Summer here we come....

Playdates, pool parties, bike rides and the beach all summer long could not come soon enough. Stuffing toys and who knows what else( keys, remotes, snacks)in the bushes with friend Liam.
Digging the new pool. Like our AstroTurf backyard? Very WT but is much preferred over what was already there. Plus who wants to jeopardize a puncture wound in the pool? I was not on board with the idea but Tony was determined. I am glad I was overruled. Plastic lawn ornaments and cans of beer littering the yard to follow.

Enjoying a frozen treat from the new and improved Moonlight Beach concession stand.

Tony catching his first waves on his handmade Alia ( I am sure I butchered the spelling) board. He made it over the weekend for the summer kickoff beach party at San Onofre. While I think the board may need some revision he enjoyed combining his two hobbies surfing and woodwork.
I hope everyone got to enjoy the outdoors this weekend.

Belated mothers day

Mothers day was celebrated late in our house. All three of us spent the day recovering from food poisoning from Saturdays dinner. Thanks Pick Up Sticks. We NEVER eat there but we did not feel like cooking. As I am driving past the Ralphs on my way home from my run I thought - quick and easy. Why not? Tony and I spent the day taking turns sleeping in 2 hour intervals so someone could keep an eye on Brayden who also fell victim and had his own issues. Helping clean the house for mom with his toy vacuum and leaky ice cream cone.

My lovely mothers day card made of my favorite koa wood. The tab pulls out and the card is inside.

My latest project.

It will hopefully utilize a little of this amazing embroidery floss stash.
Hope all of you lovely mommies had a wonderful day.

Late spring getaway.

Brayden took his first plane trip to visit his Grandpa Jacks and Grandma Ann. There house was full of fun things to do. They were in the middle of preparing for a craft show in their area. Lots of soon to be finished projects mostly consisting of glass and glass parts filled the house. You can imagine the result when you let a toddler loose in those conditions. He did great with no glass casualties. My nerves are still recovering. I felt like a broken record. "be careful" and "that is dangerous" and "don't touch" are words I need to eliminate from my vocabulary for a few days. We had lots of fun checking out the newly built garage full of all of their projects. I learned how handy a kiln could be in my life and now am shopping Craigslist for one. They melted wine and liquor bottles and made cutting boards, dishes and nightlights. They were still cooling off when we left so we do not have any photos of the end result to share. It was very fun to learn how to re purpose bottles for cool art. Brayden logged many hours riding/ climbing/ standing on top of/ running circles around the tractor. I think he would like one of these at the house as much as I would like a kiln similar to theirs at our house.
Playing in the last of the season snow up in Tahoe. His Ugg boots had little tread. Frolicking in the snow was a very brief event.

Feeding Grandpa's horses.

Posing in front of the Truckee River

Interfering with neighbor lady's skee ball game at Circus Circus. Circus Circus still seemed to be in original condition from my childhood. I did notice that the flying trapeze circus people seemed to be missing.