California Dreaming

I peeled and ate an orange while I waited for Hugo to finish his supper tonight.  Hugo watched me and said that we shouldn't eat an orange if it were green.  This brought thoughts to mind, of the two weeks we spent at his Auntie Millie's house in Oceanside, California, two long years ago.  I thought of all the beautiful fruit and flowers on her property and how warm it had been.... sigh.  I asked Hugo if he remembered the fruit trees in Aunt Millie's yard and the groves of avocados that we ran and played in?

Hugo said he remembered his cousins Lucas, Emry, and Carley, and the ocean, and the fruit trees.  I'm not so sure he really remembered the fruit trees.  I then asked if he remembered a special place that we visited with his cousins.  Hugo paused and as a smile spread over his face he quietly answered, "Yes, the cups.  And my mouse ears are hanging upstairs!"  Oh Disneyland, we miss you. 

A Little Trip

Late yesterday afternoon, we packed the van, loaded up the kids and drove over the hills and across the states, to my Grandmother's house in Wisconsin.  It was her 86th birthday and a number of us planned on gathering up at Door County to celebrate.  Cesar and I had volunteered to squeeze her and her suitcase into the van so that we could all drive the last few hours of our journey northward together. 

When we arrived at my Grandmother's house it was early morning.   Cesar had driven all the way from our home till just past Chicago fueled by pod casts, red bull, and Trident gum.  I finished up driving the last hours to Fort all excited to see my Grandmother!  Once I pulled into the driveway, I popped open the closest side door, grabbed a girl and dashed to the front door.  Grandma and I hugged and smooched and then I dropped to the floor to change Marlo's droopy drawers.  I had a diaper with me but no wipes.  I needed wipes.  I asked Hugo to run and ask Papa to bring me some wipes quick, quick, quick!  Over my shoulder, Grandma piped up that she had some wipes and disappeared.  Shortly she returned, Hugo was no where in sight, and handed me a tall can of wipes.  Hmmm, I thought, these are different, oh well.  Now, it was early morning and this was the north side of the house, making it all the more dimly lit as my Grandmother had been a little surprised at our arrival and hadn't turned on many lights just yet.  Long story short, I swabbed up Marlo's bum, taped up the diaper, started to dress her and... the lights came on and... I got a look at the tall canister of wipes I'd just used to clean my baby daughter's bum with...  they were Clorox wipes!  Clorox wipes, Grandma!!!  I undressed dear Marlo, untaped her new diaper and smeared a generous coating of A&D all over her bum.

Beach Afternoon

Emry and Hugo played in this giant hole in the sand dug by a mystery someone.

They played and played with their found driftwood sticks.

My toes.

Speedy tank tracks. We wondered at one point if they might run us over.

I began to draw a heart for my sweetheart at home...

A naughty little someone thought I was doing it all wrong...

The stinker tried his best to erase it out with his foot!

Off he went in search of someone new to torment.

Sand angels. All Hugo's idea.

We loved every minute.