A full weekend.

Saturday: Ocean.

Sunday: Pleau-Sorbello-Armstrong family picnic.

Monday: Not our favorite day of the week.


Commandment #11: Thou shalt stop at Krispy Kreme on the way to the ocean. The original glazed donuts were steaming hot, and we could've eaten a few dozen. Our tummies thanked us that we didn't.


We wanted to get a cute, smiley picture of Luke with the Krispy Kreme hat on his head, but he was being really cranky (noooo, not him) and kept whining and taking it off. (Although he is smileless, we do love pictures where his little chin dimple shows up.)


Sometimes (okay, usually) Luke wants "up" not for affection, but just to get a better view of the action. At such a shrimpy height it must be easy to feel left out. I mean, handing money to the Krispy Kreme lady--now that is some intense action to be a part of.


With a little work by Mom and a little screaming by Luke, Luke finally crashed on our way there. It was nearly lunchtime already, so we added In N Out burgers and fries to the donuts in our stomachs and ate in a parking lot while he slept in the car.


With a refreshed boy and full tummies, we made it to the ocean.




We point one way, Luke looks another.




It took us a long time to get to the ocean because we had to stop at a surfboard shop in S.F. first. Luke went crazy in the store and wanted to pull all the boards down, scoot them all around, hop on top of all of them. He was in frantic-hyper mode. They were shiny, new, expensive, beautiful boards. It was a mother's nightmare. But he finally got to play with a board once we got to the beach: Richie's already scratched and dinged bored. Perfect. Doesn't he look like a natural?


We were so delighted to have Sarah along. She was hilarious. Hilarious. Hilarious. Like declaring matter-of-factly that cockroaches talk in Jewish. And pulling out the In N Out list of locations at 9:21 AM (never too early to start planning for lunch).


There are no poses quite like Sarah-poses.


A precious possession found by Lukey. (A rock.)


A precious possession loaned to Mommy. (A Lukey.)


Here Luke tells us about the waves. He told us that they go "boom!" with a swat down of the hand. Thank you, Luke, for the explanation.


Looking for Daddy. Luke was very sad when Richie went out to surf. He wouldn't take his eyes off the ocean, and kept calling for Daddy. He seemed really worried. So Bethany waved Richie in, and Richie spent a bit of time with Lukey on the shore before he went in again (salt-water kisses included). This time Luke wasn't scared, but he was still so fascinated and didn't really play in the sand; he just watched for his Daddy.


The family of four. :)


We dropped Sarah back off, but of course had to stay a while, eat dinner (ahh), and play. "Look at me!"


No hands!


Grammy has reported that Luke is getting dangerous. He has a sudden fetish for climbing. This is a frightening toddler hobby.


Mower envy.


"If I can't push your mower, then I'll just yank the cord."


Parallel pushers.


And so ended Saturday.


Luke's Sunday-afternoon nap didn't seem to make him very happy.


Still trying to wake up.


Unrefreshed and cranky (that's our boy!), we hopped in the car and headed to Sac to meet up with the Sorbellos and Pleaus for a Land Park picnic. O the fun!


He really does know how to blow dandelions! If it doesn't work too well right away, though, he will swipe them all off or if he's really desperate, just stick the whole thing in his mouth.


Feeling clingy to Mom. Aunt Robin, Uncle Richard, Cousin Lisa, Cousin Dan: Are you all really that scary?


And he's off! (A realistic view of parenting a toddler. Just when you sit down to rest, you have to get up to go chase him again.)


Mohawk man!


The ladies chatted on the blanket while the men bocceed it up. Luke decided to feed his auntie potato chips (whether she wanted them or not).


Sarah and the men (just how she likes it).


Where's Shiloh?


The bocce game was made more challenging by a white-haired, red-faced, sweaty toddler who kept grabbing and throwing the balls. At the end of the day, no one did find that little white ball.


Full tummies, warm air, happy sunshine, soft blanket = tired men. (Plus Sarah, who can't get enough of her dad and uncle.)


Cousin Dan was thrilled at Luke's showing him a big, long stick. Ooo.


Dancing on drains, one of Luke's favorite hobbies, has now expanded to dancing on anything neat.




And a final message from Luke for anyone who made it this far: This is a picture of him saying "La loo!" (His way of saying "I love you," which involves a very sticky-outy tongue.) La loo, indeed.