Party of 3 Harbor Paddle

Today the kids and I paddled around the harbor. This is something I have dreamed about ever since I was pregnant with Eden paddling the harbor nearly every day, sometimes twice a day. I never imagined that this dream would really come to fruition. I can't put into words how much fun the three of us had. Eden came home ecstatic telling Jonny every last detail of the trip. While she was telling him the story of our adventure I nearly started crying. It was just such a special moment the three of us shared. And the kids did great! They were so patient enjoying themselves the entire way....until the very end when Zi got a little impatient and actually jumped in about 100ft from the beach. As I was grabbing him I fell in too and that became a bit of a cluster, but despite all of that they still had a blast. Eden wants to go again tomorrow. Zi may still take some convincing but I wouldn't be surprised if he was ready to go again come morning. This was sort of a big deal for me today...kind of a dream come true!

These pictures were taken by a very nice lady on the beach who ended up being a friend of Becky's. 

The kids were incredibly cooperative while I loaded and unloaded the board. Holding hands in the street and sticking close to me the whole time.

Zion was super motivated

Eden paddled standing up like this for at least a quarter of the way.

This Week At The Beach

We go to the beach almost every day around here. I feel like my beach posts become redundant but this is our every day and each day/each trip has its magical moments. For this week (7/11-7/17) I thought I would post the highlights.

Baby Beach 

Eden just randomly started floating in the water last week while at baby beach. She was so relaxed and seemed to float forever. 

Lowers

Jon has been working pretty hard these days. Last friday he came home from work and was gonna try to take all of us down to lowers with him, but it didn't work out the way he intended so we just dropped him off and took our time getting there. It was a long trek but we had a lot of fun getting out of our easy street routine and exercising our muscles. Eden rode her bike and Zi his skateboard (which is actually Eden's), we were a bit of a mess heading down there but we made it.

Eden taking a breather.

Eden ate it (walking of all things) toward the very end on a rock in the dirt, she was kinda bummed.

San Onofre

The kids and I spent a couple of evenings here this week. I am always too afraid to venture to SanO during the summer because I don't want to wait in line and I don't like dealing with the parking. But the last few evenings down there have been amazing, and it has felt as if we have the whole place to ourselves.

Eden has enjoyed getting as close as she dares to the waves and holding her stance before they blast her.

Calafia/State Beach

I had the opportunity to work on Tues so Becky took the kids for me, and she and Tracy met for the morning at Calafia. The kids always have so much fun hanging out with their Mimi, Auntie, and cousins. I think it was a very special time for them to play and have fun without me, something they seem to be in desperate need of lately.

My Little Song Writer

Eden was inspired after hanging out with one of her older friends the other day who was going to his first piano lesson that afternoon. As soon as she got home she went looking for her song book and little piano (which was in Zion's napping room) therefore she had to settle for her guitar. I was doing dishes or something to that nature and came out to check on her to find her all set up like this. The video gets kind of long, you kind of get the idea pretty quickly, but I'm so happy I was able to capture this sweet moment. Some of the things she comes up with are pretty amazing to me. I love getting to peak into her stream of consciousness in these moments.

Zi- Skip to My Lou

This is just a sweet clip of Zi skipping while saying "Skip to My Lou" with G'pa Lew in Wisconsin.

Pajama Stroll

I adore my two kids. For better or worse they are my obsession. But by the time the evening comes they have effectively worn me out so completely that I can hardly function no less get them ready for bed with their teeth brushed. It is an extremely rare occasion that we three venture outside of this house past 6pm, but when we do we are rewarded with one of the sweetest times of day. Where all things are settling in, and as Eden mentioned tonight - "Even the crows are getting their pajamas on" {and getting ready for bed}. 

Zi insisted on walking all the way home from the school tonight. As we rounded the corner toward the hopscotch he started practicing his hopscotch technique for the first time ever.

In this video Zion is trying to make a goal with the ball and keeps telling us to "block it".

Happy Birthday Grammy!

My Mom's birthday was on Sunday. We celebrated this past Monday. Everyone came down and we all went to one of our favorite restaurants in San Clemente - Nicks. Jon and I always have fun when we go there for a date and it was super fun to share the place and that experience with my parents and sister. It's always so nice to spend time with my family. This past Monday was exceptionally special because every one of us was there and it was just such a nice day of relaxing and visiting. Just what we needed after a very busy and exciting week. 

Nicks

Presents, Cake, Visiting & Play

Wisconsin Lew's

The kids and I are back from our epic adventure to G'pa Lew's and G'ma Annie's. We had such an incredible time. I return home grateful for many things, but I am specifically grateful for fireflies, a landscape rich in beauty, songs about pancakes, and people with wide open hearts full of love.

On the plane ride to Wisconsin we were tight on space. Zi finally (fitfully) fell asleep in my arms as we were landing. I was pretty sure I would not make it out of the flight without a black eye. It is just unbelievable to me how aggressively physical my boy can be - is that they way with all boys?

Eden was so patient and so helpful, always making me so proud.

This is on the second flight to Wisconsin, the kids were pretty much rock stars on the flights.

LK Pic - as soon as we arrived in Wisconsin G'pa Lew swept us away to this magical place called Ellas where the kids ate ice cream, rode the carousal, and played with all the toy tables inside. Such a brilliant plan! Thanks G'pa Lew!

Each table in Ellas was different. Some outfitted with trains, some with marble mazes that you could operate. In addition there were all sort of mechanical toys on the ceiling. The place was such a trip - perfect for kids!

Madison Zoo

It was only day one and Eden was already fading from staying up late to see the fireflies.

LK Pic

LK Pic - another carousal ride at the zoo

An Eden Pic which beautifully captures the essence of the room Lew and Annie created for her. She loved it all so much that she wanted to bring the whole thing home with her.

 Tom & Louise's

Lew and Annie took us to their dear friend's Tom and Louise Pease house out in the country on our second day. The kids (mostly Zi) raged against the car ride, repeatedly explaining to us that he was "all done" and wanted "out, OUT!". But once we got their the kids were happy and loved running freely in the open space.

ZiZi with Jack the cat. He is obsessed with all animals but most recently he is very enamored with cats.

Eden's first real experience swimming in a lake. She has played in lakes before but never really immersed herself and swam. I was surprised at how hesitant she was, almost as if she was scared - only thing I can figure is that she must get that from her dad who having had grown up learning to swim in the ocean is also quite critical of lake water. Hopefully we can break Eden of this thought process before its too late (;

This is a beautiful property we visited where Tom & Louise's friends live and had just gotten married.Built by an organization called Gimme Shelter.

LK Pic

Looking for frogs in the pond

LK Pic - Pictured: Louise, her sister Nancy, Tom, & Annie. Tom grilling up the chicken that he raised. We are eating out in front of a porch the kids and I slept in that night. I have decided that there is no better place in the world to sleep than in a porch - pure bliss!

Eden standing in front of the porch.

One of the views from the porch.

LK Pic - Tom Pease singing his pancake song to Eden, and although Eden was slightly stone faced throughout the performance, when I asked her that night what the best part of her day was she told me it was hearing Tom play the pancake song, and she also said she wished she would have brought her guitar so she could have sung with him. (:

LK Pic - roaming the Pease property looking for cows.

LK Pic

Knee deep grass

Saying good-bye to these generous people that we won't soon forget and hope to someday spend time with again.

Eden Pic

LK Pic 

LK Pic

Trying to catch fireflies

Got one!

4th of July

4th of July fruit bowl with G'pa Lew

Eden won the cake walk!! And she repeatedly proclaimed that is was the best part of her day! (:

Getting ready for the egg toss which thanks to an incredibly strong egg and a lot of good luck we came very close to winning as well. 

LK Pic - Best picture ever from the egg toss! Thanks G'pa Lew for capturing the moment!!

The next several pics were taken at Lew's cousin Peter's house. Peter's mother came to live with Lew's father's mother as a young woman during the war (thanks Lew for the correction(:). Lew's grandmother became a mother figure to Peter's mom during that time and because of that (from what I understand from Peter's daughter Emily) the family became very close and thought of Lew's grandmother as their own grandmother. We had such an incredible time visiting with these guys. They had two adorable kids very close in age to Eden and Zi and they all got along so well! 

Heading out on the pontoon boat looking toward Peter and Mimi's beautiful house.

Jordan with Eden and Zi headed out on the pontoon boat to the local swimming spot.

LK Pic of Lars and Sara on the boat. 

I love these pics of Annie and Lew

Zion was thrilled to be on the boat! And whenever I ask his what his favorite part of the trip was, he keeps telling me "boat".

Eden getting ready to jump. Which she did over, and over, and over again!

LK Pic

These girls were unbelievable together!

Fishing off the dock.

LK Pic - everyone assembled to watch the fireworks on the lawn.

Uncle Lars and his lovely girlfriend Sara

We drug the kids to their first ever firework show. Eden was actually thrilled (despite being dreadfully tired) and is still talking about it to this day. Zi on the other hand was bummed. It was too loud, too bright, too late, poor little buddy.

LK Pic of Fireworks (:

Last Day

This was the first time I have ever seen Zi successfully blow bubbles!! Normally he just eats them. 

Eden and G'pa Lew taking in the scenery at a beautiful park. This could have been such a better pic but I had Zi asleep on my lap on the park bench. This was day five of baby sleep deprivation warfare and his little body finally said enough is enough.

LK Pic - at a little splash park before leaving on Friday. Such a perfect place for the kids to run free!

LK Pic of Zi at splash park

At a park set adjacent to the splash park. 

We ended the trip the way it began - at Ellas for ice cream and a carousal ride. The kids both had "Superman" ice cream which is likely their new favorite ice cream in the world.

Saying goodbye at the airport. It was so quick I could hardly get a pic. But goodbyes are never fun to prolong.

We had the best flight home. Somehow I was able to get us into the two seat row on our 1st flight and we had three seats to ourselves for the long second flight home. Zi fell straight to sleep before the plane left the ground at 6pm and slept all the way through the entire flight, then basically kept on sleeping the whole car ride home and all the way till the next morning at 6:30am (8:30am Wisconsin time). I guess it's safe to say that Zion was pretty beat up which is why he was beating us up so much while we were there. But he also had an incredible time filled with adventure and so much love. I can't wait to hear about his memories from this trip in the years to come. Eden's memories from her trip to Wisconsin when she was his age were of mosquitoes, fireflies, and thunderstorms. It will be interesting to hear what Zi will attest to about this trip, if anything, I suppose only time will tell...