Bad Hair Day

These are the kind of things that happens when DJ helps out with bathtime.

Need I say anything?

Mr. Carter

After a long morning of play.

What's a mama to do?

Blueberry Muffins

This is why my dining room table always looks the way that it does.
How Carter really likes to help.

Carter tricks me into believing that he wants to help also.

A very happy helper.

The Wild

I took the kids to The Wild on Monday out of sheer boredom. It's a big indoor playcenter with bounce houses, playhouses, and little plastic ride ons of all kinds. Of course, Carter was only interested in the ride ons and didn't burn off a whole lot of energy like I was hoping.

No Nap!

We have been trying to cut out Carter's morning nap. This afternoon, his body just couldn't go anymore!

Valentine's Day Photos

Carter was not cooperative during my attempted photo session- so this is what I got.

The best shot I could manage to get of the two of them. Forget trying to take away the binky!

DJ and Carter get swarmed by a HUGE flock of geese. They came running to us as soon as they saw us coming with a bag of bread. Notice that this is taken from afar. I am so not a fan of geese- especially not nasty, hissing swarms of them!

A nice fisherman brought over a coffee can full of peanuts for the kids to feed to the ducks. Carter was quick to help himself and grazed right along with all the ducks and geese. I thought about stopping him but quickly realized that was the far from the worst thing he had put in his mouth since we had been there, plus he is always in need of good fatty foods!

Happy Valentine's Day

We celebrated Valentines Day on the 15th even though everyone in our house except for me (thank goodness- someone had to hold down the fort) was sick. DJ brought home a big Smith's cookie with Abigail and Carter's name on it for the kids and the biggest cookie I have ever seen in my whole life for me. And yes, I ate it all...

Welcome Baby Loki

Baby Loki one hour after birth.
My dear friend an honorary sister Mahala gave birth to her third child last night. She called me at 7 am yesterday to let me know that she was on her way to the hospital and gave me the okay to come as well. Since she announced her pregnancy I have repeatedly reminded her that seeing a baby being born is on my list of things to do before I die, and she was my girl. I sat in the hospital with her for 7 hours until I had to leave to throw the 50th birthday party. They let me know when she was pushing so that I could rush back to witness it all, but as I was walking out the door I got his picture texted to me. I missed it! Perhaps it is for the best since I may not have even been conscious for it since I got faint when they couldn't get her IV to stay in! I still rushed there and welcomed him. Another honorary nephew! I now have 12 in all.

Happy 50th Birthday!

Last night, we celebrated the 50th birthday of DJ's mom, Noreen. Here is her leopard print cake complete with finger hole (right in the front of course) courtesy of Miss Abigail.
Papa, Nana, Carter & Abbie just before bedtime.

Carter the party animal enjoys an upside down view of things.

The birthday girl with her cake.

G.G., Nana, Carter, Abbie, and Great Grandpa Lynch

Sick Kids

My first clue- crazy bed hair.
Second clue- Carter is staying still.

Both kids came down with colds last week. Of course, Carter being Carter his was much worse and quickly turned into a case of croup. Nothing like a barking baby!

But before I know it, he is back to his old self. Still barking, but just as "busy."

Our Beach Trip

Abbie and I went on a girls only trip to Pismo this weekend. We went to meet our friends the Holcombe's and the Silva's and to spend some one on one time together. This is her first glimpse of the beach.
She's ready to go with her new sand bucket and shovel.

She finally made it to the sand. Do you think she's excited?

I'm so glad we went straight to the beach upon arriving, because this was the only time we saw the sun for the entire weekend and it was only out for about an hour before the rain started.

The bucket is awfully heavy with all that sand in it!

She's off and running.

Soaking up some sun

We played chase under the pier. The tide was so low that we could have run out almost to the end of Pismo's pier, but that would have involved Abigail having to walk through puddles, which was unacceptable to her.

We found a huge pelican on the end of the pier. It was all I could do not to snatch her and run as she approached it. All I could imagine was it flying straight at us and having to pay lots of money for a therapist for both of us! This picture really doesn't do the size of this bird any justice.

What could be better than swings on the beach?

Here comes the rain! Thank goodness I bought her a new raincoat.

Abbie and I enjoy the sunset. Locals told us it was the best one they had seen in months and the only one for the past week. I just had to hold on to the dog on a leash for the local who told us this so she could take a picture of the two of us. I think we got a great pink sunset because we had arrived!

We finally meet up with our friends. The girl's excitement was overwhelming to say the least!

The next morning we head out at the crack of dawn (thanks to Abbie) and went out on search for sea shells. Not only was there not a single shell to be found anywhere, but the tide was so high it was reaching the hotels at some points and piles of sea foam were everywhere.

We got to look silly (okay, I got to look silly) in our raincoats since it was still raining.

Abigail did not listen to me and went down the wet slide. We all know how much she hates wet pants. She dealt with sea foam on her shoes begrudgingly but this was too much for her to bear...

...so she gave me the wet pants face and back to the hotel we went!

New pants and back on to the pier so she can look at all the birds. No pelican this time at least.

The rain gets heavier and Abbie gets cold (and proclaims that she has to pee AGAIN) so I wrap her in her princess towel and head back to the room again.

Abbie takes a nap and then we head to Avila Beach before heading home.

Abbie says the ocean is "too loud."

Who needs a nap?

Not Abigail!!! Time to head home.