Abby's idea of soccer camp.

This is what Abby thinks soccer camp is all about.

Our week.

We've done a lot this week. Nicholas had soccer amp, we went to the library to see a juggler (who had all the kids play limbo), we got a new art table and art supplies (thanks Aunt Debby), and we are going on a road trip to Utah and then to Tahoe. I love being busy, but I'm looking forward to a little down time at the end of next week.

Love the Nut Tree.

While I'm generally a fan of playgrounds in shopping malls - because it lets my kids get some energy out and then be ready to shop again- the Nut Tree is a favorite.

It has free areas and pay to ride stuff- like the train. But bet of all it let's me spend some quality time with my mom and still let her be grandma. Saturday's at the Nut Tree rock.

Sweet corn festival.

Thanks Davis Ranch for yet another fun smiley festival. We love that they have free bounce houses, entertainment, and tractor rides. It's always fun to go as a family.

Our Washington D.C. trip

Also known as our trip for Cousin's Camp (what Jon's family calls their get-together every other year) or the Virginia Beach trip.

We started out here in Sacramento at 1:30a. We had to get to SFO for a 6am plane departure. Here's the thing about using miles for trips - you have to pick your departure airport carefully or you end up doing 2 or more plane changes. That's the reason we went from SFO instead of Oakland or SMF (Sac) - only one plane change. It turns out Delta doesn't fly direct from here to the East coast - you have to change in Atlanta.

The plane rides went pretty well. The kids did okay (except Abby on the Atlanta to Dulles flight). But when a kid is crying, tossing me dirty looks won't make her stop. I promise - if it would work - I would do it too.

Abby insisted, at every stop, on getting into the measuring boxes for carry-ons. Yes, she fits. No, we didn't put her in the overhead compartment - not that we weren't tempted.

The kids found it a great joy to eat on the ground - having a picnic in the airport - since we didn't want to spend the money to eat at one of the nicer restaurants where they have tables.

When we got to DC we got lost because DC doesn't have good street markers. But we got lost - and then stuck - behind the motorcade for the President. I thought it was cool - the kids just wanted to get to the hotel and out of the car (the next day we got to see Marine One - all 3 of them - taking off from the White House and flying).

Then on Friday we spent the day in DC. We did the Smithsonian museums (Natural History and Air and Space - Jon said he wouldn't go into the art ones). I wanted to do American History, but the kids wouldn't have behaved for the whole thing so we didn't. The we did the monuments. We walked the whole way. I googled it on google maps back at the hotel and it was 9.7 miles of walking that we did. Nice. It was a blast.

Jon and Nicholas loved the Air and Space museum. We even were there for story time. It was pretty cool.

Then we went to Virginia Beach for Cousin's Camp. Don't let google maps fool you - a 3.5 hour drive from DC to Virginia Beach took over 7 hours. It took us 2.5 hours to go the first 50 miles out of DC.

So what did we do in Virginia Beach? The beach. Anything else? Nope. We spent the days, afternoons, and evenings at the beach. Well, we did do some shopping. And one afternoon we took a pirate cruise - which was really cool. But we spent most of the time at the beach. Playing in the ocean (me and Jon) and building things for Abby to knock over (me and Jon) and building things for the waves to knock over (Nicholas) and playing with cousins.

The plane ride back was fun. We were supposed to have a 45 minute lay-over in Atlanta (which if the plane out of Atlanta had been on time we might have made just barely). This 45 minute lay over turned into hours. SFO was on a ground hold because of weather (fog) and so we couldn't leave Atlanta. I laughed when I thought of fog and SFO - they go together like chocolate and chocolate. It's the same thing. We finally got out of there and back home. Too bad the kids wouldn't go to sleep when we got home. Jon and I needed some sleep - but we tried making up for it with naps the next day (nope).

It was a great vacation and I really enjoyed it.

Happy Anniversary

So it is mine and Jon's anniversary tomorrow. 6 years ago we got married. I live him and a better friend, father, and game playing companion I couldn't ask for.

Luckily, grandma came and babysat so we could go get pedicures and have a nice dinner. Abby gained a batch of dress up shoes. We couldn't get them off her dishes wore a set to bed.

Interesting things from Nicholas

1. Mommy, my Cheerios are porous because the milk goes trough them. I'm porous too because if you pour water on me it goes through me and I pee it out.

2. Igneous rocks come from volcanos. We need to go see one because I want some hot lava and igneous rocks. (clearly I haven't taught him well enough about volcanos). If you won't take me Aunt Debby will.

3. Stop talking to me. I don't want to hear you. But we can sing the 5 Little Monkeys song.

4. Abby is just like a puppy. You have to clean up their poop.

5. If you don't want to get me a goat can we get a cow?

6. I'm the second in charge here. What I say goes.

7. Watch me do a forward roll. (he bangs into the wall while doing it) I guess I only went half ways forward. So it must be a for roll.

8. If I stick my butt up in the water I'll float. But if I stick it down I'll just be standing.

9. When I jump I'm floating in air so I must be less dense than air.

10. I don't need to learn to write my letters. I'll just use the computer.

And so goes my day.