Bassi falls

More from yesterday: Kai playing in the pools at the waterfall and Nina catching up with the family.

tahoe

The zinnia is FINALLY blooming. The first flower appeared yesterday after several months.

Took the kids to the California museum on Friday. We all loved it, and I hope to return someday with Nate.
Before I forget:
Nina's most frequent expressions, "No tanks!" in a very singsongy voice.
And "O-Tay!" Same. Singsongy. "OTay, Buttwheat!"
We had such a perfect California day. Left for Tahoe at 8:30, great nature hike, braved crowds, left after ice cream, found an incredible waterfall on the way home that made the Tahoe crowds worthwhile. Kids were great, all this stuff is so bittersweet.

Happy birthday, Nate

Morning kisses, Nina in stars and stripes, and Kai in the spot he's most likely to be in the past several weeks.

We're so hot.

Sunday was a busy and very, very hot day, reaching over 100 degrees by the time we left for the concert in the park at 6 PM last night. We played in Collin and Elise's backyard pool in the morning, then while Nina napped Kai and I found a new pool to rival Ann Arbor's Vet's pool. We met Zane and Shaun there and had a great time. We joined Zane's family, Sam's family, and other friends and family for a picnic/concert in the evening, and although fun it was disastrous. Kids were tired, kept running away, I seriously thought we'd lost each kid twice and was sure I lost the camera again. Took years off our lives. Not sure I'll do that anytime again soon without leashes.

making the most of our time

Davis farmer's market this morning...might it be our last? Raspberry nectarine popsicle for Kai and apricot lavendar for Nate and Nina, a juicy hot dog and fresh squeezed lemonade for Kai and Nina too. Rushed home for the Ghana-US world cup soccer match, boo hoo, during which the kids drove us nuts with their incessant motion and noise making. We drowned our sorrows in Lake Folsom, where Kai swam and explored with life jacket and goggles, and Nina was quite content to play in the sand and "sleep" in her homemade puddles. They both had a blast.
Got home and the kids were so overtired. Shazam didn't work tonight.
Happy birthday, Grandpa Hud. Kai was the first one to remember your bday this morning.

pigtails

Nina's hairstyle, courtesy of Lydia!

The week

So far this week, we've discovered a new spray ground, had our first swim of the summer at the pool with George and Rachel, and Nina painted on the front porch with Lydia this morning. Today is Nate's last exam of the year...no more tests, no more presentations before fellowship ends! Kids have been quite silly lately. Kai's been inquiring about his new school; practicing ode to joy over and over again on the keyboard (we need a new song!); Nina's been chattering away and spending lots of time playing with the water and toothbrushes and toothpaste and my contact case in the bathroom. Carries the kitchen stool around the kitchen trying to get up onto countertops. Kai's been wanting to race his bigwheel every night, tuesday night we happened to go outside with a plan of staying out only 5 min before bedtime...but we ventured out just as Collin was riding by. Kai got lucky, 5 min turned into quite a bit longer.