Delia's 6-Week Sleep Plan

Two times now I've found Delia done with her nap with a leg slung over the side of her crib. It is definitely time to get this little monkey out of a bed she, I have no doubt, will find a way to climb out of. So Dave and I developed the "Six Week Sleep Plan." (Because we parent in such an organized fashion! Ha!)

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Step One: Take advantage of Memorial Day mattress sales (why do mattresses go on sale on this particular holiday???) and buy the remaining piece for the bunk bed.

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Step Two: Set up the bunk bed for 3 weeks, so by the time Delia is ready to move into it, some of the novelty may be worn off.

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Step Three: Allow her to try and take occasional naps in it for 3 weeks. Ella will move her nap time, which is more like book-reading, quiet-activity rest time, to our bed.

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Step Four: Use the 3 straight weeks of schedule upheaval from Mt. Hermon followed by VM Family Vacation to our benefit. When we return in mid-July from all our vacations, Delia won't know where or what she's supposed to be sleeping in. It's the ideal time to introduce a new sleeping arrangement.

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Step Five: Reclaim our office and enjoy round-the-clock computer access. Then watch our girls love (almost) every moment of being roommates!

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This "reaching for the stars" actually won't be allowed (and we're hiding the ladder to the upper bed for the first 3 weeks), but since the girls will sleep in these beds until they move out, we thought a picture of them little enough to do this would be cute!

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For those who have seen the girls' room, here is the major change-- we flip-flopped the play side with the sleeping side. Even though a major piece of furniture has moved in, this arrangement actually opens the room up considerably!

A Memorable Memorial

A goose wing. Our shivering, but unswayed, little swimmers in an unheated pool. Big kid/little kid trampoline turn-taking. A smorgasbord of food from the fruit stand: cherries, strawberries, watermelon, corn on the cob, avocado salad, dried mangos and burgers from our cow. A dozen kiddos lined up to eat drippy popsicles. Laughing about cacti and rocks turned into dolls and the confusion Peter, Delia and Cora are going to cause in school. These are some of the memories of our super-fun Memorial Day pool party and BBQ at Phil and Jetta's.

It was everything the first day of summer should be!

Happiness Is...

Planting the Peach Tree

With his youth groups done, it's been bliss to have Dave home more-- especially at night. To celebrate the first free Wednesday night of the summer, we walked to the ice cream restaurant yesterday after dinner then rented a movie. Also, Dave's been able to cross some things off that honey-do list, play with the girls more and help me out at bedtime. Right now he's even making dinner! Aren't I spoiled?

A Day by the Bay

When good friend and now acclaimed children's book author, Dorina, invited us to her book signing in the Bay Area, we did what we do best and made a day trip out of it. Yesterday we spent the morning in San Francisco at Pier 39 and then the afternoon in Stanford to meet up with Dorina and her family.

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On Pier 39 your senses go into overload. There is loud, live music, street performers, protesters and, of course, the seals barking. There are the smells of salt and fish, hot dogs and fried things. People, random rides and attractions, a farmer's market and a myriad of tourist shops make a rainbow of colors. To just stroll down the pier is an experience. Ella really really loved it.

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(Ella is asking what the seals are singing. She came to the conclusion that it was "Jesus Loves Me" and proceeded to bark out the song with them-- didn't get that in the video, though.)

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Delia loved standing at the end of pier to watch the sailboats and motorboats cruising in the bay.

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At Books Inc., Dorina and her book were celebrated with a presentation and signing. We got to hear her read Cora Cooks Pancit and interact with her audience, showing us a real bag of Pancit noodles and even sampling some Pancit she made for the occasion. Delia was on a personal mission to collect every copy of the now-familiar book that the store had on display. Ella was delighted to have Dorina write a special message in her book. Ella and Meilani also enjoyed some story time with Ericlee.

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I was just happy to see my friend. Once the signing concluded, we got a little chance to chat as our families walked around the Stanford campus together.

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Pregnant!

Did I get your attention? :) It's not me who's expecting-- it's Ella! But don't worry, like all the other babies she grows in her tummy (which is about one every other day), she's planning on "giving this baby to be adopted."

Another Year of YPS in the Books

Dave's weekly commitment to youth group came to an end last night, though he still anticipates a season busy with graduations and graduation parties, then HiCamp and a week-long service trip to Mississippi this summer. The end of the year party was as fun as always-- and maybe even more so because a certain pastor's wife and her daughters crashed the party this year! Since Phil is a leader and Phil and Jetta opened their brand new pool this winter, they hosted the party. Some brave souls actually swam (while all our girls watched on the fence). Most played volleyball in the front yard or Frisbee golf in the pasture. The part of the party everyone looks forward to is the excellent DVD our expert photographer/videographer Jeremy edits together. This year the video helped us farewell the seniors and laugh over clips of people wiping out on the Winter Retreat tubing run.

In a Cleaning Mood

Today Ella caught a cleaning bug. On her own, she decided to wash her bike. When she was done she asked, "What can I wash now? My scooter?" I had another idea...

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Seven Reasons My Mother's Day was Marvelous

1. Ella asking me, "Is today Mother's Day? Yes? Oh, I need to tell you how much I love you then!" on the walk to church.

2. Ella then saying, "I do love you so much! And I love Jesus."

3. Pool party and BBQ with my surrogate family.

4. Tri-tip, watermelon and strawberry shortcake.

5. Watching Delia try to figure out how to get in the pen with the cows to hug, kiss and pet them.

6. Amazing Race Finale!

7. The opportunity to reflect on the host of moms, sisters and friends who have taught me countless things about mothering. If you're reading this, you're probably one of them, so thanks! Happy Mother's Day!

More Fun Without Daddy

Though I never played any sport on any team, a while ago I taught Ella and Delia how to stack our hands up and pump them shouting, "1-2-3 GO TEAM!" We do this cheer regularly for random reasons. Today as we sat by the lake munching strawberries Ella said, "Mommy can we make a hand sandwich and yell 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!'?" That is the best way to describe the wonderful day I had with my 2 best girl friends.

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Again, escaping a day with no Daddy, we took off to take advantage of a zoo membership perk-- free admission to almost all other zoos in the country. The little zoo we explored today is that super small one I feel funny even calling a "zoo." Under construction, the good animals-- seals, alligator and snow leopard-- weren't even on exhibit. Good thing we didn't have to pay the $5 to get in! :) The girls got a real kick out of the noisy monkeys and birds, though, and a highlight was definitely the new and interactive lorikeet habitat. Ella made it clear she did not want to feed the birds this time, but that didn't stop them from landing on us! Delia continues to talk about the "birdie head, birdie hat, me." Both girls laughed manically while we were in the bird enclosure (wonder and delight mixed with fear, I think.)

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The little zoo is actually one of many attractions at a large park. After an hour of monkeys, we put on the swim suits and hit the water play area. Each year Ella gets braver and braver in the fountains. I was surprised we had the whole place to ourselves on a Saturday.

A picnic by a quaint lake and some slides and swings at the playground completed the day. My girls are getting to an age where it's just fun to hang out with them. They bring me so much joy. Going on an adventure with them is truly like spending time with friends.

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Oh, and do you notice what Delia is not wearing in these pictures? Yesterday marked 3 weeks since her break and the brace came off!

What's Growin' On? (Part 2)

As mentioned, Dave is gone this week. He's in Chicago preparing to do his cousin's wedding on Saturday. I've said before that my best strategy for dealing with Dave-less-ness is distraction. We take road trips, we go on outings and, this time, we do big projects. The project we tackled was getting our vegetable garden ready for summer. Anyone who visited us this winter and had to stroll by the jungle of weeds to get to their guest house can testify what a big project this was. But, after a few days of weed-butt-kicking, we were ready for the fun stuff.

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Don't let this picture fool you. Ella and Delia were, unfortunately, not that helpful in the weed removal department. They were great at making dirt birthday cakes and adopting slugs as pets (ugh, my girls are SO tenderhearted!)

For the days of back-breaking work that weed-pulling and dirt hoeing is, we rewarded ourselves with a trip to the nursery to pick out this year's veggies.


And here's the fertilized, mulched, labeled and finished product-- our modest garden. On the menu for this summer are cherry and beefstake tomatoes, green peppers, zucchini, basil and cucumbers.

Ella's Open House-- For You, Hun

Tonight (and until Monday) Dave is far away, so he sadly had to miss Ella's Preschool Open House. I wanted to post right upon returning, so he could feel like he was there! :)
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After hugging her teachers, Ella showed me where she sat on the rug and at the table and then paged through each of her books with me-- Alphabet, Counting and Bible stories.

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When I told Ella that Daddy wouldn't be able to come, I asked if she wanted to invite anyone else. She replied, "Gramma Jean!" and asked her on Sunday. Ella showed her adopted Grandma all around too-- pointing out her favorite toys and books. We were surprised when Julie and Mikaela also stopped by for Ella!

This is the All-About-Ella sign that was on a special bulletin board. As you can read, her favorite outdoor toy is the jungle gym...

Friends! (Above, Jacob and Bailey. Below, Mikaela)

The girls thought getting a cookie and balloon was pretty awesome and danced with their tied-on balloons the whole walk home! After my first day of single-parenting, I loved the 45 minute opportunity to converse with fellow parent friends.

What's Growin' On? (Part 1)

I love our home in the spring. The lawn is lush from a winter of rain, the hydrangea is getting ready for its June explosion, the roses are more than thriving and all my flower beds and wine barrels are bursting with color. It won't be long until we enter the long, hot, dry season and, trust me, the things I grow just don't have the strength to battle it! (Or maybe it's me who lacks the strength.) So we enjoy it now. Wanna take a spring tour with me?
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These California poppies came up wild in my garden this year.

The snapdragons I planted in January are still going strong.

Ella and Delia sometimes pick bouquets on the sly. If they didn't so thoughtfully give them to me as a present, I would be more mad. (These are actually all weeds Ella is holding-- pick away!)

Ah, I'm crazy about my roses!

For Mother's Day, Dave and the girls gave me two fruit trees, which was actually Ella's idea! Here Delia and Dave plant the orange tree. The peach tree will go in soon.

We can't wait for fresh oranges and peaches!

Beyonce and Shamu

A Plug

For any mama who has ever stood in a kitchen with a little one on a step stool beside you asking to help, I have the perfect book! We just received our copy of Cora Cooks Pancit and it has already been read multiple times and labeled our new favorite book. My favorite thing about this book? It's written by my talented college roomie, Dorina Lazo Gilmore! This is the 3rd children's book Dorina has published. It is stellar. The story sings with her personal touch-- from the noodle dance party to the retorts of the Mama character to the stories of grandparents who've immigrated from a far-away country. Ella and I have logged hours cooking and baking together so we both connected with the base story of a mom and daughter spending quality time together in the kitchen. I'm so proud of Dorina and so pleased to add this adorable, colorful and tasty book to our bookshelf!

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