We had a wonderful time, as usual, down in Santa Barbara, this time for some Memorial Day fun. For weeks, Gabriela and Natalie had FaceTime conversations in which they edited and added onto their impressive list of things to do during their visit together.
Thursday came, and I knew it would be a long day when G started asked when Daddy would be home at 8am. By the time he was home, our house was clean, our bags were all packed, the chickens were set and the garden was watered.
Call us crazy, but we rolled out of town at 8pm with our pajama wearing babes snuggled up under the covers in their car seats. Lane and Gabriela both insisted we be there for the entire day on Friday.
Friday Gabriela walked with Natalie to school in the morning. After helping auntie Adie walk the dogs, we returned to Natalie's school for Ancient Days. Each of the sixth graders was dressed as someone from ancient times and gave an oral presentation about their historical figure in the first person. Gabriela stayed for a potluck at school with the big kids.
Then, it was the moment she'd been waiting for. Pool time! This girl loves being in the pool. She has so much confidence and enjoys the water so much. She would have stayed in Uncle Ian's 90 degree pool all weekend if we let her.
That evening, Uncle Noal and Auntie Elizabeth arrived for even more fun. After the kids were asleep, the uncles had brother time and the aunties got to spend some girl time together.
Saturday, we rode a shuttle through downtown Santa Barbara and stopped at the pier where we visited the Sea Center. Easton really wanted to see a real shark and was thrilled when he had the chance to touch a real shark too! We all had a lovely time. 
Uncle Noal, Gabriela, and the Sharks
Auntie Adie, Uncle Ian and Gabriela
Easton and Daddy on the pier
After our sea center and pier adventures, Uncle Ian treated us all to a wonderful lunch downtown. Our next stop in downtown SB was a trip to the candy store. Our kids couldn't believe their eyes. We let them then go for it, giving them both a small bag to fill. (Very unlike this mama). I did have to edit the contents of these bags. Easton picked out a vial of bacon flavored "pig booger" nerd-like candies. Those mysteriously disappeared. When I told Gabriela to put back at least three of the four giant bubblegum packages, she returned to show me she'd put them all back, and instead had a package of "it's a girl!" Bubble gum cigars.
When we got home, I immediately laid down for nap for several hours while the kids went down for more pool fun.
Claire watched them all that evening so us grownups could go out together. What a lovely treat! A pre-birthday dinner for my dear husband.
These brothers loving their visit together
When our server brought out a surprise birthday cake for Lane, we all sang to him. I couldn't help myself and burst into tears. We are finding that on all our special holidays, Simone's absence is somehow magnified. It really was a treat to dine on delicious food with some grownups we love dearly, and not have to worry about our little loves at home. We returned to Claire cleaning the table and all the kiddos asleep. Just look at Easton's cuddle bug
First thing in the morning, I recruited Claire to accompany me on a birthday doughnut run. Lane requested lasagna for his actual birthday dinner. So us ladies took care of grocery shopping and made a stop at the thrift store while the uncles and kiddos visited a park for bike and scooter riding and frisbee golf. There was even more pool time. Easton was having so much fun trying to swim on his own (with his life vest on), that he was screeching with pride.
After I woke from my nap, I found that Uncle Ian had made Lane's birthday dessert and Adie and Elizabeth were hard at work on dinner.
Poor easton passed out before dinner from all that bike riding and swimming. He actually didn't wake until the next morning, when it was still dark asking, "why is it taking so long for morning to come???"
That evening, the girls put on a variety show for us that included a fashion show, dance, improv, and a poetry reading. Natalie had worked so hard on a beautiful poem about Simone that had lane and me both swimming in tears.
Here are some shots from the fashion show. And, seriously, why does my six year old look so big?!?
We stayed up nice and late playing a birthday round of Cards Against
Humanity. I am sad to report that I did not hold my Thanksgiving title as champion.
Our last day started with breakfast of fresh sautéed greens with our chicken eggs. I packed everything up while Easton played with Claire and The rest of the crew was down relaxing by the pool.
It was finally time to say goodbye, which included some very distraught tears from my sweet girl, who always has the hardest time leaving her cousins. Easton announced that he wanted to stay forever. We love us some Santa Barbara Grover time, and it was even more fun with Uncle Noal and Auntie Elizabeth.
What a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.
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