So here's our very eventful June. I'll make a separate post for our road trip adventure.
Lydia had her dance recital. She was a delightful caterpillar and butterfly. Lydia loved Mrs. Mary's class and looks forward to taking it again. Big thanks to Grandma Gion who made it possible, took her to class, rehearsal, everything.
After the performance we had dinner at Nardonnes with the whole family.
Roz in a ball pit (the kids had fun at a birthday party at the new Hop's Bounce House place).
Rock rose growing through the fence.
Brian took the kids on more hikes to prepare for his and Everett's backpacking trip. Lydia with her favorite manzanita tree.
We attended the Atascadero Democratic Club picnic, and I took some fun pictures.
Lydia peaking in on Everett taking his piano lesson.
And ELECTION DAY!! I took the girls with me to drop off my ballot. They got "future voter" stickers!
Lydia's been getting into Lego! She particularly likes making beautiful things. They don't have to have a function as long as they're covered in jewels and gems and flowers.
Everett was Klaus Baudelaire for Book Character Dress-up Day.
Katie came to visit!! She helped with target practice.
And Everett ate an octopus!
Last day of school!! Everett's last day of 2nd grade and Lydia's last day of Preschool, her last day at Busy Bees!
That evening they had a preschool graduation! Everett's preschool did a play and recognition but not something so clearly a graduation. Pretty cute and funny. Lydia's teachers loved her so much. Rozzy's going to Busy Bees in the Fall, so we don't have to say permanent good-byes. Sadly Miss Valen (blonde hair) is moving. She will be missed.
Lydia said she wants to be a mommy when she grows up. I suppose I make it look like a good gig.
After the party we went to Atown Diner for more celebrating.
Garrett and his boys were in town, so we had them over for dinner. Actually, Garrett made us dinner, fish that they had caught that morning. Yum! Garrett's parents Bill and Jennifer joined us. At one point, the kids were getting too rowdy, so Garrett led them in some exercises. Something I'd literally never think to do (or want to do). But it was amazingly effective!
Summer PJ days before Brian's break started.
Strawberry shortcake at Phil and Gion's with some excellent farmers market berries.
Music class! We love Janna's Little Bird Music Together class. Sadly, this was Lydia's last. I'll keep going with Rosalind next session, but Lydia will be in Kindergarten.
Speaking of Kindergarten, Lydia got a special, private Kindergarten assessment with Mrs. Olson! My poor middle child. I completely forgot her assessment appointment (we were busy getting ready for this next thing coming up). Luckily when I called in the next day and confessed what had happened, folks were still on campus, and they took pity on us.
Brian and Everett went backpacking near Shaver Lake with Garrett, Weston, and Brody.
They had a lot of fun! Of course I wondered the whole time they were gone how Everett was doing. Apparently he did great! No whining about hiking. All that hiking practice paid off!
The second day they drove over to Mono Lake to escape the mosquitoes and soak their existing bites.
We had a protest in Atascadero!! I made some of the signs in these pictures. Red, White, and Blue in the first and the yellow ones in the second. While I was shooting a video for Susan Funk, Brian and Everett drove by on their way home from backpacking. They honked and you can hear it in the video!
Some older kids in in the community put on a lemonade stand and bake sale with the help of SLO Progressives. It was a fundraiser to benefit The Young Center, which is helping reunite immigrant families. It was a lot of fun. Heidi Harmon, the mayor of San Luis Obispo, sang silly songs with the kids. What a treat!
We showed the kids Jaws. Or should I say: we traumatized the kids for life by showing them Jaws. They talk about sharks all the time now, and they say they're afraid of the water, but I haven't found that to be the case at all.
More hiking! This time they dragged me along.
Poor Roz. I kicked her out of the kitchen, and when she came back in, she made this perfect biscuit. Underestimated.
We got to spend some time with Peter when he was in town. Jenga!!
Santa Barbara Zoo day!! What can I say. Beautiful day. It's fun to see how much more engaged Roz is every time we go. We finally got to see the dinosaur show. They re-did the gorilla hut so there was a puzzle. They called it an "escape room," but we weren't escaping anything. There was a voice asking questions, and when we figured out the answers from clues around the room, we punched a code into the machine. Everett loved it of course. And I think we were doing really well until it glitched and stopped working.
Facebook reminded me that it was my 15th anniversary of getting my thyroid removed. Wild. I almost never think about my scar anymore. It's part of me, no big deal. But occasionally it will occur to me how much having cancer at 20 changed my life. I am not and will probably never be a "dance like nobody's watching" type person, but . . . I don't know . . . I don't take my time on this earth for granted like I may have otherwise.
And on that note . . .
The next post will be Summer Road Trip 2018!! All fun and excitement! Camping and car rides with 3 eight and under.
