Sisters Reunion

In celebration of my oldest sister's 40th birthday, we decided to have a (kid free!) sisters reunion at her place in Gilbert, Arizona. She lives in a charming neighborhood, across the street from a fruit orchard, a cupcake bakery, a farm that grows vegetables for the neighboring restaurant (more on that later), and parks and other darling houses. I still can't believe it is a real place where real people live. The best part of the whole trip (besides 3 nights in a row of uninterrupted sleep) was being together as our own little family of origin again! All the kids, plus parents were there, plus my Grandma Lamb. We had some great family time, and even spent time finding an old house of one of our ancestors, as well as his gravestone. My grandma was full of amazing stories, most I'd never heard before. We partied hard (in the form of shopping, eating, movie watching, and visiting the family history center) and before I knew it, the weekend was over. 

At the orchard near Angie's house.

Me and Gma Lamb.

Orange picking. 

This restaurant is literally a 2 minute walk from my sister's house. We ate the most delicious meal here, with produce grown right there on the farm. It's so delicious it was even on this show... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhmGyyEHlTg

At a nearby nature preserve. These guys were so big, they each had their own personalities.

Three of the four of us.

Joe's Farm Grill. I had the burger, and yes... it is that good.

In front of the house of Benjamin Franklin Johnson, an old pioneer ancestor of ours. My grandma's father was born in this house.

Just some oranges... they grow everywhere and smell crazy good.

Sisters!

Orange picking.

Back to the nature preserve.

Kate is One

Our sweet baby girl turned one on March 10th. We had a low key, but very happy day, starting with birthday morning and breakfast. Then we got to enjoy someone else's birthday party, long naps, playing outside, family pizza/dance party, Cakery cupcakes and presents. Owen was a little disappointed that she didn't wake up on her birthday knowing how to walk and talk, and kept trying to encourage her "Kate, walk by yourself now... you're one!"

Birthday morning... she's taking it all in!

This girl could swing ALL day.

Telling me what she wants...

Climbing trees

Up in the tree!

She slowly and steadily opened the presents. Her slow pace almost drove Owen crazy.

Cakery cupcake!

She made her way through fairly daintily... only a light coating of frosting across her belly and in her hair.

The next day at the big family dinner, we had her cake and she opened some more presents. Here she is in her birthday crown and new kicks.

Playing Catch-Up

It seems so long ago now... in January we spent one heavenly week on the beach in Akumal, Mexico. We met up with some others from my family and rented a house right on the beach. Casa Palapa was pure bliss. Our windows all faced the ocean, we could hear the waves while we slept, there were hammocks, sea kayaks, tidal pools, sand castles, hermit crabs, and our own little powder white, sandy beach. We spent our days visiting ruins, playing in the ocean, snorkeling with sea turtles, catching creatures, visiting tourist shops, eating glorious (and cheap) fresh produce, flying kites, and enjoying good company. 

In no particular order...

Some beach time, right in front of our casa.

 Playing at Muyil Ruins

Climbing Muyil Ruins.

I'm totally jealous of Owen's awesome beach hair. 

Kite flying in front of our casa.

The lovely Tulum ruins and beach. Stunning.

Our Casa Palapa

The view to our right

And the view to the left...

One happy little pirate

Snorkeling with sea turtles at Akumal Beach. 

Tide pools

Happy baby, eating sand and crawling out to sea.

Playing in the foot bath along with some kind of floating seed we found in the ocean. Yes, gross. But she was so happy!

The kids went on a hermit crab hunt every night. Somehow we missed taking a picture when this pot was completely full. Then they would pour them all out at once for a mass crab exodus.

Our little "back yard"

Serious sombreros in Playa del Carmen.

Night walk/visit to the tide pools. 

The nearby tide pools provided all of us with hours of entertainment. We made this habitat for all the tiny creatures that we found. Every time we'd visit the pools, we'd return our  previously captured animals to the wild, and collect new ones for a few hours. It was interesting to watch them mill about in there. 

Group Photo