Sea World

Not last weekend but the weekend before, Scott and Lisa came down to get in one last visit to Sea World before our passes pass away in a few weeks. Do I need to say we had a good time? Of course we did! Here are some pictures...

Sea World has a new kids play area with rides just right for Lucas's age. Notice Guy and Amber in the row behind. They met us at the park with their little guy, Oliver.Finally a ride Jill agreed to go on. Half-way through the ride we heard over the loud speaker, "Sir, please do not hold your child. All children must sit on the seat themselves." But besides that momentary lapse in bravery, she tolerated it and got off smiling.After Sea World, Wendy brought a WONDERFUL lasagna over for dinner and the kids ran off a little energy with ring-a-round-the-rosie and a dip in the hot tub.Bed-time snackBreakfast, U. N8 style. That's a pancake under there.And some other pictures from the week. Doesn't Jilly look like a big girl!She has been spending a lot of time playing in her kitchen when Lucas is in school.Milk and Graham Crackers: Who can make the biggest milk mustache?Now a picture to embarrass poor confused little Jill with later. I think I should win some sort of potty training award.

Hawaii Revisted

When we got back from Hawaii this Spring all of the video tape we shot was distorted and I thought it was gone for good but today while I was unpacking a box -I know...why does she still have boxes that need to be unpacked??- I came across our camcorder videos and decided to give the Hawaii tape another try. For some unknown reason the rest did the tape good (I can relate little tape!) and I was able to retrieve all the video! Anyhow, I promised that I would share the video of Lucas serenading the neighborhood. I know ya'll have been holding your breath...

More kid-tidbits

Jill: "I'll be the Mommy and you be the Jilly, O tay?"

Lucas (handing me something he wants me to put in the microwave): "Mom, will you hot this up for me?"
Or when eating something spicy: "Boy this sure is hotting me up!"

Reception and the Zoo

Not that the reception was a zoo...

Last weekend we had the privilege of having Clint and Sara's reception in our backyard. This is really the preferred method of hosting an event...have it at your house but have others do the food, decorations, set up, tear down, etc. The Lord provided a beautiful evening.

Today the kids and I made good on our zoo passes that we purchased several months ago.

Should have had Lucas swallow that bite of PB&J...

Polar Bear Plunge

"Please do not tap on the glass."

This is why the San Diego Zoo is so great. You get so close to the animals.

Why oh why did I tell Jill to smile. :)

Jill loved the orangutans. For the longest time she squatted on one side of the glass nose to nose with the orangutan squatting on the other side of the glass. She kept saying, "He looked at me!" and then would start squeal-laughing.Since the last time we were at the zoo, Lucas has talked about wanting to ride in the bucket hanging from the "telephone/cellphone" wire that goes from one end of the zoo to the other. We determined that that was definitely in order this trip. However when we entered the line and Jill figured out what was going on, she got all teary-eyed and asked "why do we have to go on THAT!" It didn't help that there was a boy a few parties behind us who was literally screaming the whole time, "I don't want to DIE!" But with Mommy promising to hold her every step of the way she conquered her fears and actually enjoyed the ride (Mom on the other hand was holding on tight but smiling and ohhing and ahhing bravely). What brave little girls we are!

Labor Day and School

Last week Mr. Lucas started going to a pre-k class 3 mornings a week and loved it...at least the first few days. This morning he was a little weepy-eyed but when you love your mother as much as he does and when she is so attentive at making each day at home so thrilling, do you really blame him for not wanting to go to boring preschool? =) So far, according to him, he plays with Eloise and Emma, no boys. ?
Today, Jill started going to a Mom's Day Out program at the same church as Lucas's preschool. Mama was a little nervous about leaving her baby for 3 hours with strangers but she did great. She is very much into the "I'm a big girl and I can do it myself" stage (in every arena except potty training) so doing what big brother does fit right into her plans. She seemed to really connect to one of her teachers, Ms. Anita, and told me she would help her all day... "I'll help her pick up toys, and books and stuffs". ("and stuffs" is a common Jilly phrase). So when we got there she just marched right in and started helping Ms. Anita. One of our friends little boy goes also so I think it helped having a familiar face. I neglected to bring my camera so no first day picture.

Here are just a few pictures of our Labor Day. We promised Lucas that on Sunday night we would sleep outside in our tent. You would have thought we promised the moon. He was so excited. Sunday morning he wanted to give thanks for breakfast and his prayer went something like this; "...and thank you that we get to go camping in our backyard tonight. And I know we have to go to meeting but I pray that we get back in time to set up the tent before dark. It would be such a bummer if we couldn't set up the tent but we know we have to go to meeting anyway because you love us..." Thankfully meeting didn't last until dark and we got it all up. When Jill got into the tent she said, "Mom is this your tent?", "yes" "Wow, it is so nice! I really like it."

On Labor Day got a dozen or so plants in the ground before our friends the Arthun's came over for lunch and a swim and then the Peel's followed. For dinner Louise, Wendy and Karen joined the party. What a fun day with friends.
One not for the faint of heart...like his Mommy.
As I've been typing this, the littlest Miller has been kicking away, eager to join the picnic I suppose.