M and R

Here are some pictures of the kids from over the last month that give a good snapshot of what they're up to these days.  Miss Madeleine lounging in her rocking chair, reading a flyer from the mail...

... looking far too grown up for my little girl...

... and loving her new "twirly dress" made for her by my good friend Ashley.

They both love the rocking chairs...

... but Ross especially loves climbing in and out of the little one.

Young Master Ross had fun this day at the beach, sitting IN the little pool of water, collecting rocks and carefully setting them on the edge.

He is such a wee character and loves to giggle, be chased, and, apparently, play superhero.

I spent awhile on the phone a few days ago with the bank, trying to set up automatic rent payments.  In the back of my mind, I knew it was terribly quiet in the house and awfully strange to get so much uninterrupted time on the phone, but I really needed to sort this matter out, so I did not go to investigate. When I hung up the phone, here was what I discovered. This has happened before, but never with THREE boxes of tissue! Madeleine had kindly opened each one for Ross, and he did the rest.

Here is Ross in the same little woven outfit that his Daddy wore for his 1 year portraits.

It looked incredibly cute on him, and it didn't keep him from showing off his riding stunts for Grandpa Don on Skype.

Visitors!

Last week we were happy to have John, Julie, Caleb, and Brody here with us! They arrived late Friday night, so the cousins first got to see each other on Saturday morning. 

Saturday we went to the Marin Headlands and had lunch on Rodeo Beach.

The kids loved playing in the sand and running down to the water.

The views of the Golden Gate Bridge are really beautiful from near there, so we stopped at several spots for pictures and to take in the scenery.

Four busy cousins playing in the tub that night!

On Sunday, we drove 5 hours north to the Redwood Forests. We stayed in a cabin that night - definitely the highlight for the kids and they were all disappointed that we weren't going back. On Monday we walked around the 'Founder's Grove' of redwoods and marvelled at the enormity of the trees.

We stopped to see giant treehouses (look closely and you will see a smiling Julie and crying Caleb)...

... and of course drive-through trees!

On Tuesday, Julie and John went to Alcatraz on their own and Steve and I stayed with the four kids at home. It was a lot of fun for all of us, and Steve and I commented several times how wonderful it is that the kids are getting to know each other better. That evening, Steve and John went to an NHL hockey game in San Jose (the Toronto Maple Leafs were playing, but lost).

Wednesday, we strapped each kid into a stroller and braved the BART train into the city to explore Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. Here are John and Steve on Pier 39, discussing something important, no doubt.

Caleb loved the merry-go-round on Pier 39.

We ended off the week with a more relaxing day at home and then they were off to the airport before sunrise the next day. It was a wonderful week and we are so thankful we are now close enough that this visit was possible.