fish and friends!

Once Daddy had finished up the quarter, we suddenly found ourselves free for a bit of fun.  So, late one night the grown-ups decided that the next day would be for adventuring.  And to the children's delight, we settled on one of our collective favorites:  the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

We informed the children when they woke that morning that we were off to the aquarium.  The girls were beside themselves with anticipation.  They'd been asking to go for ages.  John David was, of course, oblivious -- since he had no context for the word aquarium or even fish, really.

That is no longer the case!

We were barely in the aquarium's doors before the girls were looking and touching and learning all about sea creatures.  (Well, to be fair, Madeline wasn't much interested in touching.  She came around eventually, but it took about half an hour.  We were on the other side of the aquarium by then.)

John David condescended to be wheeled around the aquarium in the jogger for a while.  He watched the fish while his sisters checked out the tidepools.  We introduced the sign for fish and he caught on quite quickly.  The only other sign he's learned with that much enthusiasm is "fan."

But he really got excited when we turned him loose in the children's exhibit!

One of his favorite things was toddler-sized tunnel with aquarium "windows" inside it.  John David could not be convinced to leave.  You can hardly tell, but he's got his face pressed up against some fish in this photo:

It's amazing how much is just the right height for a toddler!

Just before we left home we made a call to our good friends the Starlings, who happen to live in Monterey.  We said, "Sorry we're the anti-planners and give you absolutely no notice, but as it turns out, we're headed your way!  We're going to be at the aquarium this morning, and we'd love to see you if you've got time."  Because she's a champion, Joni said, "Sure!" and squeezed us in between shopping for a crib tent to contain her little climber.  (It's clear our children were born to be friends, is it not?)

Kathleen and Madeline were super-excited to meet up with their friends Sammie and Reese.  We're excited that they were excited, because Sammie and Reese will show up at West Point at the same time we do.  Friends that travel on the same timeline.  Talk about a blessing!

The highpoint of the morning (other than the friend reunion, obviously) was the new (to us) sea turtle exhibit.  It made me a bit homesick for Hawaii, where we used to watch sea turtles on the beach.  It was so much fun to see them again!  And the children loved it.  It was as though sea turtles were swimming right next to them!

Indy, Reese, and Sammie.

I love this photo.  What cute little guys!

More turtle love.

I managed to snap just one more photo -- of the girls clowning with a statue of a penguin (they loved the penguins, too!) -- before my camera's battery died.

Not long after that, our children's batteries started wearing down, too.  Joni and her girls took off toward home and naps.  We left in search of a yummy lunch, which we found.  And then we headed home, the children dozing (Madeline and John David) or reading (Kathleen) as we drove.  It was the perfect circus adventure!  Thanks for meeting up, Starlings!  We can't wait to do it again soon.

Show Week

This post is late because I've spent the last week wrestling with blogger and various internet browsers, trying to convince my blog to load video like it used to (directly through blogger, without having to use youtube or some other video hosting site). I have utterly failed. I finally remembered that I could do this through flickr, which isn't ideal, but will work. What follows is nothing less than an assault on your eyeballs and your patience. Forgive us, but we couldn't help but want to share all of it with the grandparents, at least!

The girls finished up their dance and gymnastic classes with Show Week, in which each got the chance to share their new skills with the whole family. Show Week was a pretty big deal around here. Kathleen and Madeline counted down the days and continually reminded us about the show. On the day of the show they each needed their hair in a bun, then performed beautifully and celebrated after class with a special lunch of their own choosing (pizza out for Kathleen, macaroni and cheese at home for Madeline).

Kathleen's Big Show was the first. It's amazing how much she's grown since the last Big Show -- and how much her dancing has improved! We were so proud of the way she participated in the ballet and tap numbers.

Lined up for their ballet number. Although Kathleen's lots taller, she's not actually older than most of the girls, though they do range from 3 through 4.

The show began with the girls' tap dancing, followed by ballet, and then some creative movement (which wasn't as creative as last big show, because there just wasn't as much room for them to move around).

Then we moved from the dance room to the gym. The girls demonstrated some of their favorite skills on the floor mats, bars, and beam.

Then they had a bit of free time where our whole family could wander around the gym while Kathleen showed off.

Clearly an important discussion, since it couldn't wait until they were both upright.

Fortunately neither of the girls have inherited my balance issues!

Even Indy got in on the fun. He was nearly impossible to contain. He loved that gym. (Incidentally, in the videos -- particularly the gymnastics one -- you can totally hear him screeching in the background. Nice.)

At the end of the session, they awarded each girl with a "medal" for her participation. They were quite proud (if a bit red-eyed from a dozen or so simultaneous camera flashes).

A great big tah-dah!

The pride continued even after the "awards ceremony" ended. We're so glad we've stuck with dance class for Kathleen. It was a challenge at first for her to maintain her focus for an entire hour, but she really enjoys it now. She feels like quite a big girl.

A few days later, we returned for Madeline's Big Show. Since Madeline's class is a parent-and-child class, there wasn't a formal presentation. But Madeline loved the chance to have the whole family with her to show off.

Can't wait to get started!

Madeline loves this class! She took to it immediately and seems to enjoy every moment she's there. It doesn't hurt that she's practically part monkey... She dominates those bars and beams! Because most of the session was a chance for the students to simply explore the gym, even Kathleen and John David got to join in the fun, swinging on the bars (Kathleen) and forward-rolling down the incline mats (John David!). There were, though, several opportunities for Madeline to shine.

Some more fun photos I couldn't resist sharing...

I'll admit to being a tiny bit panicked as I took that first photo of Madeline. I was holding John David in one arm and photographing with the other and I was afraid that Maddie would let go and land on her head. I shouldn't have worried. She must be part cat, too. And that last photo is of Madeline demonstrating her own version of an arabesque, a skill she learned from her big sister!

At the end of class, there was yet another awards ceremony. Madeline and her classmates received ribbons for their hard work. It's hard to believe, but in the fall Madeline will be old enough to go to her own class without Mom or Dad. (She'll love it -- she has already said she wants to be in dance class like her sissy -- but we're a bit sad to see this stage go...)

Our sweet little super-star!

The girls are taking a bit of a break from dancing and gymnastics this summer to make room for some traveling (watch out Illinois, we're headed your way in a month or so!) and some swimming lessons... We're sure we'll be just as proud of what they accomplish in these next adventures!

baby to big boy

Last week we finally took our baby boy for his very first haircut. (He'd had a quick trim of his bangs just before Easter, but he hadn't had a real cut.)  We've known we needed to for some time, but we kept putting it off.  When I look at the photograph, though, I know -- he really needed a haircut.

We took him to a sweet little kids' haircutting place.  They weren't actually open that day, but when we called to inquire, they said they'd come in just for us.  Talk about service!

John David seemed reasonably excited about the little tractor he got to ride.

But once the stylist started touching his hair, he didn't want any part of it.  He was mad!  The stylist did a remarkable job, staying calm, speaking sweetly to him, reassuring him that it wouldn't be much longer, wiping his tears (and nose!), and quickly trimming lots of hair.

And then, in less than five minutes, it was over.  And though he was unhappy, our baby was suddenly a little boy.  Honestly, I'm not sure I've seen one of our children grow up so much in such a short time.  I might have cried, but poor John David had the monopoly on tears that day.

I guess it's a good thing that there's a baby boy on the way.  John David is a big boy!

donut sunday

Last week there were dozens and dozens of donuts at the fellowship time after church service.  I know that for some churches, this is no big deal.  But we normally have bagels and muffins and fruit, so the donuts made a really big impression on the kids.

(I feel like the donuts are making a more regular special appearance lately.  I haven't mentioned it to the kids.  I have no doubt that if there is a schedule, the girls will figure it out in no time.)

As I collected the girls from their classes, I mentioned that I'd noticed that there were donuts.  They cheered, "Donut Sunday!" and raced toward the fellowship area.  They carefully made their selections.  Kathleen picked a cake donut with chocolate frosting.  Madeline picked a frosted yeast donut nearly as big as her head.  With sprinkles.  I had to capture their glee:

Not all of us ate donuts.  I abstained, opting for another cup of decaf coffee instead.  Jim missed the whole thing, slaving away at school.  And poor Indy didn't get a donut, either.

Sorry, big guy.  Maybe when you're two...  (Or, more likely, the next time there are donuts, when you're not strapped down in a stroller and you swipe one off the table when your father and I are not looking. )

watermelon man

Aside from all the outdoor fun, the other aspect of summer we've been loving is the fresh produce. Fresh corn and tomatoes spice up otherwise standard dinners of grilled chicken or fish. Peaches, plums, and strawberries have become a mainstay in our diet. (We drove by the fields and fields of strawberries near Watsonville the other day and I thought, "We eat more than our fair share of those! But maybe we can get some more anyway?") And one of our favorite side dishes/snacks/desserts is watermelon.

No one loves watermelon more than our little guy. In the beginning, we very conscientiously chopped up the watermelon into bite-sized pieces, perfect for Indy's little fingers. One night, though, he swiped a slice off his sister's dinner plate. We realized then that we'd been making extra work for ourselves. He does just fine with a slice!

(That third photo is really just for me, so I remember.  My little people change so much, so quickly.  I just know that if I don't write it down, I'll forget their cute little idiosyncrasies.  That back-of-the-hand to the mouth is Indy's interpretation of the sign for eat.  He uses it constantly.  It's one of the first things he does in the morning -- sign eat.  Surprised?  No, probably not.  I suppose that's why he's so big!)

outdoor fun

After a long rainy season (long by California standards, anyway), summer has finally arrived!  One day it was still slightly chilly, and then the next we were hitting Target for a new fan for the girls' room.

Our circus has been loving the warm, sunny days.  Not surprisingly, we've been spending a lot of time outdoors in the fresh air.  (And why not?  It makes everyone happy. And it makes everyone sleep well.  Win-win.)

Here are some recent snapshots of our outdoor fun:

We've been taking a lot of walk/stroll/bike rides lately.  If that designation doesn't make a whole lot of sense to you, let me break it down for you.  Kathleen rides her bicycle:

Madeline strolls in the jogger.  She'd like to ride her tricycle, but she's still not all that consistent about actually pedaling, which is a bit of a complication.  And she can't quite walk fast enough to keep up with her sister on a two-wheeler.  So, she doesn't love it, but she hangs out in the jogger.

And Indy and I walk.  Well, I walk.  Indy rides.  People always laugh when they see us.  And they nearly always say, "Wow!  You've got your hands full."  I suppose that's true.  But we're happy!

What to do after a long bike/stroll/walk or a good, long play at the park?  Cool off, of course, in the wading pool!  People here get pretty excited about the chance to play with the hose.

Obviously, some people get more excited about that than others.  (Madeline likes the pool, but not the hose, really.  Unless she's aiming it at someone else.  She's a smart kid.)

And, if you haven't guessed from the sheer volume of wading pool photos, we spend a TON of time in the pool.  Here's how John David is supposed to look when he plays in the pool:

Frequently, though, he manages to wiggle past me (as I'm slathering sunscreen on sisters or whatnot) before he's ready I think he's ready.  (Yup, he's just wearing his clothes!)

And then he winds up in just a diaper cover.  As you can see, he doesn't mind at all.

When we decide that the lawn needs a break from the weight of the pool, we bust out the sprinkler.  Kathleen begs for it.

Madeline's not so interested in the sprinkler.  But that's not the case with John David!  The first time it was turned on, he raced right over to it and inspected it.  Up close!

We've also resurrected an old favorite from the depths of the garage...  the tunnel!

And I think that Madeline looks a lot better on that (now slightly-deflated) exercise ball than I do!

More fun will follow.  That we can promise!

Our three at the sea

At last, the long-promised photos of Stinson Beach.  Sorry it has taken so long, but things have a tendency to get a bit crazy around here lately.  I don't imagine that will be changing anytime soon, so I won't try and promise to be better or anything like that.  (Though I will hopefully be better...)

We had a magical time at the beach house that Nan and Grandpa had rented.  Though the weather didn't bring the warm, sunny, swimsuit-worthy temperatures we'd been imagining, we still managed to enjoy every last second on the beach.  (And in that house!)

Now, we knew that no weather could deter Kathleen.  (Remember this?  The beach clearly is her natural habitat.)   We were right: bundled up in her sweatshirt, she couldn't have cared less about the windy cold.  She was too busy dragging around drift wood, collecting treasures, investigating the seaweed, chasing the seagulls, digging in the sand, and splashing in the water.

Maddie Beth, on the other hand, is our little snuggler.  She's the one who complains that it's cold when it's 80 degrees outside (and she's sitting in the sun).  We were afraid that she'd be too cold for fun.

We were wrong!  She happily played in the sand with her sister and ran on the beach with her cousin, but the thing she loved -- really, really loved -- was standing at the water's edge and waiting for the waves to wash over her feet.  She'd grab my hand and pull me down toward the water, pleading, "Mama, let the water touch my toes!"

This was John David's first real trip to the beach.  We weren't sure exactly what he'd think of it.  But it seems that loving the sand and the sea is in our genes.  Indy took to it in an instant.   He happily worked away with a shovel, but he was just as happy (maybe happier, even) without one...  (I mean, he's a boy!  It's messy!  Sign him up!)

I think Indy speaks for all our littles when he yells, "Mom and Dad, bring us back here!  SOON!"

Since Jim and I left Germany (five years ago this summer -- how did that happen?), we've wanted to return to Europe to live.  We loved our time there, traveling, absorbing history and culture, eating, drinking, and shopping.  (Okay, I was the only one who cared about the shopping.)  But when we think about it (and if we have a choice), we have to admit that our longings for Europe might be waning.  Hawaii might be a better destination for these three!  How could we keep them from such fun?

newsFLASH: we've been holding out on you

Remember when we told you why we hadn't been around?

Well, that wasn't entirely the truth.  I mean, all that was true, but we left out something pretty darn important.

This is the project that's been taking up most of our my our energy of late:

A fourth!  We're having a fourth sweet baby!

Friends, we're excited to announce that Flash Gordon Golby will be joining our family sometime late October.  (Officially, his due date is the 27th.  Not that the due date matters all that much.  Babies seem to have a way of making up their own minds about stuff like that.)

Things you might be wondering:

::  Yes, we know he's a boy.  We're thrilled about a playmate for Indy, and about how Flash will sort of "even up the odds" around here.  Neither of us have ever cared much whether the baby's a boy or a girl, but after this weekend, where Indy was surrounded by two sisters and two little girl cousins, Jim observed that Indy could really use an ally.   And, lucky boy, he gets one!

::  No, we didn't just find out about him!  Even though we're just now sharing our news with you, we've known for quite some time. In fact, it was the week of Jim's promotion that I started feeling really lousy.  The kids had all been sick, and I thought I had the same virus.  I kept saying to Jim, "Wow!  I guess I haven't really been sick in a long time, because I'd forgotten how miserable it feels.  You know what it feels like?  It feels like being pregnant!"  Famous. Last. Words.  I took a test the following Monday, after my words had begun to feel oddly prophetic.  I had planned to come up with some fun way to announce the pregnancy to Jim, but abandoned that in favor of a hasty, "WAIT!  I have to talk to you about, um, something!" to stop him from registering me from the half marathon we'd been planning to run in July. (He's still in.  Me, not so much.)

::  No, we won't really name him Flash.  (Kathleen's current proposal is Flash Groovy Tomato, in honor of her love for her Groovy Girl doll from her best friend.  We're not naming him that, either.)  I do think, though, that we'll probably wind up calling him Flash, just like John David will always be Indy.  I also think that, as usual, name negotiations will continue right up until he enters the world.

::  Yes, we're probably a little crazy.  But really, really blessed.