A Day of Fun at Home for Mom and Her Girls

Lizzy has a growing passion for coloring. She is really improving in her ability to color within the lines although she did have some help on this picture from her magic marker set. We are proud of you Lizzy!
Tummy time for Emmy! Look at that strong head!
Mom and Lizzy have a tradition of having an afternoon glass of chocolate milk together. We usually sit at the dining room table and look at a catalog together but lately we have been taking our milk out to the front porch to enjoy the beautiful Ventura weather.
Our Emmy is full of smiles =) What a happy baby!
The girls snuggle together on the couch to enjoy a video. Both are sporting their new Ni-Ni's from Debbie.

Happy 4 Month Birthday Emily!

After Lizzy's exciting donut excursion we reunited as a family and joined in for another fun, first time food experience.

We celebrated Emily's 4 month birthday (Sep. 22) by letting her try solid food. I don't think she cared much for the rice cereal but she was delighted to have her family surrounding her with lots of smiles and encouragement.

What exactly are we doing here?
The tables are turned . . . this time Lizzy enjoys her sister's fun new experience with food.
I'm not sure about this, but I guess I'll go along with it . . .
It tastes OK, but I like looking at you guys a whole lot more! =)

"D" is for Donut

The pictures below are in celebration of Lizzy eating her first donut ever.

How did we make it three years without her ever eating a donut? I guess you could say, donuts are not a family favorite . . . or at least they weren't =)

Anyways, it was a fun outing for dad and his girls while mommy got a chance to go exercise. They were putting calories on while I was burning them off. Calorie wise, as a family, I think we may have broke even (mom's spin class was pretty hard!)

I can't believe how many there are to choose from! They all look so delicious =)

I did it! I made my choice. It was hard but I got the job done =)

Chocolate donut with chocolate frosting =)

Wow! This is good!

Yummy! What a treat! Thanks Dad!

Emmy was happy for Lizzy and enjoyed being a part of her sisters first donut experience. I'm sure Emmy will be good and ready by the time it's her turn!

Weekly Dinner with the Bayers

It has become an informal tradition to have dinner with the Bayers on a weekly basis. David and Debbie Bayer are a wonderful Venturan couple who have become like an adopted set of grandparents for the girls. We love spending time with them and they have been incredibly sweet and generous to our family. David and Eric used to work together in the Fire Department. David and Debbie are now both retired and are enjoying volunteer work and various community activities. David is a gifted wood-worker and has been able to help us with various home projects. Debbie is an amazing quilter with many other artistic talents. We love them and thank them for all they do.

David and Lizzy feeding a duck some yummy bread =) We often see some really cool sea creatures off their dock including sharks, sting rays, fish, a seal, crabs and octopii (mom's favorite)
shake, shake, shake!

waddle, waddle, waddle!
Debbie sewing on the label for Emily's quilt that she just finished making!
Emily is happy to pose on her new special quilt Ni-ni. How beautiful it is!
Lizzy decides to pose too. Lizzy has her special hand made quilt by Debbie at home. It is another beauty!

Taking after her dad, Lizzy has a passion for life guarding. She is looking out for swimmers in distress!
She spotted one!! She prepares to toss the life saver to her sinking victim!
A job well done!! Thanks Lizzy!
All the while, Debbie and Emmy enjoy some time on the couch together.
What a face! Too cute!

What a drooler!
Sorry about your shirt Miss Debbie, I just couldn't help myself =) Lizzy snaps a shot of mom =)
I'm sorry to tell you miss Debbie, but I think I have to go home now.
Good buy. Thank you for a fun evening together.

Early Morning Santa Monica Beach Outing

Eric has decided to take the Los Angeles County Ocean Lifeguard swim test. He loves life guarding and has always been employed by a lifeguard agency since the time he was 15. He is currently a California State Lifeguard but has always dreamed of working for LACO beaches. If he makes it through the testing process, he will only be able to work a handful of days throughout the year (given that he is a full-time fire engineer, husband and dad), but it is still worth it to him. Mom, Lizzy and Emily have the privilege of supporting dad as he goes after another one of his career goals.

The pictures below are from the practice swim that was held on Saturday at the Santa Monica Pier. It was an absolutely beautiful days. Thank you God! Mom and the girls enjoyed the beautiful beach while dad did a great job in the swim. Next Saturday is the actual test day. GO DAD!

We had the beach mostly to ourselves. The temperature was perfect!
Lizzy had a blast playing in the water and sand!
She is looking so grown up!
Mom and Emmy's shadow . . . That's the best picture I got of us two =)
Oh, how I love the beach!
So much to do!

Daddy and an old time friend posing for a picture after their long swim.
Tired Ni-ni girl!
Tired baby girl . . . There's nothing like a good sleep after a fun beach trip!

Auntie Melody and Cousin Abigail Come to Visit

You got to love these girls!
They're two peas-in-a-pod, a dynamic mother-daughter duo.
What a sweetie!
What?? I was just playing =)
The Ni-ni girl! Happy as could be, snuggling in bed with her special blanket and her two favorite soothing fingers.
Oh, all right. You can take another cute picture of me =)
Thank you God for sweet sisters and cousins

Happy baby!
Sleepy baby . . .