Different beach, different water...

I saw the biggest waves I've ever seen in person at a beach today. The waves were curling! A big, fat wave would start building out in the water and as it reached full momentum and a crazy height one end would curl over the top of the water sending the crest of the wave over itself making a tunnel of water. If we wave came in at an angle (and I was looking at the right time) I could see down the curl of the wave. It was intense. It was also freezing. The wind kicked up and the sky was covered with fog. Undaunted, Lorien and Wyatt bolted for the water. The size of the waves had me freaked out so I spent our time at the beach with my eyes glued to my children praying they wouldn't get swept out to China.

Ignoring the chill wet in the air the kids enjoyed all of their favorite beach activities. Wyatt and Clare built some small sand castles. Wyatt collected shells, rocks, seaweed and bird feathers (gross!). Lorien stayed at the waters edge all afternoon running up and down the shore with the waves. All three were buried in the sand.

Not always a Princess...

some times she is a Robot.

Memory Lane...

Too long ago to believe Will and I looked like this:

We were exceedingly young and I was exceedingly pregnant.

I had crazy long hair.

We had a perfect baby girl and she got a little older.

And a little bit older, so we had another perfect baby--a boy this time.

Then he had the audacity to grow older--and older.

So we had another baby--another girl even.

Do you know what she did? Yep, she grew up some too--but we didn't mind.

We just let her grow...and waited...and thought...and talked...and let all the kids just grow...

But we are pregnant...again...I cannot wait to see how this next little person will grow and how our family will change with the new addition.

Henry Cowell Woods...

We took a drive south today to hike around Henry Cowell State Park. This is where Will came with the kids when his family was in town for their reunion. If you live around here and have ever been up to the Muir Woods near San Fransisco you should check out Henry Cowell. For the same amount of drive time you get a family friendly hike and awe-inspiring views of giant redwoods with smaller crowds.

Will is the very best nature guide. While I hike around with my eyes glued to my feet to avoid tripping over them, he notices every thing from a tiny bug crawling along the path to the different shades of green in the foliage above. His enthusiasm for the world around make our hikes so much better.

Try not to be too jealous of how stinkin' adorable Clare looks in that picture right up there. Will has decided that all of our daughters will be locked in a high tower when they turn 12. We are going to need a lot of bricks...

A good portion of our hike was along a little river. Once we were all hiked out we stopped by the river and let the kids play in the water. Will took the big kids down stream to hunt for craw-dads while Clare and I stayed on the bank and played in the mud.

The craw-dads were too quick and cunning for capture today but Lorien found a fresh water clam. (Exciting stuff!) Oh, when we got to the river the kids asked if we brought their swim suits--nope! Lorien quickly stripped down to her panties and made her way into the cool water. Wyatt, however, stood paralyzed on the sand. When he was 3 I couldn't keep clothes on this boy. Now that he is 5 he has developed an astonishing sense of modesty. He could not imagine exposing his skivvied bum to his mother and sisters let alone the three strangers who were also at the river! It took a good 5 minutes of cajoling but the boy did take off his shorts and played the afternoon away in his underwear.

A moment of peace...

Thinking it would buy me an uninterrupted shower this morning, I set the kids up with a project. But after over hearing their lively discussion on marshmallow and toothpick engineering I had to stop and take a few pictures. My interest in their creations resulted in two interruptions to my shower but they were worth it.