Happy Spring Break

It's official!

We are in Spring Break mode this week.

We are lounging on the couch with no pants on having drinks in the middle of the day.

And lovin every minute of it!

Happy Hollow

Happy Hollow rules.

It's a park meets zoo meets amusement park with a little something for everyone.

Simon and the kids and I met The Hearns again for a fun morning and lunch.

We've been having fantasies about living in San Jose full time. . . and this day definitely added to our mania. The green hills, the calm driving, everyone just seemed smarter, or as our friend Bob would say, "Stanford Ready."

So back to Happy Hollow.

Sometimes I pose the kids for pictures, I admit it.

These pictures are not posed. Lucy just loves Quincy and Kadence. 

I know just how she feels!

And now if San Jose would kindly release my husband, we'll be on our way.

Playing with the Hearns!

We had a great couple of days with our wonderful friends Kris and Kama and their kids Quincy, Kadence, and teeny tiny Keating. Lucy and Quincy are definitely similar creatures. There were instant BFFs!  

Snack on the porch. . .

Quincy just had a birthday and got an amazing gigantic bubble ball that you can climb into and roll around hamster style.  Lucy was brave and dove right in, after Quincy demonstrated how much fun it is, of course. 

Henry puttered around the French Countryside on Quincy's pink Vespa. . .

. . . and then the Princess fest began. . . .Lucy was in heaven when Quincy and Kadence revealed their Princess cupboard. . .wow. They really went for it. . .wigs and lipsticks and the whole 9 yards. SO much fun!

Bedtime stories with Kama. . . 

Thanks for a great night!

Laughter

"Laughter is like the human body wagging it's tail."

Anne Wilson Schaef

The Cotton Ball Jar

How do you get your kids to do things?

I mean the stuff they don’t want to do; eat, drink, sleep, you know, unreasonable chores like that?

And I know I’m not supposed to say “get your kid to do things” I’m supposed to say, “How can I make it more likely that my child will choose to. . . “ according to the Conscious Discipline people.

But I digress. . .

At our house, Lucy will do just about anything for a cotton ball. We put the cotton balls in the jar and when it’s full we do something amazing.

Well, wouldn’t you know it?! She filled the jar! 

Maybe because I’ve been giving her, like, 10 per night if she’ll just go to sleep without crying.

So the family went to Islands as a special treat to celebrate Lucy and her amazing cotton ball jar. We even brought the jar to the restaurant as a visual aid.

And yes, we ordered the Chocolate Lava.

Next time she fills it, we're going to Chuck E Cheese.