Happy 11th Birthday!

Happy Birthday Sofia Marie!

You fill our lives with so much joy and laughter, love and thoughtfulness.

We are so blessed to be your parents!

We love you more than we can say!

love

Mom, Dad, and Miles

at the lake

We spent yesterday at Lake Berryessa in Napa.

It was so warm and beautiful!

My mom used to own a place up here where we spent many weekends fishing, swimming and having fun.

I do miss it now that I have kids.

After so much rain, the lake is just about full.

I've seen it so dry we had to drive out to the water!

Goose, Cousin and Grandma got in first!

Binky would not get in at first.

He didn't like the way the mud felt in his sandals.

But...

After at least an hour of watching Goose have fun, he decided to try it.

And he loved it!

He isn't comfortable swimming where he can't touch yet, though, so he couldn't swim out to the buoys.

The ranger just happened to walk by and ask us if we wanted to use a life jacket.

They let you borrow them for the day,

so we grabbed one and Binky was on his way out to the buoys!

He had so much fun in the lake.

I was happy he finally decided to go in.  I know he would have been bummed if he didn't at least try it.

Goose and Binky can't wait to go back. 

I really enjoyed the quiet and beauty all around. 

I haven't relaxed like that in quite some time.

I thought I had forgotten how!

what we've been up to...

...enjoying urban blooms on our morning walks,

the kids made homemade foccacia,

and finding knitted bike racks in front of the downtown library!

Goose has been volunteering at the library a couple of days a week. 

She enjoys being on her own in the world, without her parents watching her every move!

While she is at the library, Binky and I meander over to the coffee shop and then to the comic book store.

Today, before we left, I checked to see if there were any letterboxes in the area.

Guess what?

There was one in the library!

So when we went to pick up Goose, Binky found the letterbox and stamped his journal.

It has been foggy all week here by the bay.

Which is typical for July. 

You know that old saying, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco!"

I remember our first summer in this house.

One day it was 55* in June!  I even turned on the heater!

It is supposed to warm up again next week.  I know the kids are looking forward to that.

Me?  I don't mind the fog one bit!

I grab a cup of tea and a book and I'm happy!

s u m m e r f u n

We've been spending some of our days at the pool!

It reminds me of being a kid and spending every day at the local YMCA pool

with my sister while my mom was at work.

She bought us each a summer pass so we could go all summer long.

And we did!

By the first day of school, my very blond hair was lime green!

Today will be a relaxed day with bbq, roasted marshmallows and a movie tonight in the backyard!

How will you spend your holiday weekend?

Enjoy every moment!!