Picture day

On Tuesday morning, before we headed back to DC, we stopped by Cal Lutheran University to have an updated family portrait. The photographer was a bit late, so we had time to take some of our own pictures. In no particular order:

Lily in the shadow of "The Enormous Luther" (that's really what it's called).

I'm not sure the tree appreciated our presence.

Grumpy McGrumpleby and her sister.

I'm sure Amalia was apologizing for doing something dastardly to Lily. She's an experienced hugger.

After the photo shoot, we went home for lunch and a quick swim before heading to the airport. Our flight back to DC was without incident -- aside from both girls staying awake the entire time. We landed around midnight and were all pretty much useless the next day. A wonderful visit all around. Makes me again wonder why we live so far away...

Magic kingdom

On Monday, Andy, Lily and I had a lovely time at Disneyland. Below are a bunch of pictures of Lily smiling, which pretty much captures the day.

OK, so on this one she's more grimacing than smiling. The teacup wheel is surprisingly hard to turn.

Here we're on the Storybook ride, heading into the mouth of the whale that swallowed Gepetto and Pinocchio.

Andy was enamored with the landscaping -- that's a patchwork of succulents on the side of the hill.

He also stalked a real live bird that was strolling through the storybook villages.

I was grateful numerous times throughout the day that we'd decided to let Amalia have a fun day with Grandma at home. I am told that they, too, had a lovely time.

Alumnae and animals

The California weather must have agreed with Amalia. She woke up Sunday morning quite refreshed, if you can call it that.

Sunday was the alumnae family picnic at La Reina. Pictured above are about a dozen of the 81 girls in our graduating class.Note that none of us chose to wear our plaid skirts.

Dearest Mrs. Potts, affectionately referred to as Beep by Amy and me. High school English teacher and phenomenal mentor. She was like a rock star at our alumnae dinner on Saturday night. She was the only faculty who showed up and everyone flocked to her like moths to a flame. An amazing woman.

Amy and me with Mrs. Adams. She was Ms. Joyce when she was my freshman English teacher and JV volleyball coach.

Mr. Hirsch. He's mostly known as La Reina's assistant principal, but he was also my JV softball and varsity volleyball coach and pre-calc, calculus, and driver's ed teacher. One of my funniest memories of him was watching him folding up his long frame and hopping into his little Datsun 280-Z to show us how to pop the clutch.

After the picnic we headed over to the house Amy grew up in. Lily bravely fed Jason some carrots. Amalia politely demurred.

Their new precious puppy Penelope.

Amalia got a kick out of Silvie and Penelope.

Surf and turf

I know you all have been yearning for some pictures from our trip to SoCal last weekend. There are a lot so I'll break them up by day. First: Saturday.

Amalia decided that the truck flower pot made a nice seat.

While Andy headed off to join friends to watch Stanford trounce the hapless Bruins, my mother and I took the girls to the beach.

Beach blanket bingo.

The girls take their sand seriously.

Chillaxin'.

Grandma and Lily. They didn't make it to China.

At some point, you get tired of saying, "Don't eat that!"

The sensible one.

Watching longboarders.

Back at home enjoying a swim. Well, some of us.

My high school reunion dinner was also Saturday night, but I didn't take any pictures of that. I had my camera -- I think I just got caught up in too much great conversation.

Dinner conversation

Last night at dinner we were talking about our upcoming trip to California, which naturally turned to Lily's mentioning the fact that she got sick the last time she was on a plane.


Which of course led to more vomit reminiscing.


Then Amalia needed more cheese.


And the big finish with Mary Poppins.

French lesson

I know I have to be careful as I often hear Lily using my disciplinary phrases with Amalia. Overheard tonight when Lily was getting frustrated with Amalia for not doing something or other:

Lily: Do you understand me, Amalia. Am I speaking French?

Amalia: Yes!

Lily: No, I'm speaking English. You understand the words I'm saying.

Andy: Amalia should have said "Oui, oui!"

Amalia: Wee, wee!

A good walk not ruined

After a hearty diner breakfast to give us energy, the family decided to go for a hike on the C&O Canal.

Bridge over troubled waters (aka, The Potomac).



"Run, Daddy, run!"

Throwing stones (good thing our house is made of bricks).

The careful selection process.

I have no idea what Lily was saying here, but I love the joy on her face.

Always time for a pose.

Lily and I also took another trip to The Kennedy Center for the Page to Stage festival. Here she is with the venue's namesake.

Weird, red pointy things out front. They're much more striking in person.