Wordless Wednesday - 19 weeks and vertical (sort of)

Backyard Camping

We're slowly preparing for a camping trip to Yosemite at the end of this month.  Today the toddler sleeping bag arrived (Pokemon print, in case you were keeping tabs), much to the delight of the toddler.  So Erin and Brian decided to take a test run of the campout experience tonight.  On the back deck.  So right at the normal no-nap-day early bedtime, out comes the tent, sleeping pads, and accoutrements.  Another hour was dedicated to setting up the sleeping environs: bringing in stacks of books, making a snack tray, arranging the pillows/blankets/pads.  Then there was lots of rustling.  And now.... it's quiet.

So far, so good for the trial run.  I will wager, however, that they will rejoin Robin and me sometime in the middle of the night.  Or Erin will be up at crack of dawn, which in these parts means about 5 am.

4th of July Recap

After burying our cat, we headed to downtown Orinda to watch the parade!

There was also a baby farm animal petting zoo, which was a big hit with Erin.

We then went to a fun 4th party hosted by a family Brian grew up with. Excellent hosts, lots of fun, and a ton of little girls everywhere. Here's Erin with Grandma and the hostess with the mostess:

Robin was a little overwhelmed (maybe it was the heat too) and took a monster nap upstairs. On a sweet fuzzy bedspread:

We then headed back home to watch the fireworks! We walked down to the local highschool and had a perfect view, and were surrounded on the football field by other cheerful Orindians. Erin was brave and did not use the earphones we brought.

A super fun 4th (except for the very beginning) but we are all a little tired today. Hooray for federal holidays!

Cujo, Zoe, I have some bad news.

I feel so terrible to be writing this so soon after we lost Dixie.  But last night Steve met an unfortunate end.

Steve was the ultimate companion cat. He was really more like a dog than feline; he was cuddly, always sought human interaction. He was even tolerant of Erin and her sometimes forceful affection, because after all, it was cuddling in some form. His purr was loud and he wasn't afraid to use it.

While we buried Dixie in a forest so she could be wild and free, Steve will stay with us. He was always a home kitty. How I wish he would have come inside last night like he did every other night.

I know the stats for life spans of indoor vs. outdoor kitties.  Especially living on a very, very busy road.  But these little guys were so used to their freedom, keeping them inside made them absolutely miserable.  If we ever get another cat, it will be solely an indoor cat.


We love you, Steve. We will miss you more than you can know.

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More great toddler suggestions

Some quips by our own resident toddler recently:

• Know what we can do?  We can have Sundaes for breakfast.  And we all can have Fridays for breakfast too!

• (Sung to The Farmer in the Dell)

A hiking we will go
A hiking we will go
We are girls
We are girls

I learned that song in high school.  When I was a big boy.

• Know what we can do?   We can take the cracker and dip it in the sour cream!

• Excuse me, Mr. Plumpy, would you like an hotterpop?

• Mommy, are you married to Daddy?  I'm married to a dog.  The dog is named Sara.  He is brown.

• Maybe we can get a dog.

Fashion Friday!

A double header for today:

Shirt: "One of a Kind" by Circo

Skirt: pink ruffles by Children's Place

Socks: Hello Kitty sparkle

Shoes: Pediaped Abigail

Necklace: faux pearl

This outfit was entirely inspired by the Hello Kitty "Sparkly Kitty Cat" socks.  She has two pairs - one white, one purple (thanks Grandma!) and Mom must now do laundry every other day so she can wear at least one pair.

No, Erin is not wearing make up.  I didn't rub in the sunscreen all the way.

And now for July 4....

Bubble: Carraige Boutiques by Friedknit Creations

Shoes: Smaller by See Kai Run. Totally adorable.

This outfit (thank you, Grammy) has a little story.  It was given to the grandbaby of a good friend of Grammy's.  The grandbaby never wore it, so it made it's way, with tags, back to Grammy.  Then it was given to Robin.  It suits her.  Sam and Amy, this counts as Robin's obligatory sailor suit.

Here a potty, there a potty

With every developmental milestone comes stories:

Erin is fully potty trained (yeah!) even at night.  However, it doesn't mean she goes in the big potty every time.  We have a host of the IKEA little potties floating around the house and she feels free to use them wherever she chooses.  In the family room, in her bedroom.  And on the front porch. To do a #2. The neighbors love us.

To wipe Erin after her #2's we have her trained to do a downward-dog yoga pose.  Easy peasy.

Last night at the park (really the local elementary school playground) she said she had to go.  It's summer so the potties were locked.  Brian, ever resourceful, held her over a trash can and there she went!