My friends are wonderful. All of them. But recently, my best girlfriends in the world have visited me to find solace, and connection for themselves and their lives. What's wonderfully amazing is how much it did for me. I'm so thankful for the truth of deep friendship. So grateful to watch my daughter fall in love with Rachel's daughter as we did each other so many years ago. They've already talked on the phone. . . not nearly as long as Rachel and I can manage to stay talking, but someday, I'm sure they will.
We had planned to take a hike in the Mt. Hood forest area yesterday, but due to a big ol' fire, we decided against it because of smoke concerns. That left us with a beautiful day with nothing to do but chores (blech) and knowing that summer is coming to an end, we knew we had to do something. So, we got the idea to go to the coast for a few hours. When I asked Dalia if she wanted to go to the coast she looked at me like, "who are you and where's my Mommy?" She actually said, "No, it's too far." And when I said, "No, no, let's do it. Won't it be fun?" she said, "You're just joking." Eventually I convinced her I hadn't gone out of my mind and that Mommy and Daddy could be spontaneous sometimes and she got excited with us and jumped up and down and started collecting all the things she wanted to bring. It was hard for her to wrap her head around the fact we wouldn't be staying down there, but eventually she understood and had no problem making the most out of our afternoon at the beautiful Oregon coast.
Eloise was equally thrilled about the fun outing, sleeping as she needed to and discovering the sand and surf. She's so mellow, it's just crazy. At one point a man behind me said, "Isn't that age great, when the just sit there and enjoy what's going on around them." I told him, yes, but that my first daughter never did that. She just made a mad dash on hands and knees to the waves when she was this age. He looked out at the ocean and said, "is that your daughter out there?" I looked out and, sure enough saw Dalia running into the waves, her dad a close clip behind.
On the way home Dalia asked if we were in a rainforest and we were able to confidently tell her that out of the 365 days a year, we were pretty lucky to be driving through there without any rain. It was an amazing warm and sunny day that we are thankful we took advantage of. Dalia exclaimed a little later, "we are so lucky to have got to go to the coast today." It was the first thing she talked about this morning, too.
We went to the Sellwood pool today for the last day of the season (our wonderful dear friends Rachel and Adele are here). It was a blast (totally crazy) and tomorrow we're hoping to try and take that hike afterall. We're trying to make the most out of our last days of summer. We seem to be doing a good job.
I hope we'll take this as a testament to doing things spontaneously more often.
Dalia and Eloise love their Uncles and Aunties! We had a super great visit with Jim and Ali a couple of weeks ago. I'm super late even downloading photos. 
Frankly, I'm SO tired. With one child who won't sleep in the day and another who likes to be up at night, I dare say I'm a walking zombie, currently. Even still, I'm amazed daily at how pleasurable life feels (most of the time). I keep marveling at how grounded and present Eloise keeps me. Though recently it seems I can't stop thinking about choices for Dalia. At almost four she's ready but not quite ready for the big world, for independence, for responsibility.
Okay, all this rambling is just a window into what's going on in the borders of all these pictures and videos. Life is a dynamic reality, happy, frustrating, rewarding, difficult. Yesterday was my birthday. I got a card from my mom that brought tears to my eyes because the sentiment was exactly what I would say about my daughters - she said I've "been the light of her life for 36 years." How could I ever have lived without the kind of love I get from my girls? Oh, yeah, I got it from my mom.
I hope the rest of you can see that Eloise is having no problem holding her own with Dalia.
Many of you know Dalia's lovey, Kitty Kitty. Well, on the way home from the coast Dalia planned his upcoming birthday party (apparently he's/she's six already). She'd made a birthday card for him a couple months ago and left it sitting on a table. The day after we got home I blew up a bunch of balloons and hung them up. She got the hats. I sang to him. Then I went about my cleaning up from the trip. I found her opening his card and a gift she'd put together for him with him sitting on her lap. It was heartbreakingly sweet. She posed for a picture with him (a rarity these days to get her to smile for the camera). Well, happy birthday Kitty Kitty! I'll never forget our trip through IKEA all those years ago while Dalia squealed and squeezed you tight. She's loved you best ever since. She bathes you, sings to you, asks you how you are, clutches you tight all night long. Please don't fall apart. Please.
Though it mostly rained or was cold and windy, we managed to find a little bit of peace and fun at the Oregon Coast last week. Gigi came with us, which was a treat, especially for Dalia who loves her so much. We did manage to get a little sun, but even still, Dalia and Mark (and sometimes the rest of us) braved the elements to enjoy the sand and surf. Thanks to our good friend, we also got to land in an absolutely beautiful house, such a retreat. Also, we visited to strange and wonderful coast must sees, Tillamook Cheese Factory and the Seaside Aquarium. We're thankful for the quiet time together.
One good thing about inclement weather - Kites!
Gigi relaxin'
Dalia is a true Oregonian. Played in the sand with Dad until soaking wet. Gigi, Eloise and I sat at home watching the rain come down in sheets from the windows. Apparently, it was Dalia who finally said, "let's go home."
Shouldn't we all be this happy to be alive?
Dalia and Gigi
My big girl playin' in the sand.
Asleep with the most incredible backdrop. We were lucky to get one beautiful day.
Eloise was completely jealous of Dalia's ice cream cone. I did give her just a teeny taste. Her first...of many I'm sure.
Our front yard. So serene.
Seriously, could she get any happier?
