February Post

Hello March!! It's time to write about February!

A rainy month sprinkled with birthdays and political involvement.

I won't post pictures of most of my political activity (I actually have another blog for that now that hasn't been officially unveiled), but this is a great group of friends meeting to write postcards to our representatives!

I overdid the political meetings one week and Lydia said, “why are you going to another wedding?!” Haha. Sweet girl. I'm still learning balance. But Brian has been amazing at encouraging me to get involved and happily solo parenting.

Rozzy's growing and learning. She can watch a screen long enough for Mom to wash her face! She's been learning more words like "cracker" and "shoe," and a lot more signs like, "balloon" and "water."

Lydia starting to get birthday cards, making lego shaped crayons, hanging around home (Lydia took that picture), and building blocks with Grandpa George.

Lydia turned FOUR!!! Can you believe it?!

Lydia is an incredible child. She's silly and unpredictable and smart and fun. A kind friend and affectionate daughter. We are so lucky to be her parents.

She had a hard time being dropped off at school that morning. She cried and made me take the crown her teacher made for her home with me. She doesn't seem to like all the attention that comes with a birthday.

After school, we picked up Roz at Phil and Gion's house and got a snack!

Birthday dinner at A-Town Diner. Lydia refused the kids menu and ordered spaghetti!

Gion and Phil bought her a BIKE!!

Lydia spent the night before her birthday party at Gion and Phil's house, so we got sushi! Everett tried his first raw fish. He liked it ok. And we watched Jurassic Park!

Lydia's birthday party!! A friend from preschool and a friend from gymnastics were her special guests (along with many of our beloved longtime friends and family). It was so sweet seeing them celebrate and play together!

Most of the decorations and games for this party were left over from our many other shindigs. I wasn't feeling creatively inspired or ambitious this time, but we pulled it together, and it was a blast!

Lydia decided she wanted to play "Can't Stop the Feeling" from the movie Trolls and dance with her friends, so I put on YouTube, and they cut a rug! It was a really good idea, I'm glad she persisted (she had to ask me several times while I was managing the party).

Cake time went so much better this year! Last year she cried and wouldn't let us sing to her. What a difference a year makes! We bought her the Oreo cake she'd been eyeing at Vons.

Fun with friends on a beautiful day, a break from the rain.

Blue eyed, blue dressed baby.

Taking the new bikes out for a spin (YES! Everett got a bike too! Phil and Gion have been wanting to get him one for years, and the time was right for both--he won't have those training wheels for long).

Focusing on writing Valentine's cards, something he wouldn't have had the patience for last year.

Rosalind turned 18 months!! The first picture is from Lydia's birthday last year. Roz wasn't feeling herself. She's such a sweet and fun toddler. We are enjoying getting to know her better every day.

Exploring our creek and a bath. Another water baby in the family.

Our friends Matt and Ari had their shower (yay! Baby Phinley!) at the SLO Children's Museum!! It was a blast! The kids and their friends had this amazing place all to themselves!

We went to the lake park to ride bikes, and it was busy! We saw quite a few friends, some were even playing in the WATER under the bridge! Roz helping Brian in the yard. Roz becoming a master builder like her siblings. And Roz with the nice camera.

And a self portrait I made for my new political/sketch blog.

Sweet sleepers. Roz fell asleep before we could pick up Lydia from school (poor 3rd child and her messed up nap schedule), and Lydia fell asleep right after! 

Lydia had an ENT appointment in SLO, a follow-up after her tube surgery (everything looks good!). The appointment was uncommonly quick, so we decided to have an adventure at Madonna Inn! I haven't been there many times, so she had fun showing me around.

I taught her about this strange, antique contraption.

Meanwhile, Roz was having her own adventure with Phil and Gion. Lake park fun.

The next day, Lydia got her adventure with Phil and Gion (lucky girl! What a beautiful day!!), and Roz got her day with me. She's learned to eat eggs like her mom. Good girl.

And we slide into March! We're really looking forward to spring and some dryer weather (can you believe we're saying that in California?!?).