Boots, bugs and tattoos

The weekend was pretty mellow around our house this weekend (first one in awhile) so we spent most of our time hanging out in the backyard or attending the kids' friend's birthday parties. Here are a few pics:

Who said rhinestone cowgirl boots aren't cool to wear in the summer? Bella wears them well.

We won't pierce their ears just yet, but getting a tattoo is fine as long as it's either a princess or a unicorn...here's Bella showing off her big muscles and unicorn tat.

Bella striking a pose (who said she had attitude?) and Preston ready for lunch.

In Preston's world there's nothing cooler than playing with a potato bug or an ant ...except for maybe squishing one...


"Dad is home!" I just went outside to check the mail...imagine what it's like coming home after I've been gone on a business trip for a week! Dad doing his best tree house impression.

Sydney Graduates from Hanna Fenichel

Big day for Sydney today - she graduated from her pre-school and is headed off to the big world of Kindergarten after this summer. The ceremony was at a park down by the beach in Cardiff by the Sea. All of the families stood in a big circle and then each child was called up to the stand one by one and a teacher shared a few words about each of them. "Sydney Wilson - our class Designer. We will remember you for your elaborate designs and for always making our classroom beautiful. Thank you for being such a good friend at Hanna Fenichel".

Sydney will sure miss her teachers, especially Jenny. It won't be her last time at Hanna though since Bella and Preston will be there in the Fall.





Freshly minted Hanna grads hanging out at the park. Who needs a cap and gown as long as you get the diploma?!

A bird in the house (again)...

A month or so ago I got a panicked call at work from Katy: "there's a huge bird in the house and I can't get it out!! Are you coming home to get it out?". I could hear Bella totally cracking up in the background and saying "Dad, there's a bird was in the house...and its pooping all over". I guess this gigantic bird flew in through the back door and was too freaked out to make an exit. Eventually Katy got it out using a combination of a broom, window screen and brute force. Bella talked about the "bird in the house" story for a week straight.

So fast forward to last week when I was home with Preston on a Saturday. As I walked in the dining room I saw something out of the corner of my eye - yep, another bird although just a little guy this time. I told Preston to come check it out and he got very exited. It was so little I figured it would be easy to catch - but the little guys are always the fastest ones. Preston got a real kick out of watching the bird get away every time I was just about to catch him. It flew between the kitchen and the living room about 5 times and at one point Preston and I just about had him cornered by the dinner table...but it went underneath his legs, which was by far his favorite part.

Eventually we caught him in a dish towel and took a real up close look. Preston got a total kick out of it and didn't want to let him go but we turned him loose in the backyard. He got away just fine, minus a few feathers that we're still finding in the house...