Arms Up!

Our first successful attempt at catching Marco giggling on film. Hee hee!

Mr. Mom takes Ventura... blogging from Poseidon.

I've been on a blogger vacation and a momma vacation. Day four of my back-to-work duty, I headed off to a four-day conference in Newport Beach. I couldn't miss it since I'm on the board of directors and let's be honest... what a great transition back to work. Jeff Mr. Mommed for the week and he was stellar.

We were hoping to get out to the Channel Islands this Memorial Day weekend to take Marco for his first Island trip, but the weather doesn't seem to be cooperating, so we're docked locked. I mean, Marco is rocking every fish and nautical-themed outfit and toy he has - and yet, no sun. Where the heck are the Beatles when you need them? Doo doo doo doo... We were forced to entertain ourselves with wine tasting, an awesome baby and food, food and food.

Linda and Jeff dorked out with a neighbor boat bread maker for HOURS at Friday night Happy Hour (less babies than East Bay Happy Hour.) It was a painful conversation for my Dad and I but we tried to bite our tongues since we're no dummies... we wanted to eat their bread.

Here's the business:

Marco in his outfit from Grandma Linda.

Wine tasting. Note our casual sweat outfits not intended to wear out. Weather... boo.As it turns out, Papa John is a sucker for giggling babies wearing Hawaiian print onesies. Cracking knees and backaches nonewithstanding... he's shaping up to be quite the potential babysitter. Well....

We napped. Marco even had a bath in the galley sink.

Ventura... to be continued...

Marco loves the ladies.

Friday night, happy hour, no splits. Boo.

Saturday morning while Rick and Jeff golfed, Alexis and Willa came over to walk down to the Farmer's Market. The boys joined us for lunch after. It was about a million degrees out and Alexis was barely talking to me after I made her walk up the hill to our house. Ha! I smoothed things over with a cold beer and a burrito. Easy peasey.

Willa protested the heat by taking off her clothes... not exactly playing hard to get.

Although Marco hit the sack early Saturday night, Avery stayed up wearing his letterman jacket, aka "firetruck sweatshirt," while Jeff barbequed pizzas on the grill. Pesto, margherita, barbeque chicken and sausage and pepper. The barbeque chicken was Brad's idea and it was jammin. Go neighbors.

Sunday was a very special day - Brooke's birthday!! (And Robin's too!) Although she's pretty much Niko's girl, Marco was so excited for his first party and seeing all his friends, he wore linen and seersucker. Enough said.

Here's the birthday girl holding court over the "under 1" crowd, Marco, Niko, Jack and Reese.

Happy Birthday Brooke! We're so happy to be your friend!

Bringin' home the bacon/ribs.

Well, someone's got to bring home the healthcare. And it's me. This was the scene in Marco's room from the street as I drove away at 7am this morning. I'm back at work today and I was welcomed to this nice scene. Thank you Kristin and Claire!
So, you know how I'm not a sap? Sure, some call it cold-hearted. I call it "rational." Well, my co-worker said a great thing to me today that made me feel nice. She asked if I cried when I left Marco this morning and I said, "Uh... no." (to read: "None of your beeswax.") And she said, "Uh-huh... you remind me of my daughter. A hard candy on the outside with a soft center." :)

On another note, if you hadn't heard, we're having a wicked heat wave. When I picked up Marco today, he was just wearing a onesie (daycare said they didn't want him to get too hot :)) I got his Thursday report card. Thirteen ounces... three naps - one short, one medium and one long... and lots of time outside. I got there and all the kids were playing on the playground. The bigger kids were on the swingset and Marco was along side of them in the baby swing smiling. Very sweet.

We stopped by the store for the appropriate hot weather meal - baby back ribs, salad and corn. We barbequed and ate outside and Marco enjoyed the scene sans clothes in his (Jack's) Moses basket. HA! The whole family is planning to sleep downstairs tonight. It was 91 degrees upstairs when I got home! We're opting for 76 downstairs. Loving the new addition.

Pass the blog.

Goodie! There are pics of Jeff's dim sum on Brooke's blog. If I knew there were photos happening, I would have "plated" them with sprigs of cilantro or something cute. Sorry Linda - next time!