Saturday Afternoon

Our nephew, Logan, is in town for a few days. What better way to celebrate than to take him to one of our favorite places...Balboa Island. We met Papa there for a trip across the bay on the ferry for a sunset bike ride.

After the bike ride, we had a picnic dinner on the beach. Rosie's grilled cheese sandwich got sandy. I wonder how that happened.

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip. That started from this tropic port , aboard this tiny ship. The mate was a mighty sailin' man, the Skipper brave and sure. Five passengers set sail that day for a three hour tour. A three hour tour.

Walking with Papa is so much fun.

The Balboa Island experience is only complete after you try the Balboa Bar or a frozen banana. Trust me, I've tried both and they're delicious.

Logan went with the Balboa Bar

Rosie and Papa shared a Balboa Bar with peanuts.

Oh, Balboa Island, how we love you.

First Fruits

We had a really hot week. This is just what I picked on Saturday morning.

Rosie was watching me pick the sweet peas.

She said, "Mama, I don't like peas. I just like chocolate milk."

Yes, indeed :)

Simplify

Now that summer is here, I have lots of adventures planned for the girls and I.

But, sometimes the very best adventures are the simple, effortless activities...

like a picnic in the park...

...... or a trip to the beach.

I'm trying to simplify. I feel like I am taking little steps in the right direction. How do YOU simplify?

Dating

While I was away on Friday night and Saturday at the Beth Moore conference, Ron took the girls on a date. My girls are lucky to have such an amazing daddy.

Before I left, Ron told me that he had something special planned. I asked him to take the camera, to document their night... mostly so I could share the sweet pictures with all of you. What a guy- he took pictures. Love him :)

They went for BBQ

And Gelato

They made pizza on Saturday

It was fun....

...and funny.

...and of course, had to involve some basketball. What daddy time doesn't include basketball?

P.S Just have to share this funny story... Ron won't mind. I'm not sharing this because it happened on Ron's watch... it could have easily happened on mine as well. Ron took the girls to Blockbuster so that Rosie could pick out a movie. While Ron was paying for the movie, Rosie picked up a little toy that was amongst the candy and such in the checkout line. It was a "Buzz Lightbeer" fan. We're in the Buzz Zone after seeing the movie a few weeks back. Anyway, she turned the fan on and, of course, stuck it in her hair as any true 2 year old would do. Apparently, it became a huge rat's nest within seconds. At just the perfect moment, who should swoop in, but my good friend Brieann. You have to love a small town. She has lovely locks herself, and was able to come to the rescue to help Rosie get the fan out of her hair. Again, not that Ron isn't capable... maybe Brieann just knows hair a little better :) Anyway, Ron had to buy the fan because it broke in the process of removing it. So, Rosie walked away with a new toy... and a lovely little dreadlock as well.

Library Days

We have a weekly tradition of heading to the library.

Rosie waits patiently at the door while I schlep Sadie and all of our books up the sidewalk.

Then, Rosie puts all of the old books, one by one into the return slot. Sometimes people waiting behind us sigh and tap their toe because we hog the book return for a few minutes, but most don't... mainly because Rosie's so dang cute.

Then, we select new books to read. Without fail, Rosie selects some Dora books that I sneakily put back when she's not looking. I don't mind the show, but I can't stand the Dora books. It totally irritates me to read them aloud. They're so poorly written, I usually end up making up my own story. I know, call me a selfish micromanager. I have to draw the line somewhere.

Rosie loves to read all the way home.

Peanuts and Crackerjacks

We took Rosie to the Angel's game on Saturday night. We left Sadie William in the care of Mimi and Papa due to her lingering cough, and went to cheer for the boys in red. We had a great time. We did all of the things that one must do at a ballgame.... we cheered loud, ate, high fived, threw our peanut shells on the ground, made friends with the people sitting around us, ate, sang, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, ate, and went home slightly tuckered out. Angels lost, but it was a good game. It was the perfect prelude to our 4th of July festivities.

The Wave
Rosie waves her Rally Monkey. (Before I had kids I often wondered, "who buys things like a Rally Monkey at a baseball game and why?" Now I KNOW who buys these types of things and now I know WHY!!)

Daddy's Girl

When accompanying Daddy to the car wash on a Saturday morning, it's important to look your very best.