A different sort of summer by the pool.

We've been very spoiled since moving to California. Our old apartment was in a gated community with a beautiful semi-shaded pool area overlooking a marina. And, for all the many reasons that we have to love our new place, we must admit that we miss that private pool. B has asked a couple of times if we can go back and visit.

When the hot weather first started to hit us, T went out and bought a $10 inflatable kiddie pool at Target. It has been a huge hit! The kids love splashing around in it and its pretty nice to sit on the camp chairs along side them and dip our feet in the cool water. Thankfully the landlords or previous tenants left a patio umbrella and stand, so we can have some shade and use the pool anytime of day.

Here are some photos from our first day with the pool.

of course we had to get goggles too

doing a silly, happy dance

sometimes you just want to play on the steps

there she goes, first one in the new pool!

it was a pleasant surprise for J after a hot bike ride home

Independence (from Diapers) Day

When we got the happy news that J would have four days off for the 4th this year it was immediately clear to us how we should spend it -- potty training! Well, we might not have both immediately agreed that this was the best way to spend our unexpected long holiday. But it was a small sacrifice in the grand scheme of things, and in the end we really did have much more to celebrate than we could have imagined.

We've been talking with C about potty training for some time now, and our major leverage was the fact that he has to be potty trained in order to start preschool in the fall as planned. To him, this was major incentive because he is so excited to go; to us, this was major incentive because we already paid his September tuition (non-refundable). Oh, and we don't want him to be disappointed by not being able to do something he's so excited about. Yeah, actually just switch those two around in your minds and pretend that's how our priorities worked out...thanks.

"Mama, me proud myself too!"

The three day method has worked so well with B, that we had no doubt at all that we would take this track with C as well (you can find the story of how B learned to wee in a pot instead of her pants here). The word on the parenting street is that boys are notoriously difficult to potty train, and we won't lie...we were worried about it. T felt like since we had hit the potty training jack pot with B (learning at 21 months) that we were probably going to have our work cut out for us with C...after all, what are the odds of having two easily potty trained children? Turns out that for us, the odds were most excellent indeed.

We started on Saturday morning and in the three "official" days, he only had about three accidents! He really got the concept from the start and he was more than ready for it. And in all honesty, we really can't stress enough that he was ready for it. It has been our experience that most of the success we have had as parents has really been because of our ability (or dumb luck) to strike while the proverbial iron is hot.

By the time the weekend was over he had filled the

page and gone through four sheets of stickers!

He has sort of become a nudist at home, one unforeseen side effect. But for now, since its much easier for him to take himself to the potty chair this way, we are fine with it. Besides, its summer and hot, he's really got it good right now. And he does love his Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Thomas the Engine undies, so there's never a fight getting him dressed to leave the house (thank goodness!). On the fifth day, we gave away the last of his diapers and there's no looking back. He's only had one accident at night so far, which we think is wonderful. We are officially over the baby phase in this house.

we also found some time to enjoy the sun and our kiddie pool

Gramma & Grampa & a lovely little park

While we were in Corvallis, J's parents were kind enough to drive down for a visit. The kids loved getting some time with their Gramma and Grampa, and we are so thankful to them for driving and to T's sister, Shelly, for inviting them to her home so we could see them even though our trip was so short.

Tay's Photobooth

We set up an impromptu "photobooth" at our niece Taylor's graduation party in Corvallis. We just sort of set up a backdrop of gold and black balloons, T set up her camera and tripod and we left an ottoman for people to sit on. The lighting wasn't the best so when T was taking the photos she recruited an assistant from among the friends and family gathered to hold a white poster board above her head so she could bounce and diffuse her flash. But since the set up was left for everyone to use as they pleased there is a big variance among the photos. T got creative in the editing process to try to get more cohesion to the series. But really she's the only one with any sort of problem, everyone else was completely pleased with the idea and the outcome.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Cousin "Gant," C, and Auntie Jessica

mother-daughter moment: Cousin Tay & Aunt Shelly

proud dad & high school graduate/proud OSU alum & future graduate

Nana & Tay

two of our beautiful nieces: Hayley & Taylor, all grown up! *Tear*

silly B and Cousin Taylor

she says she was confused in this one, she looks cute when she's confused

Uncle Dusty busting in on B's photobooth moment

Auntie Jessica showing off her winnings from the family poker game