More from Davis.

Luke's talking is just the cutest thing. He sees mugs and asks for "Ta!" (tea). (He cannot say the EE sound yet.) He constantly surprises us with new words that make us laugh: Yesterday he shouted "Cap!" when playing with the lawn mower, because the gas cap had fallen off. Richie laughed and asked Bethany, "When did he learn THAT word???"


We do have a bookworm on our hands. Still. Luke has outgrown many stages, but he has not outgrown his love for books. Here, he connives Auntie Susan into reading him his "ABC Faces" book yet another time.


With Susan, Emma, and Maya visiting all week, we had even more Canadians come Friday (Mom and Mandie), and then Chrissie on Saturday! Here's the whole clan outside of the lovely Davis Econolodge.


Bored of waiting for all the ladies, Richie and Luke wait in Grandma's car... and discover the sunroof! Luke now calls Grandma (Richie's mom) "Ya Ya"!


Sunday morning, Patti, Chrissie, and Mandie left for their own little trip to S.F. to shop while the rest of us went about 30 minutes further to go to the ocean. As usual, Luke was in heaven. (Though it was COLD! The cousins got a kick out of Luke's "beach clothes"--not what you typically imagine when thinking of a California beach. We love it.)


Richie gives Emma a surf lesson.


Luke gets jealous and wants a lesson, too.


"Maybe I still can't surf, but I can trot across Emma's board with my shovel! Does that count for anything?"


Examining his decorated hands.


And surfing again.


Daddykisses!


We were very proud of Emma and Aunt Susan, who spent two hours in the frigid water getting pummeled by the waves. They did great! Susan bodyboarded and got wave after wave; Emma had her rented longboard, and by the end really got the hang of standing up. She caught at least a couple really good ones!


Meanwhile, Richie and Luke played wildly with seaweed while Bethany lounged and Maya read "Harry Potter."


Our little seaweed boy.


Back home Sunday night, we had to bid farewell to Auntie Susan, Emma, and Maya; and we really didn't want to. They were so fun to have around!!! Luke absolutely loved them, and did plenty of showing off. He was very happy holding their hands as they trotted him off to the playground, and didn't even care if Mom was around. They gave him a goodbye gift: "Brown Bear, Brown Bear." A book sadly missing from his personal library! He is really enjoying the Eric Carle books lately. Though his two absolute favorites: "The Napping House" and "Caps for Sale." He sits through the whole books and then says, "More!" He also has rediscovered two books that Ya Ya brought him, which we left in Canada when he was only 10 months old: "Busy, Busy Toddlers" and "Hugs and Kisses." He can't get enough of them. Do they bring back fond memories of his childhood?


Jumping on the couch to tell Maya "Ny ny."


And Monday, normal life resumed...