We spent this weekend at Gramma's house.

Julia and Antonio survived the heat playing in the kiddie pool in the yard.
Antonio, being the big kid, likes to do cannon balls and splash like mad in the pool.
We had to level the playing field...



Which worked well for both of them.

Her hair is long enough for pigtail braids.



She's not too sure about them yet.
She likes to hold her pigtails when she's tired, and braided, they feel bumpy and odd

This afternoon we went out with friends and had a picnic.

The kids played along the waterfront while we waited for the pizza to be ready.

Antonio was impressed with the cement logs



and it didn't take long before he started to do tricks.
Luckily the pizza was ready before he started jumping off things



Notice the zen master like balance

Julia wasn't too sure about things at first



but she didn't waste any time tossing her cup into the water, you know, because no rocks were close enough to throw instead

When I got up at 8 this morning, it was already 82 degrees in the house.
After a quick cup of coffee, I set up our outdoor oasis.
Kiddie pool, pop shade and pitcher of horchata.

Antonio's interpretation of the heat



Such craftmanship



I also made up a pitcher of bubbles, since Julia tends to dump out the pan every few minutes.
Antonio quickly took over as bubble replenisher, and kept her well supplied.




Just checking, you know, in case mom was lying...

This weekend we traveled up to Bellingham for my dear friend's wedding.
It was at a beautiful park & the day couldn't have been better.

My brave brother came with to keep us company and help me with the kids.
While we set up and did pictures before the wedding, the kids had all kinds of room to run around and play.



Antonio sat very nicely through the whole ceremony, Julia was only okay with sitting there for a few minutes. I'm so glad my brother was there to walk around with her in the park while I stood up for my friend.



The reception was simple, lovely and low key.
We had plenty of treats and mead to go around, and most importantly, cake!

This morning after settling Antonio into his room at school, Julia and I headed over to the 'little kid' side.
I told her, "Let's go play with kids!"
She chirped, "Dids!"

She was ready to get down and investigate the room and made a bee line for the play kitchen.
I watched her play and chatted with the childcare lady, giving her the low down about Julia.
As Julia made herself comfortable and barley looked over at me, I knew it was time for me to go.
I gave her kisses and told her to have a fun day and walked towards the door.
It was when I was almost to the door, she realized that I was leaving and started to cry. One of the ladies was close by to pick her up and Julia only kicked her feet at her a little bit.

The kitchen connects the two sides of the school/daycare, so I snuck around to Antonio's room and peeked through the kitchen.
Julia was waving at the door I had just walked through, and not crying or very upset, so I felt better about leaving.

You bet I'll be calling here soon, you know, just to be sure she's fine.

Julia's childcare superhero is leaving for a week long vacation today.
During her absence, I've arranged for Julia to go to Antonio's school/daycare.

I'm concerned that she won't transition well. Her usual childcare provider has a few girls that work part time, and when one hasn't been in for a while, Julia will snub them for at least half the day. I'm hoping that she'll be enamored with the other little kids her age and the new toys and won't be too upset when I have to leave her there tomorrow morning.
She is also familiar enough with the sweet lady who works in the kitchen and the lady who is there for the school aged kids, since Antonio gets dropped off first in the mornings.

This afternoon, when we arrived at Antonio's school, I brought Julia over to the 1 year old room to play for a little bit.
She was shy at first and didn't step further than 1/2 inch from my leg, but the toys were tempting.
Minutes after she put her hands on a toy, some little boy came over and took it away from her, and she just stood there.
I became worried that she'd be bullied while she was there. At her daycare, she's the youngest child, and hasn't played with littles her age very often.
The little boy came back towards her to take another toy away from her, she put her hand out and shoved him away.
I'm not so worried now.

After we'd been there for about 15 minutes, I figured we should go get Antonio.
She ignored me when I said, "Let's go get brother."
When I picked her up, she screamed and tried to get down to play more.

I'm glad that she was comfortable enough to want to stay and play.
Hopefully tomorrow she'll be fine too.

This afternoon, when we got home from the park and had a little lunch,
I told Julia, "Let's take a nap."
Then the dryer went off, so was stalled a bit as I folded the load of clothes.
I did noticed by the time I finished, it was awfully quiet.

I checked the living room and then the bedroom and there was no Julia.



But that the rocking chair was in a place it shouldn't be.
And she must have hear me come in the room, because she popped up from laying in her bed.



I'm thinking she's about ready for her big bed now.

Today we got out of the house early and for a change of scenery went to Castle Park.

The kids hit the swings first.
Could they have looked any more bored?



This is much better...





I shoo'd them off the swings and turned them loose.
Antonio calling out from his 'coolest hidey spot ever!'



Julia climbing around



They played on the slides, Antonio is good about going down first so he can be there at the bottom to catch Julia.
Julia's does great on her own, but it's a sweet gesture.

Antonio told me this morning he was nervous about his kindergarten graduation today.
He wasn't sure he'd remember all of the songs and hand motions that go along with.

I assured him that it's perfectly normal to be nervous, and if he feels like he's not going to remember a part, look and see what the other kids are doing and if he's forgotten words, just mouth 'watermelon' until he can catch back up.
He was still nervous, so he took a long relaxing bath then did six (he told me) laps around the neighborhood on his bike.

Getting both kids dressed and ready to go wasn't too difficult, and for once I was able to get a few nice pictures of them standing near each other.



We got to the school a little early so the kids could prepare.
The ceremony was short and sweet.
They stood as a class sang a song, said the days of the week in German, counted to 15 in Spanish, sang another song and recited a poem.
Antonio looked like he remembered everything.



Then they went to a back room to put their cap and gowns on.
Each was announced to come into the room and receive their diplomas, and they all quietly sat in chairs until everyone had their diplomas.



Antonio had the best and biggest and proudest smile of them all.
I am so proud of him!



They had a little cake and punch reception afterwards and their teacher had made little year books for them.
Julia was great throughout the whole event. She quietly sat during the graduation, and only snuck up and licked one little boy's cupcake when he wasn't looking.

Today was Antonio's last day of kindergarten.
Tomorrow is graduation, and he is excited to be done with the school year.

Today they handed out awards to each member of the class and here is his.

I keep on trying to get a nice picture of these two.
It's easier said than done.
Whenever I get the camera, whatever thing they were doing to inspire me to take a picture stops.
One gets goofy and the other decides that being near someone else is not okay.

So, I try a different tactic.
Antonio, give Julia a quick hug!



Look at the preview, "crap, she's not looking up'
As I look up to take another shot, Julia has taken off.

I say to Antonio "Quick grab your sister so we can try again"



and the wild goose chase is on....
Finally he catches her and before she can start screaming in protest, I get another shot



Yeah, maybe next time...

This Saturday is Antonio's graduation from kindergarten.
They took the end of the year pictures in cap and gown.
A bit on the goofy side, but so cute nonetheless

"Making the paper boat was awesome, it turned out cool.
It might be able to float someday if I put tape on it."

-Antonio

Speaking of the garden.
Last month when we were picking out things to put in it, The Man spotted jalapeno and put one in the cart.
I scoffed at him explaining, "Jalapeno's don't grow in Washington!"

He wanted to try, and I had to remind myself to be more open minded and less rigid and it, along with a few other plants, came home with us.

Here's the jalapeno today. I think I counted 3 little peppers on it so far and a few more peppers-to-be.

Julia spent some time digging in the garden with me this afternoon.
Then she raced matchbox cars around in the dirt, and stepped various baby plants.
They're pretty hardy, and she's walked over them before, I think they'll make it.

Antonio had been playing with neighborhood kids and came back to ask if he could go to the park. Since they were standing near one another I took the opportunity to take a picture.



Then I asked them to stand a little closer, which didn't work out as great as I hoped.

Julia yelled out 'Bus!' on the way to daycare this morning.
Then pointed out each and every bus we passed along the way.

She also said 'Out!' when I asked if she wanted to go outside after dinner.
Then she followed me around repeating, 'out.out.out.out' as I gathered up a few things before I opened the back patio door.

I think she said blue too.
She was trying to figure out how to keep on a pair of blue flip flops. I thought she would have an easier time with a pink pair near by, but she screamed out BOO! when I put her feet on the pink ones.
Okay, blue it is...

The girl, she says, "MMMMMMMMIiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
now.

Just like that...maybe a little louder.

Especially if it's something Antonio has that she wants.

The first example that I caught was when Antonio was sitting on the couch reading and Julia had both hands on the book, a little foot braced against the side of the couch and pulling with all of her might as she shrieked MINE!!!!!!

So, I have to have a little chat with her about how that's his or he's playing with it, or whatever the case may be, and offer her something that I think she'll be okay with having as a replacement or temporary distraction.

I also have to coach Antonio with talking about what he's doing with Julia.
Not just grabbing back something from her. But telling her that he needs his 'insert object in toddlers sticky hands'.
Telling her that he's going to take her cereal bar to open it for her, but he'll give it right back.
Or, these are pens and you shouldn't be coloring right now.
He's doing pretty well with it.

Last night at 0230, Julia woke up crabby, grumpy and wanting to be awake to grouch about it.
She futzed around on the bed and only wanted to snuggle with her pointy elbows and pokey feet.
While attempting to stab her feet in my arm while draping her head off the side of the bed, she slid off.
She was way more surprised and mad than hurt.
Antonio was woken up, and came in to check and see what the noise was all about, but he went back to sleep after he saw that there wasn't much fun going on.

After she had settled back down to slightly squirmy, I tucked her back into her bed.
It was well after 0300 when she finally fell back asleep.

This morning, I heard her wake up, just as I was getting out of the shower.
She happily chirped out "Hiya" to Antonio.

Once I freed her from the playpen, she toddled over to the bed and grabbed both of their breakfast bars, continued over to Antonio and gave him one.
Antonio then returned the favor by opening hers for her.

It's nice after a rough night to have a smooth morning.

Julia has started pointing and asking, "Whua Daaaa?" to a lot of things around her.
If it's closer to her, she'll ask with palms upturned "Whua Diiiiiissss?"

Did I tell you both of her upper canine teeth came in too?
I'd been watching the bottom ones, but these ones snuck in first.

The Crow's Nest.
Well, as far as Julia's concerned it is.
This is the bed in the guest room, which she has to scamper up a chair placed next to it (for that purpose) while dragging along with her a blanket and other various toddler treasures.
She usually reads or chills out with a toy while one of us work on the computer, as the guest room doubles as an office.
And, on occasion, she takes a little nap.

This morning after we got up and had some cereal (kids) and coffee (me) we loaded up in the car and left in search of garage sales.
Really, I should have gone yesterday, a few of my girlfriends went out and scored.
Our luck was not so good. I figured most would already be pretty well picked over, and that was the case, with the few that we found.

We stopped for some tacos and went to our favorite waterfront park to play.
It was overcast, misty and windy out, but something about the wind winds up the kids.

Julia climbed up the play structure and went down the spiral slide as many times as she could.
Antonio played Superman on the swing and chased Julia in circles.

We headed down to the beach and threw rocks for a while, it was too rough for skipping, but Antonio and I tried to see who could hit the waves as they crashed. Julia was happy to have an unlimited amount of rocks to throw.
Looking closely at the rocks, we found itty bitty crabs and snails.

When we got home I set up a few art projects at the counter which kept the kids occupied for a while.
They do pretty well there, as long as they each have their own sets of paints, pens, crayons, and the exact same amount of water.

This afternoon Julia became fixated on this too small fleece hat that velcros closed under her chin.
She also had that afternoon where she didn't want take a nap,
but wanted to snuggle, don't touch me,
be under a blanket, how dare you put a blanket on me,
let me down, pick me up,
scream, laugh,
put my hat on, take it off

Why did you take my hat offfff!!!!!

I was able to swap the hat out for one that was similar but bigger.
Keeping it on was easier, and solved the hat issue.

Since no one was going to nap today, we filled up the kiddie pool, put out the slip and slide and the kids spent the rest of the afternoon out side.

It was great.

Especially when Julia started nodding off during dinner.
Then she hung from the outside of her playpen, shaking her pigtailed head
'nonononono' to having a bath, because she wanted to go to bed so badly.



But, not without the hat.