Bella vs. Rattler

 Saturday night we slept out in the tent in the backyard. Sunday was another beautiful warm day and we were playing outside. Bella was checking out the shady bushes (where she has chased baby bunnies) and startled backward, dropping a tiny dead froggy in the grass, and then tentatively exploring the bush again, this time leaping backward and nursing a front paw.

(damn, damn, damn - I'm thinking, as I press the branches aside to look into the shadows...

double damn! I spot a small brown snake with a brown diamond pattern.)

A very fearful and hurt puppy continued to nurse her paw.

Jeff and I grab a couple long handle tools and go hunting.

Sure enough, its a baby rattle snake.

We opted not to go the full medical emergency animal hospital route...
Bella's foreleg did not swell; she was sore and sleepy, but seemed to have bounced back enough by the end of the day to be everywhere under my feet and chasing the kids around.  

And now, several days later, you'd never know. Running, playing, basically: 100% puppy.

Easter Egg Hunt

We participated in a lovely & fun egg hunt / potluck picnic with the MOMS (and some dads, too!)

This post doesn't have much of a story to tell, just a bunch of snapshots of my pretty little girls playing in the sun!

silly upside-down Livvie with her basked on her head and ears in her hands!

Out for a Walk

American Heart Association - National Walking Day

Least I can do is take my kids and puppy out for a walk. 

(Livvy rode her bike,  Mimi rode in the stroller.)

We found the sheep (they had been moved in the last day or two).

The walk home...

girlies snuggled together.

I think I can... 

I think I can... 

I think I can...

Monterey Beach Trip

We had an impromptu girls trip to Monterey.
Jeff had arranged a hotel room and a personal day, but was unable to get away. boo-hoo.

I wrestled with the decision, but finally packed up our gear and we girls headed out on an adventure.

The girls were very excited about going to the beach and staying in a hotel (for the first time - in memory)!

Here the girls are face to face with the big, big water!  

- loud, cold, windy, immense, awe-inspiring.

Unsurprisingly, as all small children are, Liv and Camila are fascinated by the hotel room. 

Especially the switches, the phone, the bouncy beds. :)

Hot Chocolate at the restaurant.

On the COOL phone ;-) telling Daddy about the adventure.

picnic breakfast in bed. strawberries and pumpkin bread from home.

Excuse Me

A-HEM.

yes?

um, you're on my foot.

Taking a Walk

We went for a nice walk. 

Liv rode her bike, 

Mimi rode in the stroller, 

Bella on her leash.

 It worked, but it was a lot to keep track of. 

Pinata and Play Group for Liv's 4th

Olivia turned four!

 

Liv and Camila woke to the kitchen table decorated for Liv's Happy Birthday! 

and the girls each received a "dance ribbon"

We enjoyed Grandma Greta's coffee cake for breakfast. And had a Skype chat with Grammy.

Then! a fun bunch of friends came over to play!  We played out side for a while and did the treasure hunt (I can not believe that I forgot to take pictures. ugh.)

The next several pictures are ones that Liv or Klaudia took of their friends

finally - it was pinata time! 

Liv received a "Leapster2"  and was lost to us for more than a little while. 

Later in the day she was exclaiming to me that she didn't know what to do! "My body is telling me, it wants to stop, but my head is telling me it wants to keep playing the game! I can't do both!I can't stop and keep playing. ..... I guess I'll keep playing." 

mom: "Well, how about you just tell your brain your going to stop for a just little bit - you can just pause it, and go get a drink of water - then ask your brain what it wants to do..."

it wasn't easy, but she did it. but she was explaining to me that her brain just kept thinking about the game. OH YIKES!!! We've got a possible addiction issue here!