1,000 Steps

Right up there on my list of favorite places to parent, 

right next to the Backyard, 

I have to put 1,000 Steps Beach.

 Bonus Note:

There are (not quite) 1,000 steps back up to the car,

which means most of the sand has been knocked off feet

and most of the energy is fully drained.

The Backyard

"We could never have loved the earth so well

had we no childhood in it"

-George Eliot

The Backyard at Santa Barbara's Natural History Museum

is easily one of my favorite places to parent.

There's something soul-filling in having your kids

play in mud, trespass a creek in bare feet,

build forts,

 and spend time with some of the world's

greatest people.

We love it here &

love it more when we get to go with friends.

Santa Barbara Fiesta 2013

I. Love. Parades.

I don't know if it's my Louisiana roots,

or my tolerance for standing in one place for a very long time,

or my general desire to just gawk and holler, "Viva La Fiesta!"

at everyone who trots by on a horse.

Fiesta is marvelous.

Truly, I mean it when I say,

"Viva La Fiesta!"

 Plus, there's lots of time between horses

for cousin hugs.

and of course a group shot.

"Viva Los Primos!"

When Nonnie Babysits...

Lots of great pictures get taken!

Nonnie and Payton got to hang out

while Charley and Nola got their 6-month and 4-year check-ups.

 Dr. D'Andrea has given the green-light on solid foods,

 Charley thinks that's a great idea,

but decided to leave us guessing on her preference.

Nola, at 4, is very brave -- 

and very deserving of any and all stickers earned for her shots.

Nola is a Happy Camper

 For Nola's Fourth Birthday, we had a "Campout Theme"

We tie-dyed, ate hot dogs,

knocked out a pinata,

(Alright, so Nola didn't hit the pinata with the death blow,

but it was her birthday, so let me just give this one to her for now)

hung out with our sweet family,

 and finally got our screen up

 for a little Summer night outside movie watching

which was optional for some...

Ruby Came Back for a Visit

Ruby is Nola's first friend to move away.

She and her little brother, Austin, moved to Texas, but thankfully

they still have ties to Camarillo, so we get to see them when

they come back to town.

A major bonus is their mommy is a

professional photographer, so we score some pretty cute pics

 to remember their visit!

Thank you, Marissa, for taking such sweet pictures 

of our sweet and silly girls!

Happy Fourth & A Gause-family Reunion!

Well, Happy Fourth of July!

We celebrated the Lockwood families visit to California

with lots of cousin time in Santa Barbara.

And then headed over to Bakersfield for a wonderful visit

with all of our Gause cousins (mom's mom's side of the family)

My second cousin, Vicki, is a photographer,

and took some great pictures of the girls:

She even edited out Nola's 4th of July tattoo!

 But left me with my post-baby belly-pouch.

It's okay... it took a lot of late night bowls of ice cream to earn it.