Girls Trip to California

 

Katharine recently moved to CA.  Kristin and I took a few days to go visit her and return to  some of their childhood memories in Aptos, Capitola, Santa Cruz and Monterey. 

 

While we were there, they had a cold snap -- the coldest weather all year long  (we were accused of bringing it from Oregon!)  

Seacliff Beach was a big part of our lives when we lived in Aptos.  A great place to take a long walk along their boardwalk.    It is home to the CEMENT SHIP. 

http://www.concreteships.org/ships/ww1/paloalto/

I just wonder what they were thinking to build a ship out of cement!!!  When we lived there 20 years ago we could actually walk on the cement ship, but it has eroded so much now they have closed it off because it is unsafe. 

 



 

 

 

 We stayed with our dear friends in Aptos.  This is their youngest grandchild, Lucy, who was enjoying Kristin's cell.  I love how her little fingers are all tucked under except her pointer! 

 

Random December

 

These were taken at the tree farm when they picked out their Christmas tree. 

They remembered to yell "Timber!" 

 

 

 

The Elf On The Shelf arrived at their house this year.  At first Carson wasn't so sure he wanted a "spy" watching him and even got upset and teary-eyed.  But after Kristin read the story and he came up with the elf's new name  - LUCKY - then they were both thrilled about having him in their house. 

The first night as they were taking baths, Kristin heard Carson acting kind of squirrelly and Ruby said "Carson you better be careful or you will get on the naughty list!" 

Below, Ruby thought he moved and she shrieked "Eeeeeeeeeek!" 

Each morning the first thing they did was look for Lucky.

One morning Lucky had a piece of bread on his lap and Carson whispered to his Mommy,

"I think Lucky is really real because he is eating bread!"  

 

Miss Ruby waiting to see Santa.



  Being goofy as they wait together. 

 

They gave Santa a list to read.



 

Ahh -- the moment all children wait for when they are 4.  This was the first year Ruby actually got on his lap and was OK with it.  I think my little ones look so big on his lap.  

Thanksgiving in Bellevue

 

I have gotten behind on my blog posting since Thanksgiving because there was some big broo-haha about having to pay to post a blog, and I was not happy about that.  So I waited and waited, and now it seems to be working again, and I didn't pay a dime.  Hope it keeps up, because I  LOVE posting about my twinners (and a few other things in my life)

 

 

I drove to Bellevue to be with Jim and Stephanie for the holiday.  Kristin drove up with the twins (Casey was ill), and Megan came with her two girls. 

 





 

 

Stephanie always sets the most lovely table. She said she was going to keep it simple because of having three-4 year olds and a 21 month old at the table with the adults, but I think she did a lovely job.  

 



Uncle Jimmy is wonderful to get down on the ground with the kids and play/teach.  Here they are looking at a very large book about -- what else -- fish.  He is a marine biologist!  

 

 

Puzzle time.  These few days with Auntie Steph and Uncle Jimmy really cemented their relationship with the twins.  Carson, especially, talks about Uncle Jimmy all the time.  

 Emma is just 3 months younger than the twins.  They enjoyed doing an art project together

 

 

 

There's Ruby's concentration tongue!

  Little Lydia wasn't so sure about  being double-timed by these twinners.  Ru and Cars were more than thrilled to have a little cousin around to "help"!  She, on the other hand, was a bit overwhelmed!

 

 

I think Lydia would be saying "Get me out of here"!

 

 

 

In between rain, a walk to the school to let out some energy.  Especially Carson!  

 

Lydia put her dolly bed, filled with toys, on her stroller and moved it all around the house. 

 

The weather wasn't real great on Thanksgiving, but the kids needed some outdoor play.  They enjoyed Emma and Lydia's play house on the deck, complete with it's own cell phone!  (of which they both knew what to do with it!)

  Great Aunt Stephanie was pooped out from all the company.  She was a real trooper having us invade her home for several days!  Ruby enjoyed a snuggle, but Carson made it silly-time!

 

Tom, (Megan's husband, but more importantly, Emma's Daddy) was also a good sport with entertaining the kids for quite a while. It was suddenly very quiet, so I went upstairs and found this sweet scene.   All 3 of these children LOVE LOVE books, and he read several stories to them and kept them occupied and out of our way. 

 

COUSINS!  Nothing better........
When Kristin and Megan were this age, they almost looked like real twins!  

 

 

 

Carson went up to Great Uncle Jimmy and Great Great Cousin Madeleine and asked.  "what is the story about the totem pole?"   I wished I had taken a photo of the pole they have in their entry way.  It's very old and authentic, but I can't recall the story.  Carson was fascinated with it and sat still for a long time while Uncle Jimmy told how they came into possession of it. 

 

 

Cousin Madeleine is first cousins to Grandma Mildred (Bill's mother).  She is the matriarch of that family now and we always enjoy having her come join us.  It makes me feel like Mildred is with us (Mildred went to heaven when Kristin and Megan were only two years old).