Violet's Easter Book

Violet loves making books these days. Here is her Easter book for little kids to learn about her favorite Easter things. (I helped with some of the brainstorming when she needed to fill pages. Doubt she would have come up with bonnet!) As a side note, I'm pretty excited that tv is no longer really a part of our day. D watches 20 minutes in the morning while I get ready, but on days off like today we just don't turn it on. It is so much easier for us. No more negotiating or tantrums when the tube is turned off. And honestly, they do some pretty cool stuff, completely on their own, when they are bored! (Daphne cut a few pieces of paper to shreds while V made her book. Whatever. I have a broom!)

Erin Go Bragh! 2014

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I love this holiday. Food, cute outfits, dollar store decorations... What's not to love?? This year started off with a 4.4 or 7 earthquake at 6:25 am that was awfully close. It actually woke Violet up! More than anything, it was looong... Maybe 6 seconds? I will have to check. Anyways, it prompted me to get some earthquake preparation done (my littlest leprechaun took a nap!). I finally finished quake safe-ing the bottles in the dining room, and I ordered fire extinguishers. The girls were cute, we ate and delivered soda bread, and read out favorite St. Paddy's Day book! Erin go Bragh!

Daphne is almost 3

Just starting with a few pics... More to come!

The Limamobile

Erik's car died an engine death in downtown L.A. two weeks ago, which made us a one-car family. Which made me stressed! After much looking we found a very lucky deal on this beautiful 2008 Volkswagen Passat Komfort Wagon on Saturday. I. Love. It. Thank you to wonderful Erik. Somehow, his car breaks and that means that *I* get a new car. Love you, babe.

Writer's Workshop.

I looooooove this stage! Violet is such a darling emergent writer.
Translation:
"A firefighter helps people if their house is on fire. Firefighters use a hose and axe"

pre nostalgia

This is my absolute favorite thing right now. For three weeks over winter break, and every weekend, we get giggly morning cuddles with our whole family. When people say, "you're going to miss this," as I drag a tantruming two-year old through the store... this is what they are talking about. And I'm appreciating every minute of it right now because some day I will miss it very much.

16 January: A Day at the Beach

The girls and I took an "on a whim" trip to the beach today after school, because, well, we can. It was 81* here today, and absolutely lovely. We left the house at 3:29, and arrived at the beach at 3:41. TWELVE minutes from door to sand! And we parked here (That's sand-side parking, and it's free. Free stuff is my favorite stuff.):

We love living here, and I mean it. These girls and I love every ounce out of it! And we love, love, love Erik. (Hi Erik!) Thank you for providing us with amazing opportunities like mid-week beach days with such generosity and love. I appreciate you so very much more than I can say in a blog post. 

Totally warm enough to splash around (and totally fall in, Daphne) a bit:

What are these "snow angels" of which you speak? Violet had a great idea:

Daphne needed a little help coordinating her wings, Violet to the rescue...

Mud pies.

So many mud pies.

Loooooooong shadows mean it's time to head home.

We came home sandy and wet, but warm, and Violet had somehow amassed a pocket full of shells and sand. "My very first shell collection!" she exclaimed. This is exactly what I want for our life. A trip on a whim with my two lovely daughters to a "secret" beach. Lots of mess and mud and imagination and fun, and I don't care that there's sand in my car or that Daphne rode home in nothing but sand and her underwear. This is just SO the time to appreciate what we have here! And LOVE every minute of living 12 minutes from a beach that is 80* in January. I don't think I'm going to need to complain about anything... for the rest of the month at least :) Or until we get another "cold snap," when I'll be tempted to complain about housing costs again. But for now? Totally worth it.