I've ever seen) and she actually liked it! They had a great time, even though my mom destroyed her feet walking around all day in flip flops. Silly lady. 

The day after they returned they wanted to go to the San Diego California LDS Temple in La Jolla, so that's exactly what they did. Afton really wanted to go inside "the castle," and was disappointed he wasn't allowed in. They don't even have a visitor center so we walked around the grounds a bit and went inside the entrance waiting room area.

On their last full day we went to Mission Bay and hung out on the beach. It was such a fabulous day! We got wet, played in the sand, strolled along the shore looking for shells, and even went to Bellmont Park where the kids and I rode the carousel. There was a scare when my mom couldn't find her bank card. Oh no! But all was well with a quick glance at her shirt pocket where it was safely tucked away. We finished off the night with our traditional movie, The Untouchables, and a good coating of aloe on Kathy's sun burnt legs.

It was such a great week. The kids loved having their Oma around and can't wait to have her visit again!

At Scripps Park in La Jolla.

Afton and Oma have the same smile!

Mother Daughter Feet: An Accidental Picture

Mom and Kathy overlooking La Jolla Cove.

Rowan likes biscuits too!

San Diego Temple

If she only knew....her poor legs.

Beach babe.

Seahorsey.

Mission Beach

I love this picture times a million.
(I would tell you the story about how my mom became a crazy seagull lady, but I won't.)