Lopez weekend

We have returned home from a weekend at Lopez Island with all of the family (well, most...). We didn't get as lucky this weekend with the weather, but we did get lucky with low tides! We haven't spent a lot of time up at the beach in the last year, & it wasn't until recently that the kids (older 2) really started getting interested in the exploration of the beach. This weekend was amazing with all the things we found on the beach, & the kids didn't seem to mind the weather for the most part (they did get cold but once they warmed up they were ready to go out again). Kellen had a blast filling his bucket with crabs, eels, star fish, hermit crabs, jelly fish, etc., & also touching sea anemones. Annika enjoyed it just as much, though she wasn't as big of a searcher under the rocks like Kellen was. It was great to see them enjoying the sea creatures & learning so much! We also had a great time with cousins & family.

Kid updates:

Kaarin: She is so funny & happy!! I love her personality, partly because at this point she is just so happy & funny.:) She has a few moments of defiance, but they are nothing compared to what brother & sister come up with. She is really good at signing "all done" & "milk" these days, & we are adding in "please" & "thank you." She is by far our most verbal child at this age, & she is imitating all sorts of words & sounds. She doesn't really need to sign thank you because she already says it. She chatters all the time & laughs at herself.:) She is just a joy. She has been taking LOTS of steps & walked half way across the room tonight! She is so proud of herself when she does it. I am mixed: it is so cute, but I know that once she is fully walking she will just grow right into my toddler instead of my baby! She is just so sweet.

Annika: Annika took a big tumble off the couch tonight & hit the corner of our coffee table.:( The solid, wrought-iron coffee table.:( She has a large cut & bump on her head, but was such a trooper in using the boo-boo bunny (ice pack) to help it feel better! Annika is so verbal these days, though she still needs a little interpretation from mom to others.:) She loves to be a big helper around the house, setting the table, taking care of Kaarin, etc. She is so funny, though sometimes it requires looking past her stubbornness to see it.;)

Kellen: Kellen had his last days in Miss Karen & Miss Karen's class last week, & had a graduation day & class picnic! It has been a good year for him, & they were so patient & nurturing to him & his little quirks.:) I think he will be most sad in Sept., when he goes back to the same class but to different teachers! Fortunately he does know one of them already, so that will help. Kellen used the potty today (after refusing the last 2 months since our trip to CA & our remodeled bathroom) but didn't want to wear his underwear again after nap...maybe tomorrow. Kellen cracks me up with his insight & interpretation of things.:) He is still working on some behaviors, but is doing much better now that things have settled down around here.

Speaking of tomorrow, the kids go to the dentist for the first time!! Could be interesting...