Palm Desert - Pool time with Andy

The weather was perfect - not too hot, but hot enough for Andy to want to get into the pool and stay there.  Andy gets cold pretty easily (we are working on thickening his insulation!), so it was fun to see him so excited to stay in the pool.  He was obsessed with jumping off the side of the pool and enjoyed having his sister in the pool with him (quite a challenge to have two non-swimmers want to be in the pool at the same time...but thankful for lots of help!).

Palm Desert - Daddy Arrived!

After a week without Kyle, we all were excited to have him come down.  We packed as much as we could into a long weekend.  What's the first thing Andy wanted to do with his dad?  GOLF! 

Palm Desert - Siblings

One of my favorite times to take pictures is when the afternoon sun is low and behind us.  It's almost as if the kids are glowing from the sun.  Most afternoons we played in the grassy arroyo in front of my parent's house and enjoyed the warm sunshine.  I captured a mellow Katie and Andy coming in and out as he took breaks from playing.

Palm Desert - My kind of golf

This was often the scene in front of the house in the afternoons.  It was hot, so the only way to play golf was to strip down and cool off with the hose in between shots : )

Palm Desert - meanwhile, back at home

Since Katie is not mobile, she did a lot of observing, sitting, and eating.  It was fun to get her dressed in more girly clothes that she could wear in warmer weather.  Katie still loves her mum-mums and I still am amazed at her ability to eat.  I guess it's mostly shocking since Andy is not an eater - but she eats more than her brother!

Devouring her first mac n cheese

Palm Desert - On the course with Bapa

Here are some pictures from Bapa and Andy golfing out on the course - I couldn't stop snapping pictures as there were so many fun moments.

Big Drive

He would then plop his ball next to Bapa's drive and hit from there

I love how he was just tagging along behind Bapa

Bapa showing him how it's done

One of twenty-some putts

Andy showing Bapa where the hole is

IN THE HOLE

Buddies

Taking a little break to watch Bapa

Reading the green

Off to the next hole...

Palm Desert - Golf

As mentioned in a previous post, Palm Desert was again a special trip.  It is so fun to see the kids grow and learn in so many ways after they spend countless hours outside playing and discovering.  After this winter and spring and the awful weather we have had, it's the first time in my entire life that I have contemplated moving to a sunnier location.  I LOVE Seattle - the water, the mountains, the people...but this winter has been gloomy and I am ready for some sunshine in Seattle.

Okay, back to Palm Desert.  One of my favorite memories of Palm Desert this year is Andy's obsession with golfing.  This trip he actually was able to go out on the golf course with Bapa and play a couple of holes.  It melted my heart to see him mimic Bapa's every move and see how excited he got when he made contact with the ball.  He even wanted to sleep with the golf hat that Bapa gave him as well as the green tee that he found.  Andy also is a very encouraging golf partner.  EVERY time you hit the ball he yells - NICE SHOT!  or IN THE HOLE!  He likes to yell out to random players as they tee off in front of my parent's house.  He even compliments his own shots : )  To set the record straight - Andy loves golf - but he is 2 1/2...so we are encouraging his excitement, loving playing with him, but not so worried about his backwards grip, that he can't decide if he is a lefty or a righty (even with a right hand club), and that he putts so softly that it takes about 20 shots to move 10 feet.

Catching Up...again

It's crazy how quickly time passes and I feel as though I always am "catching up" on this blog.  The truth is that I have spent many, many, many hours in front of a computer over the last 10 years.  Now that it's not part of my job title - I tend to go days without opening my computer.  I love my blackberry for that very reason.  So although I take pictures and often think - "that would be good to capture on the blog," I struggle to actually get to it.  Since this blog is for capturing the kids and creating a book that they (and I) will be able to look back on...I need to get better.  So, here goes the catch-up:  Palm Desert, Easter, my birthday, and Mother's Day.