October

Kate and her sweet friend, Miles, on picture day. Miles' family just moved in on our street from Georgia and they have 3 boys the same age as our 3 girls. The girls have loved playing with them.

A few weekend field trips... We went to check out the La Brea Tar Pits in LA. If you look closely in the middle picture you can see tar bubbling up from the ground. They've found thousands of fossils that have been preserved in the tar and have a museum showcasing them all. We ate delicious burgers and The Counter--almost as delicious as our sweet baby cheeks that we love to kiss.

Paul took the big girls on an overnight campout. They were beyond excited, telling everyone they saw that "THEY WERE GOING CAMPING TONIGHT WITH DAD!!" Just that enthusiastic. They explored, had a fire, hot dogs (except my wannabe vegan child Gwen who doesn't like hot dogs or hamburgers, what?!), smores, told campfire stories, and slept in a tent. Meanwhile Clara and I walked on the beach, ate fish tacos, watched a movie and went to bed early. I like the idea of a yearly daddy daughter camp out! 

Kate left Paul this thank you note on his pillow for helping her study for her timed math test after she was supposed to be in bed. That girl knows how to work it!

Halloween festivities galore with plenty of sugar! Disneyland trick or treat, friend's caramel apple party, church trunk or treat, picking out and carving pumpkins.

And plenty of baby smiles. We are all so in love with our Clare-bear.

 

Table Rock Beach

We loved this spot in Laguna Beach last weekend. It's fun to play tourist in our own county. The starfish were everywhere--I've never seen that many together before. The water was turqoise, the weather was perfect, Kate said it was "the best day ever" and Gwen loved playing in the sand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September

First day of school for these gals! Gwen was working the camera (and her shoulders) when I asked her to smile. Don't mind the yogurt on her face. Kate is so excited to be a first grader!

 

We skipped Saturday morning chores to go out to breakfast at for Bruxie's waffle sandwiches. They are amazing and we realized it's finally time for us to buy 4 meals! These girls are growing. We walked down to the pier and watched the surfers.

We loved our Indian Summer nights spent at the beach with friends. It is HOT here in September! 

These girls love cruising the street on their bikes. Our roses were in full bloom!

We celebrated Mom's birthday weekend with a surprise dinner and a day at the fancy Montage Resort in Laguna Beach. It's so beautiful there and the beach reminds me of the south of France.

We had marshmallow smiles for afterschool snacks, baby smiles all day, sick Kate and too many visits to the doctor, Kate lost her two front teeth and got to go to a fancy tea party.

These pictures make me laugh. They are reality around here as two girls fight for who gets to hold the pumpkin (that we grew in the backyard) for the picture. 

Morning walks with these girls.

Our city newspaper did an article on our street! We have such nice and fun neighbors. Our kids love the Cardinal Crew.

And we've got lots of smiles. Clara is super smiley. I love it. I wish I could wake up as happy as she does. Gwen and I loved the silly jokes in the Halloween book.