"This is my fort, Mama!"

A good part of the afternoon was spent with Lucca living in her fort under the dining room table, with all her necessities: extra shoes, water, pen, a book and some toys.

Three-year-olds are the best.

Gig Harbor

Our little family had the best time in Gig Harbor last weekend.  It is just wrong for sisters to live 2 states away.  Wrong I tell ya!  

We hiked, we barbecued, we swam, made s'mores, rode bikes, went to the beach, collected rocks, had a slumber party, fed bunnies, and ate birthday cake.  If that's not three year old heaven, I don't know what is.  It was so fun to get our little triplets back together, and now with Jackson in the mix it's just the best cousin fun you ever did see.

Swishers, we love you...your home, your dog and your hospitality.    Let's do it again soon!

Great photos -- but seriously, if I see my sister one more time without us getting a photo together I might die.

Summerlicious

I think it's safe to say somebody's been having a good week around here!!! Our kids don't get many sweets, but these smokin' hot, no air conditioning, summer days have called for cold afternoon treats galore. Thankfully, my kid goes for the mochi toppings on her froyo. Could be worse!

Train Town

We finally made it to Train Town in Sonoma today and had a blast! This place is kid heaven (minus a brief double sibling panic attack when the train went through a pitch black tunnel). We took the 20 minute train ride first, which stopped in "town" so the kids could hop off the train and explore. There's a petting zoo with berry hungry goats & llamas, a climbing structure and several mini buildings to walk in: a saloon, barn, shops, schoolhouse...so cute! After feeding the animals, we hopped back on the train. No more long tunnels = no more tears!

We rode the carousel and then Lucca went on her very first kid ride ever without parents, the airplanes! So adorable. We put her in a plane with another little girl and she loved it. The girls didn't pull the lever that would have made them go up high, but I'm absolutely sure that was for the better.

After Train Town, we picnicked on the plaza and played on the playground before picking up our Hawkes wine club shipment. Good day for everyone ;)

We <3 Sonoma.

A Week of Firsts..

Lucca had a big week of "Firsts" around here. 

First day of preschool

First soccer team practice

First pair of Nikes (!)

First Bike

Starting preschool was very surprisingly a breeze!  Mostly thanks to this little British boy named Jamie who took Lucca's hand in the parking lot and showed her the way to school.  Cutest thing EVER.  Seriously, if he hadn't done that, she would have clung on to me for dear life.  But when he took her and showed her the way, she was totally distracted and followed his lead.  I owe it to that kid.  Based on childcare experiences at church, the gym, MOPS, etc, I totally expected preschool to call me within a half hour of her being there...telling me she was in hysterics and to come pick her up.   But they didn't!  They called me and told me to enjoy my morning and let her stay longer than planned, through lunch!  WHAT?!!??

Lucca and Jaime, her first friend at school

After school cupcake for being a rockstar

We had to get these for soccer and they took a lot of convincing that they were COOL and she would be THE FASTEST RUNNER IN THE WORLD if she would put them on her feet.  

Now?  She begs to wear them.  All the time.  Eek!

First pair of Nikes.  Pink & Purple of course.

Long story short: Lucca asked Daddy for a new pink bike and we got one within 30 minutes.

Long story long: She never even had a tricycle and was so overdue for a bike it's not even funny.  We've been talking about getting a bike for a while.  We thought when she was barely 2 that she would want the trendy little wooden balance bike without pedals because all the Sausalito kids were starting out with those, but Lucca was like "Are you guys crazy, why would I want a bike without pedals?" 

So we held off.  And then once, we took her to REI to try out bikes and she fell off a two wheeler right away and cried and cried in the store.....so we held off again.

But tonight?  She wanted a bike and got one.  

And it was amazingly cute to see Daddy teaching her to ride it at the park.  We threw our routine out the window, stayed at the park late, and had an awesomely random Friday night that we will probably always remember. 

Sometimes you just gotta be spontaneous.  That's what I love about my husband.

So here it is...light pink with sparkly streamers and a basket = PERFECT

First bike!!!

Took 2 seconds to figure it out and she was awesome

And last but not least...FRECKLES!  Lucca got her first few freckles on her nose this week.  I don't have a photo, but it's the cutest thing you ever did see.  We've been having major summer sunshine going on and spending all free moments outside, and she's officially been sunkissed.  Like her mama.  "A face without freckles is like a sky without stars" -- always remember that!