Seven Quick Takes XVIII: California Edition

Because I may otherwise not get our awesome California trip into a post, we're just going to dedicate my first Seven Quick Takes in so many months to our California adventure!

-One-

Ah, California.  While I have very little connection to it, my husband's family is completely interwined with that state, so we've been twice in the last four years.  Both of my in-laws were born, raised, and met in LA, my husband was adopted from California, and then they moved back to Cali for the first few years of his life after his Dad finished residency in Colorado.  His grandparents and several sets of aunts and uncles still live there. 

-Two-

Two years ago, we spent almost a week in California for Deda's 80th Birthday (my father-in-law's dad).  This year, we went out for Baba's 80th Birthday (my father-in-law's step-mother). 

Baba's name is actually Ilinka, and she is a tough, outspoken, serious softie-on-the-inside, Yugoslavian grandma.  It was so much fun to celebrate her life and meet her friends and hear stories. I feel that my littles are lucky that they have the chance to know so many of their great-grandparents.

Yep, there was a signature drink, because Daniel's Aunt Jan is fabulous.  The Ilinkatini was a ginger and basic martini and was the one (alcoholic) thing I got a few sips of that... so yummy!

The girls were kept busy with cousins, dogs, and the amazing taco bar.  At one point they were playing "pass the baby".

 

We rounded out the evening with some cake and dancing.  There were so many sweet moments, but I think the tears started flowing as Deda (PopPop to many of the grandkids) danced with his granddaughter, Katie.  She's leaving in a few weeks for college, after years of living just a few blocks away from her grandparents.  So, yes, lots of bittersweet tears.

 

 -Three-

Doggies.

Or, if you're 17 months old and obsessed with them, "Dah-eee!"  

Both of my girls were delighted by all of the doggies they got to interact with on this trip... especially Ollie, a very patient and sweet old dog owned by Daniel's aunt and uncle.

-Four-

Because all of my in-law's living parents live near each other in California, the weekend was filled with great-grandparent moments. 

This last one is one of my favorite moments.  My mother-in-law's mother mostly doesn't know who we are (as far as we can gather), but she recognizes sweet babies either way.  At the end of the evening, Colette was running around barefoot.  Grandma Irene got worried about her little toes getting cold, and tucked Colette's little foot into the sleeve of her jacket.  As worn as her body and mind are getting, these sweet gestures are such beautiful memories to pass onto my girls someday. 

-Five-

The beach.  So many photos to share, but I've got to get this posted, so I'll try to keep it shortish.  We were able to go twice, both times to Mother's Beach, a waveless beach (awesome for our littles) on the Marina.  The first time we went we have no swimsuits with us as it was a cloudy day and we decided to go spontaneously.  It was still lovely, the girls loved exploring!  The second day was "Mommy and Daddy get a sunburn day", with lots of swimming and sandcastles. I've always claimed I'm more of a mountain girl than a beach girl... and while that holds true (the sand gets everywhere!), I definitely enjoyed our beachy time more than any other time I've been. 

-Six-

There were so many cousins to love! Anni didn't entirely remember her cousin Bella from two years prior, but she knew she had one and that she had given her her Rapunzel doll, so their reunion was eagerly anticipated.  They played hard for the few days they had together, and there were many, many tears when they had to say good-bye.  Anni cried and told us, "But, I love her, and she loves me, we love each other!  We are each others' cousins!" A little heartbreaking, but so very sweet.  Anni was also thrilled by her older cousins that listened to her rather involved stories... I am a lucky girl to have married into such a fun family!

-Seven-

You can find more quick takes at Conversion Diary!  For your sake, I hope they are a little more accurate with their "quick" adjective than I was...

365 Photos in 365 Days: Week 30

Right after we got home from California, my parents and eldest nephew came out for a visit.  My dad had never seen our house, so I was pretty excited to get to show it off.  We got a bed in our guest room the same day they arrived... so while it's nothing fancy, it's nice to have an actual place for friends and family to sleep.  

We tried to find fun, but simple, things to do every day that my parents were in town.  Ice cream and candy shop fit that bill, right?  Colette was pretty thrilled that there were dozens of buckets filled to the brim... all at her height!

There is really nothing better than seeing my girls cozied up with my parents (and check out Colette's post-bath curls... my fave!)  

We picked up a scooter (for free) last weekend!  Anni tells me she needs to "practice her scooter" every day, and Colette just wants you to take her for rides on it, since she lacks a few inches to do it all by herself.

Ah, well, this was supposed to be a picture of a big ole sister-kiss (but in the same place in these outfits), but I watermarked the wrong one, and I'm far too tired to fix it... yep.  Tired and lazy, that's me tonight (to be fair, it's 2:30 in the morning, so I'm heading straight to bed momentarily).

The last two are just my sweet girls.  Colette has been obsessed with her "'at" the last few days... it's darling! And at the bottom, my sweet Anni.  I may be a little obsessed with those mustard tights... $1.50 on clearance, my friends... so both girls now have a pair for fall.  

365 Photos in 365 Days: Week 29

 

The day before we left for California, Daniel's sweet cousin came to visit and brought her darling boy with her.  Isn't it wonderful how you gain a whole family when you get married?  I got lucky!

 

A little conversation between a girl and her Deda (her great-grandpa). 

What a difference from the Anni of last year who wouldn't dare jump off the edge of the pool.

 The reason we came to California... to celebrate Baba's 80th birthday!  It was a lovely celebration.

 After the party, we weren't sure if Anni would see her much-loved cousin again.  She cried the whole way back to the hotel, "But we love each other!  She's my cousin, and I'm hers, and we are each other's cousins!"  Well, the next morning, her family was able to make it to the same Mass as us... so the sweet cousins were briefly reunited.

Beach baby!  We found a sweet little beach called "Mother's Beach" where there are no waves, but lots of sand and water.  The girls loved it... we actually went there twice during our trip.

 Our farewell to  California.  We spent a few last hours at Deda and Baba's house, and then made the trip home to frantically get ready for my family's arrival in Colorado.

365 Photos in 365 Days: Week 28

The best way to get cooking done with little ones: let them help.  Definitely one of the slower ways as well, but we have so much fun when I drop the perfectionist in me.

 Happy Birthday to my love!  We picked him up at work and took him out for pizza and ice cream.  Oh, how my girls adore him!

Our apple trees are trucking along.  They may have fire blight, which is going to mean we might lose the trees or have some seriously expensive pruning to deal with this fall... but the apples will be okay, so we're going to enjoy this harvest as much as we can.

 

We drove up to Greeley to celebrate Daniel's birthday with his family... we always get the most beautiful sunsets over the mountains when we drive home from there.

An iphone photo for today... we spent the whole day picking out a bed (so we could move our old one down to the guestroom) and a new sink/vanity (for our molded-out basement bathroom).  It was exhausting... but so good to get it all done.

Monday we had some wonderful friends come visit.  Sweet little friends for my girls are worth their weight in gold!

"Toes, toes!"  Colette cracks up when I go after her little toes with mine.  This day was filled with getting ready for our California adventure!

365 Photos in 365 Days: Week 27

 My husband has been playing piano since he was Anni's age.  Oftentimes, he gets the girls ready for bed while I work, and if they finish a little early, I'll hear piano music drifting down the stairs. 

Just a cheesy grin for you... this girl is full of them!

 Oh, so, determined.  I don't think she actually finished climbing this, but her confidence at the playground has grown a hundred fold in the past year.

Peek-a-boo!

  

I know in 10 years, she will look like a baby in this photo, but right now, she looks so grown up!

 

First trip of the summer to our local splash park!  Colette was so intent on filling her little bucket up.  I did discover; however, she definitely doesn't fit in that 18 mo suit... time to dig out the 12 month one!

 

 A little kitchen dance party yesterday.  I love their wild hair and that looks Colette is giving her big sister.