May Fun with the Bauerles

Who came to visit on a beautiful weekend in May? Yes, cousin E and his mama and daddy (and the newest little cousin in Aunt Em's belly, of course)!

The kids eagerly anticipated Aunt Emily, Uncle James, and Elias's visit, and they had lots of fun with them. The highlight of the weekend was water play: Jeremy got out the slip-'n'-slide, and we soaked the back yard for hours as the kids ran, slide, poured buckets, and got creative with their fun.

Elias wasn't too sure about the slip'n'slide initially, but he ended up having a blast. He kept pretending to fall over and then would laugh and laugh: "E fall down!"

Sunday morning we got flood irrigation; I think E was overwhelmed with all that water! He stared at it stunned for a while. But he ended up joining the others in running around, and he and Josiah spent quite some time chasing each other across the yard, splashing through that wonderful irrigation water.

Josiah washing the roof of the little fort

E's pants were a little too big for him, so he went with the old-man style

Clara was pleased with all the attention!

 

Abby got cold and wanted to be bundled up

Clara loved Uncle James' beard!

We're looking forward to a repeat visit after the new cousin arrives! We need more little ones underfoot. :)

Back to December: Christmas in Flagstaff (Part 2)

I promise I'll finish the December pictures before January is over. For those interested, here's the rest of our Christmas day, documented in photos:

Silly girls sweeping and watching the dogs through the glass door (the only way Abby will be near them)

Opening presents!

Neuerles, newly returned to Flagstaff

Josiah was thrilled about the Christmas sprinkling of snow! He tiptoed out barefoot to touch it . . .

. . . and ran back excited to discuss it with everyone!

Uncle D gave the girls flashing rings--fascinating!

Abby and her ring

Kezzie opens a present

Lydia and Auntie Em

Our three eager about their presents

Uncle D and Kezzie

Aunt Anna and Abby

Anna and Justin got the girls angel/fairy wings--which nicely complemented Abby's white dress :)

Josiah loved opening presents this year

He was thrilled with the Curious George book we gave him!

Kezia and her dolly

Emily and smiley Elias

iPhone time!

After the initial hubub, the kids took a break to play in the dusting of snow. They even managed to scrape enough together (with help from Daddy) to make a few snowballs!

Abby

Lydia

Josiah can hardly bear to be without a stick when outdoors

Abby tastes snow

Lydia looks lost

Abby plans to throw a snowball at Mama

Lydia follows suit

We asked James to take a family picture--and ended up with some good ones (despite uncooperative kids)--thanks, James!

Aunt Anna with angel-monster Elias

Kezzie got excited about her new toys!

I have a few more pictures from our time in Flagstaff that I'll put in another post. Stay tuned!

California, Ho! (Part 4)

After Saturday's meltdowns, lack of naps, stomach issues, diaper rashes, and one child's catastrophic poop accident in Grandma's kitchen (thank you, Grandma and Grandpa, for being so gracious!), I wondered whether our plan to hit the beach with Emily and James on Sunday was a good idea. But we decided to go for it . . .

Lydia with Aunt Em

Windblown Josiah

We had beautiful weather, easily found a free parking spot at a nearby park, and staked a spot on the surprisingly empty Hermosa Beach. Jeremy brought an umbrella he snagged from a neighbor's bulk trash pile, and it proved helpful against the sun. Though we did lather up in sunscreen, squirmy kids are hard to fully protect . . . so the girls ended up with a splotchy sunburn. The wind kept blowing their hats off, too, so they didn't have that extra shade. Jeremy forgot to put any sunscreen on his back--ouch!

Abby and Daddy

Upon our arrival, I took Josiah down to the waves. Lydia came running up behind us and face-planted into an oncoming breaker before I could catch her--so then she was scared of the water. She did love slithering around on her stomach in the sand, though! By the end of our time at the beach, she tentatively tried the water again--but protested loudly when Daddy tried to wash off all the sand.

Lydia in the warm sand

Aunt Em and Abby

Elias and his daddy

Elias hung out under the umbrella and enjoyed/endured visits from his cousins as they came in from the sand and waves and sun for snacks.

Lydia trying on Aunt Emily's sandal

Squirming in the sand!

Abby admiring Aunt Em's sunglasses

Jeremy and James helped the kids dig tunnels and make sandcastles, and this activity was by far the biggest hit of the day! Abby stayed in the sand-ditch long after everyone else, just scooping and building and occasionally eating sand.

Digging in the sand was lots of fun!

Lydia the Destroyer delighted in knocking down towers--much to Josiah's consternation

Sandy Abby

After the beach, we walked back to the park for a picnic. Emily and James brought a gourmet lunch of mini biscuit sandwiches with all sorts of fixings. Thanks for hosting such a great Father's Day celebration, Em and James!

We're glad to be related to these three

After another unfortunate poop accident at the park, we packed up and headed back to the Singletons' for our final night in Los Angeles.

The next morning we woke up those tired kids, went to Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa's house for an early and brief goodbye visit, ate breakfast back at the Singletons' and packed up the car (which took about three hours), and drove home to Arizona. Our drive home was not as smooth or happy as our drive there--and unfortunately the overtired kids did not sleep during the trip back--but we made it safely and are glad we had such a good time with everyone in CA!