Cienna was the instant winner this week. She was the recipient of this cute skirt made by Sandra Moultrie. We went out this morning to Target to accesorize. She got a new T-shirt and red shoes to go with the outfit. She is spinning around even now and walking in front of the floor fan to see her skirt swirl! She realizes that my sewing projects have once again been added to because I will have to make skirts for Majel, Haven, and Madison. Ethan is wondering what I will sew for him.... Thanks to Sandra for a darling outfit and the instructions as well!!

Knitting Kneedles.....

Here are two of my grand daughters (the Twins) posing in the sweaters that I knitted for them. I will need to get the picture of Cienna in her pink sweater with Maddy in her matching pink sweater. When I made Maddy's I did the neck a bit to snug. I'm getting better as I go along. I am so pleased to see them wearing the sweaters. I finished them just in time for the hot weather. OK, my urges know no seasons! I also made two for Amy's children and one for Allie's child. I'm hoping to get a picture or two from them. I told Amy to take the boys to the ice rink so that they could get some wear out of the sweaters before outgrowing them!!!

Learning to upload pictures!

This is sweet Caleb before his surgery. What a brave kiddo!

It could happen to you

I went up to visit Emily with the cousins overnight, we had some fun. This is the result.

You can do one for yourself at www.maykay.com/estovall for free! Lucky you!

The Tide Pool Beach

Yesterday we loaded up and went to the beach south of Pescadero Beach, Papa's beach. Papa looked at the computer to see what the weather and waves would be like and came to us to report that it would be warm and relatively low tide. BUT....when we got there, it was a little higher than we expected and also it was definitely jacket weather. Still we had a great time hunting shells and little animals in the tide pools. I stayed on shore and hunted shells with Ethan most of the time while the girls went exploring with Papa. Gene and Quynh also explored. Quynh caught a crab about three inches across and let the kids see it up close. She also caught a very small crab, smaller than a penny, and let it go. She wasn't afraid to just grab them. The larger one caught her finger in it's pinchers!
After the beach we headed down to our favorite pizza place in Santa Cruz. I sat down and immediately wished that all of us could have been there together. We missed you!
The rest of the afternoon and early evening we were in our backyard. The little ones swam the longest, with Adam and Ann doing a few laps and me getting in the hot tub for a short time.
Papa and I were bushed at the close of the day!

Zoo

Took the kids to the San Francisco Zoo the day after Annie and Adam came to visit from North Carolina. We decided to go before all the 4th of July crowds began. It was a beautiful day for the Zoo. We started out in the Africa exhibit and made our way to the hippo area, where we stopped and ate lunch. I brought my usual peanut butter and jam, but Aunt Quynh brought egg salad sandwiches! We were all jealous! She shared with us and we were truly grateful. The hippo exhibit is still under construction and we don't know where they were able to hide the hippos! We rode the train, which is becoming a very seldom done activity since the price is outrageous for two tiny circles on the track. Em, Quynh and I sat out this activity. The kids loved it! We saw only the legs of the cassowary though. He was way in the back of his enclosure. I think that the favorite thing at the zoo is the playground, which begs the question, "Would the kids be just as happy at Serra Park?"

Next to the childrens zoo for the nature trail. We cut this short as the adults had had it and just wanted to go home to rest. The cousins were still wanting to see the farm animals.....