Finally a Valley Girl

On Saturday, we moved out of the only house Peter and Clara have ever known... a 900 square foot bungalow in West Hollywood that was becoming a little too crowded for a family of four.


Bye-bye smallest living room ever...



So long chain smoking landlord...

Hello, Sherman Oaks!

Sherman Oaks is in the San Fernando valley and makes me think about when I was a little girl and my neighbor and I would pretend to be valley girls just like in the movies. Now, I am a legit valley girl! Like, totally awesome, right?

Hello, quiet backyard...

Hello, avocado, lime, lemon and orange trees...

Hello, sunrise view from my kitchen window!

The new house has A LOT more nature than our old West Hollywood place. We've seen a few of these guys...

Ben even saw a snake in the backyard yesterday, which means I'm going to have to stick to enjoying the view from the kitchen window because there is no way I'm going outside ever again.

Thank goodness for our guard cat.

I'll post some more pictures when we get the inside a little more settled. For now, I am just thankful the move is over. Whew!

Attack of the Matching Outfits

In the last few days of our trip, we've been having a such a great time with our friends and family. Look at this cute group - Posey, Peter and Vivi.

Sweet, happy kids.

Here's the same group a year ago. I can't believe how much they've changed. I guess we'll have to make this photo an anual tradition.


For our last morning, we went to the delicious bakery in town.

Yum!

We sort of had an attack of the matching outfits later in the afternoon. First, the girls all wore their sailboat dresses.

Seriously, how cute are they?

Peter and Vivi enjoyed a delicious dinner of macaroni and cheese. Lots of healthy eating on this vacation.

And then it was time for more matching. Dinosaur pajamas for everyone!

Here is Vivi snuggling with Clara.

I don't think I've ever seen stranger expressions on two babies faces. What do you think they're thinking?

All the Richardson/Apley cousins... Peter, Clara, Grace and Vivian.

Snuggled in and ready for bed. Night, night everybody!

Michigan

We are having a wonderful time in Michigan. The first few days were a little cold and windy, but it was still really fun to sit out on the dock and look at the water.

Here's Peter modeling some of his birthday presents (sweater and boots). What do you think? Does he have a future in the J. Crew catalogue?

Peter and Moe

This is the park across the street. The weather has been perfect and we are in heaven to be in such a beautiful spot. So nice!

Clara and I came by the park to say hi on a walk around the Point.

I tried out the Big Brother / Little Sister shirts again with a little more success.

Anything would be better than last time.

Peter and I went to Christmas Cove to throw rocks in the big lake.

Peter is an excellent rock gatherer / thrower.

Clara loves sitting outside in the yard.

Who's that down on the dock?


Ooo-la-la!

How cute is Clara's special Michigan bathing suit with cherries on it?

Bathing beauty.

(I promise, this is only for the photo op. I didn't really let her bask in the sun. That's at least a couple of years off.)

Peter's friend, Posey, looked so comfy in her beach chair.

Peter has been to Sandy Beach for hours every single day. This photo is post-beach. How tired does he look after 3 hours playing in the water?

Gorgeous day, beautiful place, fun vacation!

Happy Birthday, Peter!

I can't believe it, but Peter turned two on Thursday. Happy Birthday, Mister!

Here he is... such a grown up boy waiting to open his presents.

Ben's brother's family came from Chicago for the party. So fun! Here are all of the Apley cousins... Simon, Peter, Noah and Clara on her dad's lap. What a cute bunch!

"Hmmm...What's in here?"

"Frog rain boots?! These are the greatest!"

Peter has worn these boots almost non-stop since he received them.

Excellent family photo #1...

Excellent family photo #2. You'll probably see this one at Christmas.

Their photo turned out slightly better than ours.

The reason Peter was crying during the photos was because he saw the lake in the window and he NEEDED to see the water.

There is no one more obsessed with water than this little boy.

It was such a beautiful day for a party!

Peter invited his closest friends over for play dough and bubbles.

So fun!

The Apley girls... Me, a shy Clara and Aunt Ellen

Uncle Mitch and Grandpa Bob tended to the grill.

That's Grandma Dorothy behind Moe's hand.

Peter loved playing with his cousins.

"Mmmm... That play dough looks pretty good..."

Sweet Linley was by far the best at play dough.

And Posey loved checking out the arts and crafts accessories.

How much do you think they'll hate me for the matching outfits later in life?

The best part of the day? Blowing the candles.

Happy Birthday, Peter!