Brothers

"scary" part in the turtle movie. they held hands. my heart melted.

This father

It was a totally great Fathers' Day for our family.  We made a hearty breakfast in bed for Luke, went to church, had coffee and cookies at Luke's favorite coffee shop, and watched Matilda while Mark napped.  Then we drove out to the beach for a picnic dinner! (Yesterday we played in SF's Golden Gate park all day.  Have I mentioned lately that I love living here?)

Another thing I love? My kids' father.  Can you tell?

In between and during all the fun, Luke cleaned the kitchen more than once and did all the heavy lifting of boys.  No wonder I'm always grumpy on Mondays when he goes back to work. He's the man.  We all 3.5 love him a lot.

Double Stroller?

A friend and I took our combined 5 kids to Happy Hollow preschool theme park in San Jose.  So fun!  And so much work!  4.5 hours in just 80-something weather had my boys exhausted.  On the mile walk back to the car they decided to ride together in the umbrella stroller and THEY BOTH FELL ASLEEP.  Bet you didn't know that $14 stroller was up for 75 lbs of boy!

(By the time we reached the car, I was having Braxton Hicks contractions.  Plenty of AC and water put an end to that.)

Isn't Mark huge and cute?  Isn't Scott the best big brother?

Fun thing: Life Is Good radio

Optimistic tunes by the folks from Life Is Good streaming here.  We just listened to Johnny Cash's Boy Named Sue and Scott wants to name his new baby girl (that's how he refers to our growing Wagner!) Sue. He says it is a beautiful name and he will call her Suey.

Lifeguard Scott declares summer started, at Del Valle Lake in Livermore

Lately

Lately:

 

I've been spending time with my sister.  I'm so happy to live close to her and explore beautiful California with her. 

Blocks from their house we watched seal mothers and pups practice swimming ...

and we saw this pretty waterfall in Big Sur ...

and isn't she beautiful???

The JELLIES EXPERIENCE exhibit at Monterey Bay Aquarium IS an experience.  Karen loves Jellies.

My man turned 29.  We first met when he was 18.5.  I have known of Luke Wagner for 36% of his life.  He probably isn't creeped out that I calculate things like that, but I'll have to get to know him a little better to be sure.

This is a sour cream chocolate cake with cream cheese peanut butter frosting.  (Luke loves those things.)  It is delicious and addictive and will put you in a sugar coma.

 Our boys are all boy and awesome:

Haircuts involve a wagon ride to the barber shop across the street.  Wagon rides involve toy power tools.

Trampoline time at our super neighbors' house!

We eat lots of popsicles in the summer.

I'm almost 30 weeks (110 weeks) pregnant and, whoa, I am feeling and looking it.  In the evenings when I am sitting, the little girl wakes up and moves around ... but most of the day I have a very hard time remembering that THERE IS A BABY IN THERE.  It feels like I'm carrying gallons of water around my middle (because, well, I am) and it's exhausting. The boys want airplane feet rides and I can't lay on my back; I want to carry Mark and that's not working so well; blah blah blah. 10 more weeks seems impossible!  I need an attitude adjustment big time because I want to appreciate this moment.  I am round and life-bearing and blessed. 

And tired.

And it's okay to be all those things. 

I am a capital letter B.

This is how we knock down spiderwebs

106

 Hey guys, want to see something fun?

 This is what I look like 106 weeks pregnant!  I'm 26 weeks pregnant this time, but I've been pregnant for 106 weeks since 2008.  That's a lot of shape-shifting.

We hiked Rancho San Antonio this Saturday and saw skinks.  The menfolk were mesmerized.  Daniel was up this weekend hanging out and is about to pick up Karen at SFO.  She's been in DC and Vienna for 2.5 weeks because she's a rockstar. 

Happy Mothers' Day, loves.  I am so blessed to have my mother and, now, to be a mother.  These  sons make my life wilder, brighter, simpler, and more meaningful.  It's a roller coaster of a life sometimes, and sometimes just so very predictable, but I love the ride.  Thank you God that this is the way I get to live, that this is the way human life grows in this world.  Amen amen amen.