Horse Poo

Had we remembered to bring our camera this weekend we would have had pictures of Fiona and Devon on a Downtown date buying shoes for fiona's ever growing feet, their playdate at the park with Zoe (fiona's friend) and her dad John. Their noodles at the chinese place and then the family bike /hike up in Henry Cowell State Park. We went up to the observation tower through redwood forest and sandhill trails. It was quite lovely. Fiona had a little trouble with her aversive reflex to poo as we encountered quite a bit of horespoo on the trail. But it was made up for by seeing six horses and a mule on the path. Fiona is even brave enough to touch them these days.

Life is going pretty well we are planning our summer travel and have hit a point where we have no pending house repairs. The garden is growin we are overwhelmed with too many artichokes, looking forward to tomatos that are growing well, and remembering that summer in santa Cruz is the foggy time.

The parenting is sometimes easier and sometimes harder. Fiona lately is on a "I don't want to sleep" this must be said in a whining voice for the best effect. She still naps heartily some days and fitfully on others so it is hard to give that up. Bedtime when it is light late is a trick too, she wants to go to sleep when it is dark bla bla bla. We are doing our best.

Fiona is still in full nursemaid glory. All day every day she spends much of her time caring for her menagerie of baby animals. We are often chided for talking too loudly lest we wake baby zebra, shelly, otter. etc. At school she has a humpback whale which she claims as hers and when I pick her up is being wrapped in a striped sheet in the play yard. She is still going two days a week, not sure when to switch her up to more but it might be after the summer.

Fiona likes to sing and is usually humming or simging something from school or songs we have taught her. Her latest one is "Country Road" which is pretty sweet coming from her. Almost as lovely as when she belts out " Will the circle be unbroken."

Swimming is going well too. we are starting the second level in June. Fiona is getting commfortable with her head under, jumping in, and learning to keep kicking while she blows bubbles. She loves most of all at the end of class when the kids all get to float.kick/splash about the pool in tubes she calls floaties. Very cute.
Will post some more pictures soon,

Love
Louise

Butterfly

Last night we went downtown to have a treat after dinner. We walked along Pacific Avenue and listened to the buskers. The Great Morgani was out, and a man making balloon animals for kids, as well as a Mariachi band competing with some chanting Hare Krishnas. Fiona commissioned this butterfly from the balloon man, quite an elaborate one and then carried her around. This morning the butterfly came to enjoy Saturday morning in bed with the three of us. Not that we don't love the company but once you're having butterflies you picked up on the street where do you draw the line?
We did get to sleep in to 7:40 so I guess we can't complain.
Love
Louise

Since Mothers Day

Califia as seen from John and Vicki's house.

Fiona Swimming

We've been having too much fun to blog lately, actually sometimes we have just been too damn tired, or busy with life's necessities to bother but we are still here and doing our best to be consistent parents and have a little kid free fun too.

For mothers Day weekend, Fiona stayed with John and Vicki in Pacific grove while We sailed to Monterey and back again. It was a lovely saiil there, with the swell behind us and blue skies. The sail back was into the waves and the wind that leaft the boat and us heaving, soaked, and questioning our judgement. It was a great time though and Califia did really well in heavy weather. Hopefull our next trip will be less intense.

Fiona is into the next level of her swim class and continues to ask to be taken to swimming almost daily. She still just gets to go on Monday and Wednesday mornings as we are such strict parent types.

We are looking forward to a trip to see old friends in Idaho in June. Just a couple of hours on the plane rather than 16 should be easy.

Love
Louise

Birthday Thank You

Well, we kind of failed to take any pictures of the great birthday party we had at the house... about a dozen kids and all their parents for bagels, coffee, cupcakes, and mimosas, lots of playing, a good time was had by all. Packages of birthday prezzies were received from far and wide, including Aunty Ju and Co. and Grandad Ken and Betty. For delayed gratification, Jim and Mary Jo sent a package the long way, but got the perfect gift for Fiona, a "dancing dress" (as she calls all dresses), and we got this video of her enjoying it:



Now we are really enjoying the Spring weather, and have even installed an outdoor shower to make for an awsome summer enjoying the backyard...










Hope y'all are enjoying whatever season you are in.

love, Devon, Louise, and Fiona