Soccer!

We just got done with Morgan's first soccer experience.

 It was a great experience for all of us! Morgan wasn't exactly super interested at all times but I'm told that's normal for this age. If nothing else we want her to try all sports once. If there's one that sticks then great but if not at least she's had a chance to try them all out. 

Charlotte was her biggest fan. She'd yell for her and cheer her on right along with Daniel and I.

We got to have some more fun times after her games with lunches out and the occasional stop at the yogurt shop.

 Vogue.

 It was often 100 degrees as she was playing on the field! Poor kid but she hung in there.

I'd slather on the sunscreen with no shame over the fact that it left white residue all over her face.

 Her soccer pictures and medal. I enjoyed seeing her so excited over her medal. Sports really do help give kids self confidence.

 Notice how Charlotte was pass the blue line below. She was getting a kick over the fact that she was going over the blue line even though she knew she wasn't supposed to.

 Tunnel time! Dusty took these pictures for us. That's Daniel and I at the end of the tunnel. Charlotte always got a thrill over running through the tunnel too.

 I'm sure enjoying watching this little girl navigate her childhood. I'm having a blast and know she is too. 

4th Of July!

Love this series of pictures. My little Ms. Morgan perfectly poses for every picture while wild (fun) 2 year old Charlotte cutely can't stand still.

 The day before 4th of July we got dressed up in festive clothes (me included) and went and bought some fireworks. 

 Then we went and watched How To Train Your Dragon II.

 Later that day I asked the girls if they wanted to make some 4th of July decorations and they were all over it!

 Every single time I do a craft with them, I'm amazed how capable and into it they are.

 Ta-duh!

 Daniel had to work during the day on 4th of July so the girls and I spent the day playing in the backyard and eating goodies like corn on the cob, watermelon, red/white & blue pop sickles, and strawberry shortcake.

 Daniel barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs when he got home and then we headed to our front yard to start doing fireworks!

 Look at those faces! 

 We started with those little things you throw on the ground and they pop. I should have gotten more than one box because I had forgotten how much the girls AND Daniel loves those things!

 Again, love those faces below!

 Love this kid.

 Our girls quickly joined all the neighborhood kids for a fun night of fireworks! 

 Daniel and our neighbor were the official fire starters for the sparklers for all the kids.

 Charlotte was cracking Daniel and I up because she kept doing this warrior pose with her sparklers. 

 We had a very, very good 4th of July. We're blessed.

Beach Trip!

Wow, we just took the most amazing two day trip to the beach! The drive there was beautiful!

 As soon as we arrived to our beach front hotel, we parked the car and headed to the ocean. Something about the smell of the salty sea air, the powerful wind, the sound of seagulls and crashing waves is so exhilarating! 

The girls immediately started smiling, giggling and running with elation.

 Daniel showed the girls the shells laying on the beach and the hunt began!

 While waiting for our hotel room to be cleaned so we could check in early, we enjoyed some lunch at a beachfront restaurant.

 The girls patiently waiting for lunch...

 I was impressed with our hotel. It was nice, clean and affordable for being right on the beach and within walking distance of everything.

It's been awhile that I stayed at a hotel that still uses actual keys.

 Morgan checked out the cool table in our room.

 Once in the room we got our bathing suits on for our day at the beach!

We really couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. A couple of years ago we took the girls to a beach in San Francisco and while it was fun, it was not at all relaxing or easy. The girls took turns crying and constantly needing stuff.

This trip was thankfully completely different.

 Daniel and I were able to have some drinks and visit with each other yet I spent hours braving the waves hand in hand with Morgan too. Many times I told her how much I love her and how special she is to me. We pretended that Nemo was out there in the ocean and talked about what he could be doing. It was just a magical trip that I always want to remember.

 Charlotte fearlessly ran into the ocean when we first got to the beach in our baby soups (as she calls them) but she was quickly knocked down by a wave and then started being dragged out to sea because there was a strong under tow. I had my camera in hand so I was trying to tell Morgan to take my camera and head back on the beach. She was scared though and couldn't process my instructions. The reason I didn't just throw my camera down and go after Charlotte is because I knew Daniel had witnessed the whole thing and would grab Charlotte. He ran to her and scooped her up. Poor Charlotte though wanted nothing more to do with the water the rest of the time. I felt awful for her. Next trip to the ocean I promise to enter it with her hand in hand so she won't get scared and hopefully she'll be big enough to stand up to those big waves. 

She sat in this chair like this for a long time and I felt bad for he so I showed her she could play in the sand.

 She then proceeded to spend hours happily playing in the sand and I spent much of my time happily playing with her.

It was so fun because I felt like a kid again. I got the best of both worlds. I got to be an adult and have some wine while visiting with my husband who I love dearly yet I got to run in the ocean hand in hand with my 5 year old laughing and shrieking. When I got tired of that, I'd sit in the sand with my 2 year old getting thoroughly dirty.

There were times that I'd stop myself and just take a moment to listen to the waves and seagulls crying, I'd take a deep breath and smell the salty air and I'd soak in the scenes before me.

Finally after hours of fun, we headed into our hotel. Daniel ran and got us pizza for dinner while I bathed the girls and I. We brought an enormous amount of the beach back to our hotel room with us.

 The next morning was overcast and chilly so we decided to take a walk along the beach. Daniel was big on picking up shells with the girls. I really loved that.

 Much to my dismay, Charlotte enjoyed climbing the rocks. Daniel is a great balance for me because I always want to immediately stop the girls from anything remotely dangerous but he's there to remind me that we have to let them explore and be kids too.

 

 Before heading back home we had lunch and ice cream and let the girls play on some playground equipment. 

 By 5 o'clock that evening we were already home and unpacked. Daniel and I worked beautifully as a team getting everything unpacked and back to normal. The girls immediately ran to the playroom and started playing. Daniel and I were able to enjoy a movie together that night. The trip was just perfect. I hope to go back every summer! Cayucos is only a 2 and a half hour drive for us and so worth it!

I love my family.