For Pretend and For Real.

For a while there, Kavella had an aversion to having her picture taken--I guess that was her way of asserting her independence. That, and proffering up "no, I'm good," any time she didn't want to do something....like, going to bed ("no, I'm good), eating her dinner ("no, I'm good), sharing her toys ("no, I'm good), etc. She's such a funny girl!

So, here we are at "Pretend City." It's this massive place in Irvine where kids can run amok throughout various, interactive rooms/activities. There's a grocery store, a doctor's office, a post office, a beach, a house, a performing stage, an eating area, a dentist's office, etc. I will NEVER go there again. For one, it costs $12.00 a person, regardless of age. For two, the place was a total madhouse. I've never seen so many kids trying to do the same thing all at once. It was like a nightmare. Kavella is lucky that she gets to memorialize her experience with these three photos because I almost turned right around the second we walked in. Thank goodness my Mom was there to tend to Curren while I followed Kavella around to each germ-infested, child-saturated room. It probably would have been more fun for her if she had some of her Nursery friends go--it might prove a perfect birthday spot....if you're rich.

Ahhhh, now this is heaven. Seriously, my Mom's cinnamon rolls are my favorite breakfast, snack and dessert.

Happy 9th Anniversary, Dustin! Thanks to Mom babysitting, we got to go to P.F. Changs (shocking, I know) and go see a movie. I love you Dustin. I'm so thankful to have you for eternity. You truly are the best of the best in every way!

Look at that purple starfish!

Kavella loves her Bryce E. Boy!

Wow, Bryce knows how to take a picture! So artistic!

There's Bryce on the left, surfing, and there's Dad on the right, fully clothed....in the ocean. Classic Dad move.

Curren's very first beach trip! He was two weeks old. That's how we roll.

On Sunday, we walked down to the pier to listen to our local bongo players who meet every Sunday evening. Cut your hair hippies! Bryce had Kavella cracking up!

Not to take the spotlight away from Kavella, but check out fannypack-shirtless-texting-hairychested-socks and shoes at the beach dude behind her. Sexy.

Another thing Kavella likes to say is, "In a minute!" I'll ask her to come get her diaper changed and she'll say, "in a minute!" Her Uncle(s) will prod her to give him a kiss and she'll say, "in a minute!" and walk away. Her daddy will tell her it's time for bed and she'll respond, "in a minute!" Where did she pick that up? Hee, hee! My fault.

Balboa Boat Ride...Ok, Ferry Ride.

Here's the Balboa pictures.

This is the ferry that takes cars and passengers to Balboa Island, where one can easily connect with PCH (aka Pacific Coast Highway), which is the main highway traveling north and south along the coast. Instead of exiting the ferry, we just floated there and back for fun! I think the ferry attendant should have only charged us half price, but she wouldn't go for it.

Look at little Mommabear up there! Isn't she such a cute little thing?

This is Bryce three months before he's called to serve in the Los Angeles mission! Handsome.

There was a picture where Kavella looked better, but I looked waaaaaay worse. That's a benefit of being in control of the blog--mwahahahahaha!

Yes, this is the EXACT same picture as before... with a Daddy/Daughter swap. We're lame.

When Kavella doesn't want to do something, she'll say (quite sweetly), "Uh, maybe not." Kavella, do you want to smile for the camera? "Uh....maybe not."

With Love

Overall, I would say that Kavella has adjusted to her new baby brother marvelously. Flawlessly, in fact. I can only recall a solitary event that would indicate any sort of jealousy. As I was disciplining Kavella, for something inconsequential to this story, she began to cry. Subsequently, Curren began to wail in unison with his big sister. She immediately thrust her hand forward, with an outward facing/open palm toward him and yelled, "Stop baby brother! Stop! It's MY turn!" I would say she has mastered taking turns, too!

Make my heart melt.

No, I swear, she LOVES her new baby brother...."Kavella, smile for the camera," Grandma Roberts suggested....the next picture was the devil-like response she gave. It reminds me of a picture that used to hang in my parents' house of me when I was a teenager.

Ha, ha, ha!! Scary, huh? Look at bubby's snubbly toes against my black shirt! I love when he spreads his tootsies!

I am absolutely in love with my baby boy!

I love you Mom! My poor Mom endured day after day, hour after hour of Kavella "hiding" under the kitchen table and calling out, "Where me go, Grandma?" Of course, Mom would play along and ask, "where'd Kavella go? Is she in _____(fill in the blank--fridge, washer, bathroom, etc.)? Is she over here?" Each time, Kavella would respond to her--"No, Kallella not over there..., No, Kallella not in the _____." Clearly, we need to come to a better understanding of what hiding means.

We got a chance to go to the Newport Beach temple while Mom was in town and it was really nice. I was a crying mess, but I'm sure that was just leftover pregnancy hormones, right?

Unkie Brwyce and Grandpa came for a short visit on their summer road trip to AZ, CA and UT!

My sweet Dad! Doesn't he look like a big teddy bear--especially that huge paw that covers Curren's midsection in full! Eloise and I think that Curren looks the most like my Dad.

Cute.

In an effort to do fun, cheap activities, we headed over to Balboa. This, apparently, should have been with the rest of the Balboa pictures in another post...

Clearly, they're very interested in eachother. My two snubble loves.

Beach time!

Air-out time! Curren had the WORST diaper rash, so every day we'd lay him--sans diaper--with his bum in the air. Some kids have projectile vomit; this kid had projectile poo. Yes, I was hit a few times.