Ventura

Thursday, July 19, Coco, Antone, the girls, and I drove up to Ventura. Deetrix was at work, but we hung out with Shan and the chillun. The kids enjoyed the pool Tristan, Betsy, and Gunnar had been playing in that week.

Shan made a lovely dinner for us, followed by cookies because we're Hastingses. The littles and I took over Tristan and Betsy's room that night. Tristan and Betsy are very nice about being displaced. Ever went to sleep in my bed, and then I moved her into the living room with Tristan and Betsy when I went to bed. She can't stand being separated from those two. Sleep positions were odd. Wrenzy ended up on the floor next to her bed again, while Tiny was crammed sideways in the pack n' play.

Friday was Deetrix's birthday, and he had the day off work. We didn't get out of the house until late, mainly because I'm so slow getting the girls ready. The beach was lovely and practically empty.

Ever and Betsy had fun boogie boarding.

Something happened to Tiny. She got very upset and was totally irrational and inconsolable. She went up on the hill behind us and cried her little heart out.

Eventually she calmed down and returned to me.

Coco and I took the littles home to nap, while Ever stayed at the beach to play with Dee and Shan and their kids. Back at the house, Coco and I hosed down the littles out back, and they enjoyed it.

After the rest of the gang returned home, Ever and Betsy went to great lengths to get lemons off the neighbors' tree so they could make lemonade.

The littles had chicken nuggets for dinner. I really enjoy the way Tiny says "nuggets," as if she's swallowing the word.

The biggers got amazing ramen takeout that I'm going to need to enjoy again next time we go up there.

We celebrated Deetrix with German chocolate cake.

Ever drank the remnants of her ice cream, as is her wont. If I remember correctly, she fell backward and injured herself right after this:

TKan is really good with the littles.

We got the kids in their jammies, said our goodbyes, and headed back to Oceanside that night. 'Twas a short and sweet visit. 

Coco and Antone flew out the next day. We barely squeezed in a visit to Handel's ice cream shop in Encinitas before they left. Tiny didn't do so well at eating neatly.  

Family visits are A no. 1.