Good Eats and Gourds (2)

Now for some pix of the farm, including the kids' first time "playing" badminton!

Craig's happy place is with the hens.

Dillon's world champ look (belt courtesy of Frank).

Action shot!

Pre-game stretches.

Weight lifting.

Sissies!

Wrestler bay hale podium.

Good Eats and Gourds (1)

So as you know every year we like to try out a different pumpkin patch. After six years we've pretty much figured out what we like and don't like. What we do like: BBQ and farms. So we did both this year. One of our favorite BBQ places opened up a new location right across from a farmstead so we made an afternoon of it. My favorite pix are of Dillon's uber serious expression, really getting into her GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) costume at the BBQ joint.

Pout face.

Showing off our birthday manicures.

Quinn as wrestler/train conductor.

Gearing up for some yummy 'cue.

Dillon exuberance at its finest!

A Wink and a Smile

Quinn has been trying to wink for quite a while now. She thinks she's winking but really she's just scrunching up both her eyes. It is so cute. Here her friend Reece also shows off her "skills." This video makes me laugh so hard every time I watch it.

Michelle Turns 50 (Different Michelle)

Recently our friend Michelle turned 50 and had a super fun party at her house with delicious Southern food and a Zydeco band. Quinn had fun dancing and Dillon managed to jam with the band--let's call it her first gig.

Craig found a super cute dance partner.

Playing the washboard.

Quinn found a super cute dance partner.

A short video of Dillon's first jam session:

Wordless Wednesdays (124)

Taken 9/11/2018

Temecula BBQ/Housewarming

Our friends recently moved waaaaay out to Temecula (it's in another county!) and we traveled up north for a housewarming/BBQ. Dillon and their daughter Riley have always been buddies and today was no different. The kids all had fun turning the backyard into a mud pit!

Dressed in style.

Playing with Joshua.

Sisters in swimsuits.

Double trouble.

Zonked on they way home.

Dillon Gets Real About the Tooth Fairy

I always sort of dreaded Dillon losing her baby teeth--such a visceral reminder of her growing up, shedding her little kidness more each day. Well, it finally happened. She swore us to secrecy, so I can't reveal how, but let's just say dinner time was quite bloody!

We had to triage with some cotton balls.

Here she is with her missing tooth.

By the way, Dillon lost another tooth about a month later. And was quick to point out that the tooth fairy wasn't real. Neither was Santa or the Easter Bunny. I guess that makes things easier...

Wordless Wednesdays (123)

Taken 10/6/2018

Zoo News

It's been awhile since we've done a zoo update so here are some more pix from our favorite tourist attraction!

Dillon found some flamingos and a giraffe to hang out with.

Sisters meet Rex, the newest zoo lion.

We FINALLY made it onto a bus tour.

Tie-dye gal pals.

Quinn is still pretty much terrified of characters.

Dillon, Quinn and Reece found ANOTHER lion.

Hotel Transylvania 3--Quinn's First Movie

Remember Dillon's first movie with BFF Millie? We decided to take Quinn to see Hotel Transylvania 3. While probably still a little young for a full-length feature, we'd watched the first two at home quite a lot so she knew all the characters. Plus there was A LOT of popcorn.

Spot the Dillon.

A LOT of popcorn!

First Day of School 2018

This year the first day of school was a pretty big deal. Not only did Dillon finally emerge from kindergarten, but Quinn actually joined her on campus at the preschool. We love a single drop-off and pick-up!

Had to get two signs this year!

Good luck hugs.

Showing off her new dress.

Quinny stoically walks to her preschool.

Wordless Wednesdays (122)

Taken 9/22/2018

Kiddo Museum of Contemporary Art and Academics (28)

Dillon's drawings continue to be totally charming and this entry is the first time Quinn has a "school" project--working on her Q's.

The life cycle of a butterfly as seen through pasta.

Dillon's interpretation of Quinn at 2.

A very respectable giraffe from Dillon.

I call Quinn's painting a Barbie fever dream.

Quinn's map of a zoo.

Q is for Quinny.

Here the girl's get very messy in our backyard.

Triple 3 BIrthday

Quinny's two BFFs, Lulu and Reece, have birthday very close to Quinn's so we decided to have a little party for all of them at once. Balloons, cake and most importantly Snack Shack chicken and biscuits for dinner. 🍗😋 (I just realized I can insert emojis.)

Dillon got dressed up...

...but the birthday girls preferred minimal clothing.

Guess how old!

Back deck dance party.

We tie dyed commemorative shirts.

Capitol Reef Road Trip (7)

To wrap up our grand adventure...

...did we mention our car broke down on our way to Capitol Reef? And that we got the last rental car in town? And that it was the beginning of about 500 times moving the car seats from one vehicle to another. Yup, that totally happened.

Very cramped in the back of the tow truck.

Pretending to drive at the auto shop.

We stopped in Las Vegas again--Henderson actually. It was--no surprise--really hot!

A fierce ping pong competition.

Chess for one.

Trying to take a picture with zero participant cooperation.

Palm trees a'plenty on the property.

And finally, let us acknowledge how you cannot pass through the California desert without thinking of U2...well played, Bono. Well. Played.

Black and white.

Color.