So much to see at the Balboa Pier

This little interlude was as good as a zoo. In the space of ten minutes, Kateri got to see lots of wriggling fish being hauled up from the water, big brown pelicans soaring by, a pod of dolphin, and one inquisitive sea lion.

She loved every second.

She was so happy she just had to give her Daddy a smooch.

Sunset Walks

It's so nice to have someone to watch the sunset with...

Even if that someone sometimes squabbles with you over who gets to push the button at the crosswalk.

You are so lucky to have each other.

Crystal Cove State Park

A day at Crystal Cove. It was sunny and clear, but not particularly warm, so Kateri was rocking her 70-year-old-lady-in-a-warm-up-suit look. However, we learned early on in the trip that no matter how chilly the breeze might be, or how many layers of clothing she will soak, Audrey simply cannot control herself around the water and has to charge into the waves. I have to do much less laundry if we just let her wear her swimsuit.

Kateri has decided she loves wearing hats. I think she heard the doctor tell us to keep the stitches out of the sun to minimize the chance of scarring. Speaking of which, my little rule-follower Lili took it upon herself to thoroughly read all of Kateri's discharge papers and freak out on me anytime a ray of sunlight fell upon Kateri's face or if she felt it had been too long in between Neosporin applications.

Lili and I did some great tide pool exploration. I did not, however, bring the camera on our little expedition, since I was afraid of dropping it in the water the way my luck was running. Earlier in the day I had carefully applied spray-n-wash to the blood stains on my one sweatshirt (the one I wore to the ER with Kateri) and then sent it through the washing machine with my cell phone in the pocket. :(

We had a great dinner at The Beachcomber before enjoying the wildflowers on our walk back to the parking lot.

California

Our much-anticipated trip to California got off to a bit of a rocky start. On our first morning, Kateri took a fall from the second stair into a banister at Justin's house. Yes, it was on my watch. No, my husband did not enjoy being awoken at 7:30 am to rush to the ER. It seems to be a cruel irony that while I am the neurotic, worry-filled parent and Luke is the one balancing babies on one hand and throwing them around the pool...they never get hurt on his watch. But after the stitches were in place Kateri bounced back and was ready to enjoy the sunshine and a trip to Rose Donuts and Inspiration Point.

Spring

Some fault Phoenix for its lack of seasons...I disagree. It has seasons. Spring is my favorite. The citrus trees in our backyard are in bloom, and the smell of orange and lemon blossoms might be the most heavenly scent in the world. I don't know, a baby's neck probably has orange blossoms beat... also sunscreened baby...the smell of a sunscreened baby is pretty delicious, but anyway, orange blossoms are in my top three.

Audrey also has a few little home-school preschool gardening projects going...like her pot of baby lettuces. (She samples them everyday and yesterday she ate a little dirt with her baby arugula and I sure was glad I splurged on the organic potting mix.)

Kateri's afternoon nap (when she is kind enough to take one) affords Audrey and I a little reading/story time in our favorite spot right now: a blanket under the citrus trees where we can enjoy the balmy breeze, a perfect mix of sun and shade, and that heavenly aroma. The thought is in my mind that next year Audrey will be in kindergarten, and these quiet moments with her will be fewer and farther in between, but right now it's hard to do anything other than soak up the springtime.

Look how happy that little bee is.

Kateri and Leah on the air mattress

Here are the only other photos I managed to snap of our company: Kateri and Leah snuggling on the air mattress we set up in the toy room.

Kateri looks positively gargantuan here next to her pretty little Leah, but it is funny to think that in a couple of years they are going to be running around the beach together in the summers.

Peekaboo

We've been too busy...

...living life to do much documenting of it. We've had a really fun busy month with lots of visitors. We celebrated Nanny's 60th birthday!

And the Bird babies came to see us (with their parents, of course.) The girls were so excited for some cousin time...especially since they got to meet little Leah Regina for the first time.

We had a really fun pizza party on Friday before the big event of the weekend: the Burch's St. Patrick's Day block party, which of course I have no photos of...

At least I snapped one of this precious little face! We miss everyone already, but we are already looking forward to summer in Scituate.