Well I used to aim to write once a week, but now it looks like I am going for once a season! We had a terrific summer. We spent it in Santa Barbara and up the California coast which was a good way to avoid the 99 degree weather in DC. I was so happy to see how much my kids loved Santa Barbara. I put them in a camp run by my 5th grade teacher at my old elementary school! how cool is that?! Charlie LOVED it. He begged and begged to go a 2nd week which was a logistical challenge for us, but worth it given how much he loved it. I think it helped that he had a crush on one of the counselors in training....Diego liked zoo camp more and then they both loved skateboard camp. What's not to love about that?
After camp we'd head to the beach where they'd play for hours and not get bored. And then seemed to carry the beach home everyday in our car. My poor mom tried to vacuum the mess but it would reappear the next day. Diego especially loved the beach. He never seemed to get bored of digging in the sand or bouncing in the waves. We did have to invest in wetsuits though because we are total water wimps. I let Diego boogie board even though he isn't a great swimmer and I think he got a little scared from getting tumbled too many times so he just liked to float on the board through the waves.
I loved it because I got to reconnect with old friends and simply enjoy the beautiful view. Spending time with Caroline and her girl Eloise were a highlight for me. I love the idea of our girls being friends.
The view from our house was great - Amazing what a view does for my mood. My mom was faced with the challenge of watching Sofia while the kids were in camp so she experience the full Fia Factor. Sofia is a force of nature and not one that I've been able to harness in a positive way (yet). I tried to put Sofia in zoo camp but she refused - all out screaming, flopping on the pavement, etc. Everyone loved Fiesta and we carried back extra eggs to break over people's head at some point this year....
The other fun factor was that Carlos planned a major surprise for my birthday. I had been hoping to see a bunch of people I care about but never get to see sometime during my 40th year of life and he convinced many of them to come for the weekend. He is a terrible planner, but he sure surprised me.
After SB we headed to Yosemite for some hiking and a family camp setting with the Nicolettis and then to SF for Stephanie's amazing wedding. I love weddings and I love hearing people's toasts. Stephanie's mom's toast had me in tears (in a good way!). Now we're facing the start of school and - as usual - are not totally prepared. In fact Sofia is totally refusing to go to school. Anytime I mention the idea she screams her ear-piercing, high-pitched scream and shuts down the topic. I don't know how I'm going to get her out the door and 2 blocks up the road
