Backyardigans

Early summer vibes, and the girls are in deep, already!! I LOVE IT!!

Just don’t ask the lifeguard to follow suit (Dad, what do you think of that “follow suit?” Pun hall of fame, or what?!).

75% of them anyway.

At least this time one of the girls dressed her for the part…

But until one of the two reluctant adults braves the water with her, she’s on standby.

Looking absolutely adorable, if at the risk of peeing on the patio furniture.

Satisfied with the occasional visitor,

the heirloom water table triumphantly restored to patio residence (once she figured out what it was for),

and a steady stream of food.

Hard to keep up with demand around here!

The recent weekends hosting are a great precursor to the summer ahead. We are planning another exciting family road trip, but the bulk of the summer will center around the beach, pool and table.

The girls are making connections with schoolmates in our neighborhood as well, so the house is starting to have a hilarious Spanglish tilt… except when it comes to the homework. Fluency escapes some of us.

Jane is just starting to read Spanish fiction books, while Rose pretends to so she can fill out her reading log. I don’t sweat it because she is always absorbed in a book. This year she read the entire Harry Potter series! She didn’t have Jane’s patience for read-aloud with Ken and ended up devouring a book a week.

Gives us hope for Cate, who, like the Rose of old, prefers pictures to words.

The Absorbed-in-a-Book Club does present some irritating challenges. Like getting ready for school, and checking in with the “babysitters” watching Lucy during parent-teacher conferences… “How are things going? Diaper check went okay? The baby head first on the slide isn’t your sister?”

Which brings us back to the future fish out of water. Lucy is more in the mix than out, like never before!

Thanks to the love and attention heaped upon her wherever the sunny days, and her stylists,

take her.