Ocean Shores Beach Trip

We finally made it to the beach! And this time we traveled to a place we have never been before. We love going to new places. We drove to Ocean Shores which is on a peninsula with the Washington Pacific Ocean on one side and Grays Harbor on the other. On the last day we were there, we drove around the harbor to Westport and spent the day there. It was very windy and cold in Ocean Shores, while the weather and wind were much milder in Westport. We had a great time exploring new surroundings, playing on the beach and in the water, the kids enjoyed swimming in the pool at our hotel, we learned a lot about old whale skeletons at an outdoor museum, Armando gambled at the local casino, we played games at an arcade, at too much junk food, shopped at little stores, Esperanza fell in love with sea lions at the fishing boat docks at Westport and everyone found neat treasures while beach combing. The kids both napped on the way back home and when they woke up we stopped at the Tulip Festival (after-hours).

Hair Cut Day

Both kids wanted hair cuts. I've completely changed my preference on long hair with the kids. It's way too much work. We brush Esperanza's hair maybe once a week, and it's a horrible task. Ezra's hair, though now long enough to finally tuck behind his ears or pull back in a pony tail, still gets food and snot and other yucky stuff stuck in it on a regular basis. He despises hair brushings just as much as Esperanza. So, when they both said they wanted hair cuts, I was eager to get it done. 

Then, Ezra backed out.

And Esperanza broke out in tears a second after her hair was cut off. 

So, I guess we're stuck with crusty long hair on Ezra, and an unhappy short haired girl. By the end of the day, Esperanza was beginning to get used to it, and maybe even like it a little.

Peek-A-Boo Ezra

Dancing In Heaven

It is with a heavy heart that I share that George has passed. While his will to live never faltered, his body did. He will forever be in our hearts, and never far from our thoughts. 

The Dress That Keeps on Spinning

Eva had this outfit specially made and bought in Mexico as a gift for Esperanza when she was 6 months old. She started wearing it when she was about 2. Now, even at almost 6 years old, it still fits and she loves it. She only wears it every now and then, and usually just when she wants to dance and spin to music (Shakira usually when it comes to this dress). The top is starting to get tight, but the skirt will likely grow with her for a few more years.

Messy Room

This is what the kids' room looks like today. It's messy. Esperanza owns way too many stuffed animals.

Sprinkles and Pearl

We adopted two older female pet rats from an un-schooler family that was moving and needed to re-home them. Esperanza has wanted another cat, but since Lucy is so territorial, I talked her into getting rats instead. Ezra named her rat Sprinkles and Esperanza named hers Elsa, then Pearl. I think she settled on Pearl. Pearl is really old and sick I think. She walks with her head tilted to one side and seems a little 'challenged' mentally and/or neurologically at times. They came with a big, nice cage. The kids and I love them.