Flashbacks

Here are some flashbacks for you. The top three pictures are from a recent father's day trek to Arroyo De La Cruz with Grandpa Timo and Auntie Erin, and Dad. Fun was had by all, and we had to break through the heavy underbrush to get to the beach, and Elliot had a great time throwing rocks in the lagoon. The bottom picture is a ritual shared between father and son. It's called "Boing, boing, boing to the tickle." In this ceremony, Elliot jumps on the bed and then falls down and gets tickled. After some tickling, he has to put one clothing item on ( or take off) and then the process is repeated for each clothing item until he is changed. Erik is way better at this game than I am, but he still asks for it all the time.

Sandcastle Days

Summer is officially here! We had a great visit from Jennifer, in which summer was commenced with lots of fun outings and good times. We went to the beach three times (and made three great sandcastles), all went in the kiddie pool in the back yard because it was so stinking hot, went to the zoo, went shopping, visited with friends, and had an altogether great time. Elliot has been loving to play in the sand and use the sandcastle molds, as well as look for shells and rocks, and snuggle into his towel. He also has a great time in his pool splashing, laying down and kicking, and blowing bubbles. Then he likes to get out and lay down on his towel on the grass and have me put another towel over him so he can get "nice and warm".



These two pictures were taken on a trip to La Purisima Mission in Lompoc. We went with Ann, and about seven other moms and their kids. A surprisingly good time was had by all. The mission was beautiful and really fascinating for the adults, and the kids had a blast running around looking at the different rooms, and at all the outdoor stuff: little Native American huts that they could play in, fountains, a very entertaining turkey, horses, sheep, and a bull.
In the top picture, Emma and Elliot were looking at each other and laughing every time the turkey gobbled. Obviously in the bottom picture, Elliot is just being himself. :) Thanks for organizing that fun day, Ann and Cindy!

My Skipper

You may think the title indicates Erik, who headed back on a ship tomorrow morning, but it is actually Elliot's rank.... in swimming lessons! He has been taking swimming lessons this week at the YMCA. I don't have any pictures of it because I have to hide inside and watch through a window so that he doesn't cry for me, but maybe I will be able to get some tomorrow. Monday he cried/screamed in anger the whole way through the class. Tuesday not as much, but clung to the teacher the whole time. Wednesday threw a little fit when I dropped him off, then clung to the "skipper stand" the whole time. Today was the first day that he didn't cry when I left him with the class. He was actually having a great time jumping around and bouncing on the skipper stand with the other kids, and I was so proud of him. He even participated in jumping off the side into the water! Then, toward the end of class he was having so much fun that he lost his grip on the skipper stand and I could see him floating face down in the water for a few horrifying seconds (which seemed like hours) while I ran to the door. But by the time I reached the door, they had him out and his teacher was holding him. I resisted the urge to go over and pick him up, knowing that it would be better to let him get over it so he could end class on a positive note. He ended up having a great time for the rest of the class, and tomorrow is the last day of week one. I am so proud of my little skipper. As for Erik, he has been in Long Beach for a week and a half, but is getting on a ship tomorrow morning with a new company, Horizon Shipping Lines. He will be able to stay on roughly as long as he wants, depending on the route. It could be a far east run, or could be a Hawaii run (let's hope for that!). And it is a rotary job, meaning that if he likes it, he can keep working on the same ship off and on for up to two years. We are so glad that he is able to use his Electrician qualifications that he worked so hard for last fall. I am very proud of him, too. So far, Elliot is doing just fine - missing his dad, but doing fine. He seems to understand that dad is gone for a while, and doesn't ask where he is. He likes to talk to him on the phone, and tells people that his dad is on a boat, and he's gonna fix the boat. What a trooper!

I will give another update with pictures soon!

Paradise is Ready to be Planted

First, we roto-tilled with a rented tiller. It's worth the rental fee to save several days of backbreaking work. By the way, we - as in Erik - roto-tilled.




Then I marked off with a stick in the dirt, and a rope, the area where we wanted the walkway and patio to go, and Erik and I together used our feet to stomp down the dirt. Then rake it even, then stomp again, etc, till we achieved this.




Erik's dad, Bill, loaned us a concrete mixer, and his expertise to help us mix and color quikrete into a brick pattern, and mold it right where we wanted it. It looked like piles of sloppy joe before we (I actually helped a lot with this part) troweled it into the stamp and smoothed it out. This took about three (short) days of work.




Erik and Bill finished the job of laying the brick/concrete while I was visiting Annie and Beau, and their new baby Dustin for a couple of days in San Jose. (I am so lucky!) Then, Erik swept dry mortar into the gaps, and sprayed it down to solidify it.





Erik and I enjoyed a lovely father's day coffee at the tulip table (he picked it out) under the beautiful pergola he made for my wisteria to climb on (isn't he great?). Elliot miraculously slept in till almost 10:00 - a father's day miracle.




So, the thing is pretty strong. Here's Erik displaying the endurance of his craftsmanship. Not bad for a first time pergola builder! What the heck is on his shirt, anyway? It looks like it says, Amy.... who is this Amy?! Just kidding.




So, I can't believe I'm blogging with a picture of me in my Dr. Seuss bathrobe, but I am. Here I am enjoying my morning coffee. The part of the slab that goes toward our house will lead to a sliding glass door (yet to be framed in and installed) into our bedroom. The slab you see at the bottom of the picture is so that the gate (yet to be built) will be able to swing out without any obstructions. Just picture it full of lovely drought tolerant, yet aroma-therapeutic plants with mostly blue, purple, and white flowers, and you have Erik's vision for this garden. It's been so nice that Erik has an opinion about this part of the yard. He wants it to be a peaceful place for he and I to retreat to and have our morning coffee, so everything about it has to be relaxing, and smell good. Erik worked so hard to get this work done before he left, and I am so proud and appreciative of him. Now I get to do the fun part - planting!

The Ringers

These pictures are a couple of weeks old, but I thought they were too cute not to post. This is us at a great memorial day BBQ at Gary and Leslie's house. Gurleen's (Gary and Leslie's exchange student last year from India) parents and brother were visiting, so they had all her friends come to a BBQ so the family could meet them. It was a blast. Elliot got lots of love and attention from all the partygoers, and Erik had fun playing horseshoes with Gary. Of course I had to take a picture of his victory when he got two ringers on one turn (he still lost the game, though). As you can see above, Elliot told me to sit on his lap. That was cute of him. I will soon be posting some pictures of our progress on the garden of paradise. The pathway and patios are finished, and we bought a cute bistro set. Everything looks great, so now I can begin planting! I just have to find the cable for my camera so I can show you the pictures!