Yeah!

Conversations around the house these days sound like this...
Me: Abby does it take mommy a really long time to update the blog?
Abby: Yeah!
Me: Do you think it's about time I post about your really fun day at the aquarium?
Abby: Yeah!
Me: Did you have fun spending time with Pop Pop?
Abby: Yeah!
Me: Do you want to go swimming with the sharks?
Abby: Yeah!

Seriously....every answer to your question is a "Yeah!" And it's the cutest sound - not just like we say when we're talking with someone. She sounds certain of her answer to you! The sad part is that since we've noticed this in Abby, Robbie has been pointing out where she got it from; I say it all the time too. Obviously, when I say it, it's totally casual and not very cute ;)

But seriously, I've taken too long getting this post up about our great time with Robbie's grandpa a couple weekends ago. Their family began having Abby refer to Robbie's grandpa as Pop Pop and since that was simple enough, she got a hang of it really quickly!

We went to the Birch Aquarium and Abby was fascinated with all the fish and I'm sure her jaw got tired after all the fish faces she was making.

Pop Pop and Abby in a shark cage!

We found Nemo!

And Dorie!

Knuckles were a big hit with Pop Pop. Abigail is now going through her shy stage and at first introductions she cowers behind mommy or daddy. So on the first day of getting together with Pop Pop, Robbie had Abby go give him knuckles and from then on it was picture perfect. If Pop Pop couldn't get kisses from her, he was sure to get knuckles (not sure that's a fair trade in my opinion, but it worked for Pop Pop).

Me: Abby, do you love Pop Pop?

Abby: Yeah!

(**PS - You can read Andy's really sweet post about his time with his grandpa here)

Avoiding good byes...

I think we've mastered it! We have been avoiding good byes all weekend long. We haven't wanted to accept the fact that we're going to have to say good bye to two of our dearest couples in our HomeGroup. Brad and Cassia are leaving for Chicago for Brad to go into art school, and Brandon and Crystal are leaving for DC as Brandon has been transferred in the military. We are so sad to see this huge void happening in our group!!

Even more so, we are truly going to miss little Austin - one of Abby's dearest friends!! She even said his name this weekend - well...sort of :) She has been so fortunate to get to know Austin, play with him, steal his pacifiers, as well as steal time away from his mom as Crystal watched her during the week while I was at work. I can't believe how quickly we have made friends, and then how quickly we've had to say good bye to them. But like I said, this weekend we avoided it.

On Saturday, Brad and Cassia hosted a pool party and everyone had a blast! Their pool was really neat because it had a gradual entry for wading into the pool. It was perfect for the kids to splash around!

Then on Sunday after church, we all got together again at the winery where Cassia used to work. Orfila Vineyards in Escondido was absolutely beautiful for our afternoon of friends. We had a great time trying to prolong the inevitable.

We still haven't said our official good byes - but I know I'm going to have to eventually. I'm enjoying avoiding them because it means that I still get to see them! So until then.....no good bye yet!

**Also, another of our friends, Jon, puts really great words to what we all are feeling right now. You can read it here.

Sand in our eyes

Ok, it's taken me a long time to get this one up...sorry about that! Last weekend we took Abby to the beach for the first time (I know, we're Californians and that's the first time she's been to the beach?!)...anyway...the girl can not stand sand!!!! Literally. She hated the sand so much and didn't want anything to do with it. The farther we lowered her to the sand, the higher her legs went up. It's was so hilarious - kind of frustrating - but funny! We finally were able to get her to play with the sand and water if she knew that she was sitting on the towel. She actually loved the water and kept licking her lips after the water was on her face. I only have a couple pics, but I need to edit the video that we took and I'll add that on later...