to focus on the best part of our day.to pack lightly for our time at the Bay.to forget about the waking up to find a broken refrigerator and scrambling around town with children in tow to find a new one.to celebrate the newly fixed parts of our car, rather than focus on the price tag.to see the many days stretching ahead, even as we get ready to change our calendar to a new month.to look forward to the upcoming weekend.
to be spontaneous and forgiving with three little ones.

We made food and went to visit friends with a newborn. Paul was in love with baby Penny. This is  the boy who consistently points out that we need one more baby (just one) because of the empty seat in the car.After dinner they borrowed squirt gunsand played chase out frontin perfect summery sunset weathergetting each other wetand making me realize how easy it is to be in the moment.

She eats it right upand makes a messbut I don’t mind cleaning these cheeks.Would you?

to the whales overhead.to the divers.to the sea otters.

to the mini moon jellies.to the bigger moon jellies.to the giant stingrays.

to the sea turtle.to the many fish.

to the papa who holds little ones during a dive show.

to the thumb sucking (meaning almost nap time).to the morning spent out.

A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

of play time with Olivine while her brothers were out at the movies.of laughing with her wearing a chef hat.
of excitement over our produce box, delivered while sleeping.
of reading to relate.
of fresh fruits and vegetables.of attention on the boy wearing a super hero costume.of fun with friends for most of the day.of big brother love.
to be grateful for including a new job teaching reading (part time) at Long Beach City College.

is my new motto about the Bay. Henry loves to dig holes and carry water over to pour into them.They play in the water and go out far enough that the lifeguard reminds them to come closer.Not only because they are small but because the tide was low and that meant the drop off was closer.For Olivine that meant more sand and shallow water to play in.As time went on, more people left and therefore more spaceto be free and playoutside under the sunshineuntil hours later we leave and everyone is wiped out from having fun.

While Olivine is sleeping in the morningthe boys watch an old episode of Mr. Rogers on the computer (they love him!)and then sometimes I sneak away for an evening of long chats with friendsenjoying sangria and homemade delicious-ness.
I was lucky enough for this to be my Tuesday.

Today started off slow with a trip to Trader Joe’s and lunch on the front stoop. But as soon as we arrived at our friends house in Pasadena it was so much PLAY!In the front yard with the giant airplanechanging to swimsuitsand then to the backyard
into the treehouse
using the basket to get needed supplieskiddie pools
tickle festrope swings

and waiting for the little guy to wake up.
Then it was time for riding bikes to the parkfor more water play
a way to stay cool
don’t forget the chubby feetwhile the grown ups have a chance to hang out in the shade.And then back to the house to see the guinea pig up closefor mud partywatermelon partyand climb on Adam partywhile the littlest watches all the screaming and big kid play.
We take baths, put on pajamas, and little ones crash on the way home. Yahoo for summer time!

the craft fair we headed out to Los Angeles for.I found a couple items: dish towels (love them), iron skillet handle cover (mini and cute), and a monogramed letter for Olivine (perfect and letter pressed). Clearly I love the color red.I made Joe a terrarium in a mason jar, at their on site DIY class. I even signed up for a CSA box.
We tried to make it to the Homegirl Cafe (we got there 3 minutes before closing-darn) so that meant we had to stop off in Little Tokyo
for mochi ice cream
as our cool downand Tina and I ditched everyone to check out the macaroon shopeventually someone was a little too stickyand we stopped after Paul asked for a drawing (they were free)