Returned from California

I was in California for much of the past month for work. To finish it, Kate and Mabel joined me for the last week. We spent a few days in Venice Beach, Los Angeles, visiting with friends and the remainder in Mission Beach, San Diego. Great to see friends in LA. We all loved the zoo. The beach was lovely. Sea World was pretty entertaining:

So nice to be back home.

Mabel's Second Birthday Pics

Oompa

This is how we roll while on vacation:

Shoe land

Kate has always had a bit of a shoe problem. Mabel has it too.

Full bath

Last night M took a bath. :-)



Room is getting there, just in time for some travel.

Birthday girl!

Mabel is now 2. All of her grandparents were out to help us celebrate. Kate put together an amazing birthday with no detail missed. And we got some pictures.

Birthdays should start with balloons:


And balance bikes:


Toy houses:


And a cupcake with just the family:


For the actual event, a life-size Elmo cake made of different kinds of cake in nearly a dozen layers:



Add to that kits gift baskets and a big Elmo balloon almost every kid took a turn wrestling:


Eating with friends:


And taking a break at the end of the party, still in her Elmo dress and shoes:

Reading

She might not get all the words. Or pages. But she definitely knows her books.