Happy __ Birthday, big sister!

Happy Milestone Birthday to my big sister!  You are beautiful inside and out.  I couldn't ask for a better "dintie" to my kids!  You parent with patience and love.  You support and encourage your husband. You love Jesus.  You are generous, kind, thoughtful, and encouraging.  We love you! 

Fourth Anniversary

For our fourth anniversary we took a quick trip to Long Beach.  Since Malcolm is still breastfeeding full-time, he tagged along.  We had a great time walking on the beach, eating tasty food, and generally enjoying one another.  Isaac also taught me how to fly a two string kite!  There's definitely a learning curve, but it's so fun! 

Walking on the beach... 

Thinking about our girl while we were away

There's this thing called HOT COFFEE. I have forgotten how to drink it, and burned my tongue at least three times.  

Isaac's parents rented a condo for us to stay. So relaxing, as always! 

A fresh set of crosswords is a getaway must!

Malcolm discovered his toes on our trip! 

We are kitists now.  What a BLAST!  It took us a while to get going, then we reeled the lines out quite a bit.  Malcolm was just along for the ride.  As long as every inch of him was sheltered from the wind, he was a happy guy.  

Before we realized he was being pelted by sand...  He was NOT a happy guy.  

Much happier. 

On our way home we did some further exploring.  There was a lighthouse at Cape Disappointment that I knew I'd be disappointed if I didn't go see it.  (ohhhh!  And yes, that was a horribly constructed sentence). 

The Secret Garden? 

Isn't he the cutest?! 

Welp, it's a lighthouse.  What we didn't expect: it STANK up here. Like reeeeally stank. 

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Woody

Many years ago (I won't say just how many), my Uncle Scott bought me a Woody Woodpecker plush.  My mom told me years later that she thought it was odd because it's not cuddly. I mean, it's got a hard plastic beak protruding from his face.  Clearly, I loved it in spite (because?) of those plastic hands, feet, and face.  Now as a mama, I get it.  I've found myself wondering the same thing. That thing is NOT snuggly.  Why does my daughter love to sleep with it?  And yet... 30+ years later, he's still around, still being snuggled, chewed on, and loved!

Beware the Frog! He's Gonna GET YA!

Lucy:  "There's a frog in my room."

Isaac: "There's a frog in your room?"

Lucy: "Yeah."

Isaac: "Um... what does the frog do?"

Lucy:  "Yeah. (whispers) He gets me." 

(Takes a bite of oatmeal)

Lucy:  "He's gone now."
(Takes a bite of oatmeal)

Later that morning: 

Me:   "Tell me about your frog"

Lucy: "He comes in through the door when my sleeping." 

Me:   "Is he nice?"

Lucy: "Yeah. He nice. He gets me. He come in the door in my room. He is home now. He go to his home." 

At dinner: 

Me:     "Tell me some more about your frog. What does he do?"

Lucy:   "Uhhh... It come in my yoom and kill me." 

Me:      "!!!!!!!!"  Meanwhile, Isaac is having an absolute conniption trying not to laugh, and we're BOTH trying to figure out how she learned about murder! 

So either there's a murderous, but also genial frog on the loose, or Lucy remembered her first dream, OR we have a new and slightly disturbing imaginary friend.  Cootie Ca Ca he is NOT.