Since our Poppa is enjoying his European travels, we’ve been able to do some fun stuff the past couple of weekends (as a break from construction). Last weekend we embarked on a Pirate Cruise – an affordable $7.00/person (free Lucy!), 25 minute boat ride in the Santa Barbara waters off of Stearns Wharf. The staff was dressed to the nines, and the boat is dressed up, and they play pirate music, etc. It was a gorgeous day, and since the summer tourists were gone, we had the only kids on the boat, so Max got to drive our boat a little bit. Today we went to the Santa Barbara Sandcastle Festival in the afternoon. Max’s favorite one was this giant ape/King Kong sculpture that the artist let him sit in for a picture. We had a yummy dinner together and some treats after – again all in fantastic weather. Yippee! 🙂 (back to the grindstone next week)

Pirate Family and Wench

Pirate Kids

Max captured by a big sand ape

“Puckermoni” – pepperoni (isn’t that the greatest! 🙂 “Cheese-it Mama Dad” – This is something Lucy says repeatedly when we ask her to pray. We think it means “thank you Jesus for Mom and Dad.”

Max’s first game was today. His team White Lightning beat the Fireballs 8-1. Max scored 2 goals early on. His coach this year really wants to keep the number of players on the field low, so he will play 3 players at a time. This will help the kids improve their skills, and prevents ‘beehive ball’. Other Max tidbits: – When I make Max oatmeal for breakfast, he likes to eat a few pinches of the uncooked oats. I like (and therefore buy) high pulp orange juice. Max told me today that he doesn’t like orange juice because it has oats in it. – Max’s Sunday School teacher is a young man around college age. Max has noticed the hairstyle and wants to emulate it. Here is a picture of when we allow Max to comb his own hair.

Well, that ‘girls are earlier’ thing is really true here. Lucy is just 2 yrs and 3 months and she’s already pretty much finished with potty training. As you’ll see pictured, we started about a month ago with the potty in the bathtub. The drumming was just to give her something fun to do! She was in the tub because she’d get so excited and confused if something was happening, that she would stand up – hence a very messy floor. She was usually happy to sit there for a long time, especially when given food, drink and entertainment. We were having successes upon wake-up and after nap, but that was it for awhile. Then last week – boom! – she got it and was able to hold it in until we got to the potty. Imagine a little girl yelling ‘Wait! Wait!’ like her mommy does as we run together to the bathroom. Since then she’s been VERY motivated by the little treats, and sometime goes over 10 times a day. We’ll have to work on control later, I’m sure. 🙂 But wowza – it’s been nice!

Enjoy.