Robot Costume Turned Log

Fairy outfit

During Josie's "fairy week" with Grandma, one of their projects was making a fairy skirt and shoes:

Evie's 1st Birthday

We had a family party to celebrate Evie's first birthday. The year went by so quickly... and now our "Carrot" (remember when Josie called her Carrot?) is walking and talking and quite a person in her own right. She never fails to communicate what she wants, either in pseudo-words or by screaming. She certainly doesn't shy away from using volume to get across her message! She's practically running around the house, climbing on anything she can get her legs onto, and chatting up a storm.

A few of Evie's new words:

"Ah buy-eeee" = a bite, or I want to eat/drink that

"Bye bye" = self explanatory

"Hi Duh Dee" = Hi Josie

"Nye Nye" = Good night, or sometimes when she's finished with a book

"Bat" = Bath

A few of her favorite things:

• Strawberries

• Blueberries

• Zucchini

• Cody and dogs in general

• Shoes

• Anything Josie is holding or playing with

• Water play

Josie helps assemble the Strawberry & Cream cake (Evie LOVES strawberries!)

Birthday girl in her party dress (and bib)

Katie and Charlotte 

Josie and Colin at the kids' table

Make a wish! 

That's cake in her hair, not gel...

Opening cards and gifts

Obon Festival

Oakland's Buddhist Church held their Obon Festival (honoring our ancestors) this weekend. We often read Josie a book called Dance, Dance, Amy Chan about a girl who spends time with her Japanese grandparents, practices the Bon Odori dances and gets to dance at the festival, so we thought it would be fun for Josie to see it live. It was a great community event, with octogenarians and babies, Japanese and hakujin (white people), bbq bentos and udon, and a real spectrum of dancers out on the street- some in elaborate kimono dress and others with jeans and a t-shirt. 

Josie didn't want to miss the dancing and wanted to get a prime viewing spot in front of the church/temple.

A tag with the name of an ancestor hangs from each lantern.

Dinosaur Gymnastics Party

Our friends' daughter had a birthday party at a gymnastics facility this weekend, and the kids had a blast. Check out the triple swing and the dino-shaped sandwiches! Evie loved the trampolines and all the balls... She's walking now!

Camping in the Foothills

After a night at Calaveras Big Trees with Kathryn and Sarah, we made it up to Lake Alpine for some cooler weather and some time on the beach. Josie wasn't feeling well, so we left for home that night, but we had a good time while we were there.

Hiking with Colin and Andrew

We went on a hike in the Oakland hills with Colin and Andrew and ended up at the horse arena (no horses). The kids ran around inside the fence like horses while we sat on the bleachers and watched.

Playing with Packaging

Backyard play

Pizza with Grandma and Cousin Sarah