Monopoly with Grandma

Eloise enjoyed having Grandma visit, and was very excited to have a nice long Monopoly game. Thanks Grandma!

Story time.

Abby alsp enjoyed her time with grandma.

Beach Day

Sand Castle.

Just us and a nice strech of beach.

Star Castle.

While it was being washed away, we built Heart Castle behind it.

Beach Bike

We enjoyed a family bike ride. This is one of the girl's favorite things to do at Huntington Beach. Abby loved sitting in front and saying "Hi!" to everyone we passed.

Fun sidewalk.

We joined grandma at a weaving convention in Long Beach. The girls loved the convention center.

Summer.

I love this picture... two happy girls running in the grass on a summer afternoon.

The Tower.

Back at Grandma's house and working on the tallest lego tower ever.

Bring in the stools!

Too tall to reach without assistance.

Done.

Family Reunion

Abby enjoyed pushing her cousin on the swing. She much prefered this to getting on the swing herself.

Exploring with a cousin.

These two had a great time playing together. Here, they are exploring tree holes.

Hike through the snake grass.

Hiking.

Clover jewelry.

Tie-dye.

Meeting new cousins.

Morning walk.

Abby says "Matt is my silly friend forever!"

Last one up.

The night before school starts.

Eloise was thrilled to try out curlers and see how she would look with curly hair. She was very excited to be extra fancy for the first day of school.

Curlers all in.

First day of 2nd grade.

Thrilled with her curls, excited to see her friends and meet a new teacher.

Heading out the door.

At school.

This was Eloise's favorite picture of the morning.

Volcano.

After a week of >105 deg F, we headed to the beach. We took a break from castles and tried a sand volcano. Eloise enjoyed collecting red seaweed to fill the caldera.

Sand Mermaid.

Abby was excited to help make a sand mermaid. She is doing her mermaid impression. We often see her scooting across the kitchen floor like this when she is playing mermaid.

Volcano meets wave.

Riding the surf.

Abby had fun letting the waves push her while Dad held her. Eloise and Mom went out further to find waves big enough to crash over our heads.

Enjoyingt the water.

Zoo day.

At the zoo with my favorite monkeys.

Admiring gorilla feet.

Playing with the gorillas.

Leaf collection.

Abby enjoyed collecting leaves off the ground as we walked through the zoo. Dad was a good sport and let her fill his pockets.

Relaxing by the bonobos.

Favorite flower.

Favorite bird.

It is a secretary bird. She like it becasue it is a raptor and it's pretty.

dancing for the elephants.

Riding a saber-tooth tiger.

Stomped by an elephant.