• 15 minute posts,  Beach Bits,  Buddies,  Bug,  easy on the words,  Family Matters,  heavy on photos,  Niece-com-poops,  Super Dad

    Girls of Summer: OC weekend (photo dump)

    starting our trip off with Starbucks

    We started at Starbucks—a very expensive choice made by me but happily accepted by four non-coffee frappuccino-slurping girls. I really need to curb my caffeine habit.

    dinner on the pier

    Then we took Bug to gymnastics (Ballet was out for the week) and afterwards Toby took all of us to dinner on the pier in Balboa. The good thing about not seeing Toby for a whole week is that when he does see us, he doesn’t mind if there are FIVE rowdy girls instead of just two. It was a real circus.

    M on the pier

    We took Bug’s good friend “Boo” from the neighborhood. We may have been trying to show off how cool the ocean is. She was happy to oblige us and be impressed.

    sisters getting along

    And the nieces. They miss their mom so much that whenever I suggested we take a picture of them together for her, they cuddled together like two little chicks and didn’t even whack each other, which is often their habit.

    us on the pier

    Us on the pier. I really need to try and be in more pictures.

    duotone

    The light was really cool as the sun was setting because there was this heavy fog bank that blocked the rays that would normally blind you. So we got to take interesting unusual pictures we normally couldn’t see.

    walking to the car

    Long shadows on the walk back to the car…

    sisters

    And more getting-along-nieces shots. Where did Rapunzel get such pretty lips? Not my side of the family.

    Pouty

    Of course Pouty McPouterson had to join the party.

    racing to the sea

    Thankfully the fun wasn’t hampered. “Don’t get wet!” I threatened in vain. Words to the wind, words to the wind…

    surf dancers

    Balboa Pier

    Pretty pier.

    M

    Boo is properly excited.

    nieces Toby loves his girls

    It’s too bad I have my point-and-shoot camera set up to take super vertical shots and I cut off Super Chic’s face but I still love this photo. It really is a “slice of life.” A super narrow skinny slice. Super Chic is handing me shells to keep forever but of course I put them in some pocket and they are probably lost in the washing machine now. I love Rapunzel’s cackle.

    beach girl Toby and Bug

    More slices.

    goodnight, Sun

    seaweed jump rope

    I love this shot of Boo playing jumprope with a piece of kelp. She wasn’t afraid of the slimy kelp at all. That’s my kinda kid.

    breakfast on number 5

    The next day we initiated Boo into our traditional breakfast of doughnuts on lifeguard tower number five.

    doughnuts on the lifeguard tower

    patriotic doughnut

    Patriotic sprinkles were enjoyed.

    chomp diggin' the tradition

    long live doughnuts!

    Tradition!

    and they're off

    And then they were off to the sea. There really was no stopping them.

    riding together

    Catching a few rides in the morning soup.

    surfs up

    This kid was unstoppable. She’s never had a boogie board before because technically she doesn’t know how to swim yet. But really, she can swim. She’s in the water more than she’s out and she’s not afraid to get her face wet at all. If she had her way, we would have been at the ocean all day and all night for probably the rest of the year. She never gets cold and she never gets tired. She borrowed a board this year and she may have found her life’s calling. I think I know what I’m getting her for her birthday this year: her own board.

    Eric and Deb

    Deb and Eric stopped by for a quick visit. I love my old beach friends.

    me and Deb

    By the way, Deb is on twitter now! One of these days I’ll get her to put up her own website. She really needs one. She has such amazing art.

    Deb's beautiful mess paintings everywhere

    We stopped by her house for a quick chat and I snuck in a few more photos of her art-filled house. She calls it a mess. I call it beautiful.

    rocks from Texas

    looks like cc Deb's bedroom

    Rapunzel was looking particularly pretty and blue-eyed next to this stunning painting. Not sure which is prettier.

    walking to the beach

    And then back to the beach! This time with sunblock.

    surfer girl

    Woooo-eeeeee! Boo took to the waves like a natural.

    monkey suit

    jump! spin spin

    Bug stuck to the sand, much to my relief. I took a book to read but I couldn’t get much reading done because I was constantly looking up to count off my chicks. One, two, three, four. Phew. They’re all still alive. Then back to reading.

    summer reading

    Which by the way, is a very good book Did you know Journey Mama wrote it? She’s such beautiful writer.

    the eve tree

    It’s just as much of a pleasure to read as her blog. She has a way with details…I’m completely engrossed in the story and quite attached to all of the characters. I’m not done yet but when I am, I’m going to have her do a guest post and maybe even a give away. I really think you all would enjoy reading it too. It’s a keeper. Of course I’m personally invested because it’s set in Northern California which is near and dear to my heart.

    riding the waves to the end

    But back to Southern California and the waves…

    sun kissed

    help! I'm burried alive!

    I think it’s safe to say, a good time was had.

  • 15 minute posts,  domesticity,  easy on the words,  Stealthy Spy Cooking,  Tis the Season

    Popsicle o’clock

    popsicles

    You know what brings all the kids to my yard? Popsicles that’s what. I’m keeping the whole neighborhood regular with these fruity yogurt pops. They are so delicious and good for you! Well, not counting the sugar in the vanilla yogurt I add… but the fruit! Delicious summer fruit!

    we scream for POPSICLES! summer girl

    apricots and strawberies

    This week I added apricots to the mix since we have so many of them. They are so tasty all blended up!

    vanilla yogurt makes the world go 'round fruity sludge

    stars

    And pretty too!

    popsicle o' clock

    It’s popsicle o’clock!

    Now go make some. Here’s my official recipe:

    Cut your ripe juicy fruit up (maybe a cup or two). Add two heaping big spoons of vanilla yogurt, blend in your trusty blender, pour into your popsicle mold of choice, freeze for a day and EAT!