Sand

Nick and Mia are in town for a week so we shoved them in the car and took them to the beach with us. Nick wanted warmer water, but I was so happy to drive away from the heat and enjoy the coolness of Pacifica.

I sat on the beach and imagined myself living in one of those sea cliff houses:


Our camp:


What cousins do best:


Nick pulling Blake along the shoreline:


It has been so much fun to watch these guys grow up. It is even more fun to watch them interact with my kids. Poor Mia has to endure story after story from Blake.

Finally

I finally finished editing Andrew's Wildflower Triathlon video. Once again, the soundtrack is me yelling into the microphone so turn down your volume on your speakers. I get into the moment and can't help myself. I can't believe Andrew finished this thing. I ran a 5K this weekend and can't even imagine running up huge hills after swimming and then biking. He finished 37th out of 202 in his class (Men 30-34), 140th out of 1,052 men, and 163 overall out of 1,801 men and women total. Good job Andrew.

The course:


The video:

House To Home

Ellen and David have officially put down some roots.

The new digs:


One, cute kitchen:


The office (before):


The office (after):


The master bathroom (before):


The master bathroom (after):


The little ones played their hearts out while I helped unpack stuff:

Backyard

The warm weather invited us outdoors for dinner on the patio. I look forward to a season of backyard BBQs and lots of pale, naked skin running through sprinklers.

Ellen planted some plants for me. Why are they the only ones that do well:


A failed attempt at broccoli beef (too dry):


Reade is weaned so uncork the wine:

Spring

Spring isn't over yet! We only have seven days until the summer solstice so enjoy the cool weather before it turns blistering hot. We went to the pirate ship park at Shoreline and admired all the baby geese. Too bad it is a huge problem and the golf course is going to start filling in the ponds to discourage breeding.

Proud mama and papa:


Enjoyment found in granules of sand:


These sailboats whispered out to me, "Come Shannon, sail with us." Not with kids I don't:

Reading

The Summer Reading Program at the library has begun so we are reading books like mad around here.

Our first stack:


Friends of the library:


I have fallen in love with the town of Belmont. I took the kids there to kick of all the reading and was pleasantly surprised to find a wonderful park behind the library. What a great combination of reading and blowing off steam:

Congrats!

Dear Public,
Please, please, please stop spelling congratulations with the letter "d." It is starting to drive me insane. You make driving around town kind of unbearable right now:



Here are some hints: Congrats! Graduation! Gratitude!

Sincerely,
One edumicated individual!