Daddy Daughter Day

Corey took the girls to Tilden Park recently and they had a great time exploring the trails and botanical garden there.  He shot some cute pics of them exploring!

Uncle Keith and Aunt Edie

We were thrilled to recently be a road trip stop for Uncle Keith and Aunt Edie.  And what a road trip it is...Indiana to Washington!  It was so much fun to have them here for our last few days of summer break.  The girls love house-guests and I don't think Keith and Edie got a moment's peace during their days here.  They played, walked and played some more with our girls.  So fun.

We all bundled up and went to Movies Under the Stars in downtown 

Walnut Creek to watch Alladin and it was such a fun night.  

These are all Aunt Edie's pictures, so thank you, Edie, 

for photo-documenting your visit.

And, of course, found time for an ice cream cone or two!

It was so lovely to have them here. 

I'll post more pictures later from an adventure 

they embarked on with Corey on the top of Mt. Diablo. 

First Days of School

For all of the Brooks girls, actually!  The girls started school on Monday and I started a teaching job at a local preschool the same day.  It's going to be one crazy year!

 Cannot believe we have a 4th grader and a 1st grader.  Seems like we were in diapers just yesterday.  The girls were so excited to start school and both love their classrooms and teachers.  Phew!  My students don't start until the end of the month but I think I'm going to love my classroom, too!

In the week leading up to school starting we fit in time to get new-school-year haircuts.  We had coupons from a friend for a place that dishes out the royal treatment...both girls had back-rubs, deep conditioning treatments and a warm, wet face wrap.  Mercy.  Now that's the only place they ever want to get their hair cut!!

 And, naturally, we had to celebrate the last day of summer vacation with a frozen treat.  The girls love having a frozen yogurt place right in our neighborhood!

Tahoe Time

We've been home from Tahoe for over a week but I'm just now sitting down to go through the pictures.  As usual, time in Tahoe was awesome.  Having just gone to Michigan for a week, Corey wasn't able to join us at Tahoe but we had fun in the crowded cabin with Lala, Papa, Aunt Ashley, Uncle Paul and Liam. It was HOT the first few days of our stay so there was just a little bit of whining and a lot of fans going.  It cooled down as the week went on and by the last day of our visit the beach weather was so perfect that we spent seven straight hours at the beach.  Glorious!!

 The girls had such a fun time chasing Liam around the cabin.  

He did not want to be caught which made it extra fun for them.

 my phone was inside a ziploc bag when I took this

pic...it looks like she's been airbrushed!

 Thanks to Ash and Paul for renting a paddle board

and letting Natalie practice her mad skills.

We were able to so many people we love in a place we love.  

It doesn't get any better than that!

 Emma caught him!

After Ash and Paul and Liam left, Papa Rod headed home

and then it was just the three of us with Lala.  So fun.

 Until next summer, cabin!  

We LOVE you!