My favorite place for spring fashion...

... is the local gardening store. The boys and I headed to Westwood Gardens to buy pansies and violas for a few pots in our front yard. Benji got to pick out his favorite colors (apparently purple is his current favorite flower color). He also got to use his new giraffe gardening gloves and neon plastic wheel barrow in the planting process. Zac got involved too by watering our new plants.

I cannot tell you the happiness $10 of flowers causes for me. I love flowers! And I'm so glad it's spring!

Kite festival

Benji got to make his own kite this morning at a local kite festival - and it flies better than the kite we bought at Target.

"Flying kites is just so much fun, I must pinch myself!," says Benji.

Books coming alive

Nona, Benji, and Zac meeting Arthur

Again Zachary is much more interested in the large, funny-looking person than smiling for Mama's camera - but Benji is happy to oblige. Both boys enjoyed meeting these two characters along with Clifford the big red dog. If you're wondering what that is Benji is wearing on his head, it's some sort of free Teletubby headband. Kinda weird but free so who are we to complain??

New use for the tricycle

We're definitely getting our money out of this tricycle since both boys can fit now. And Benji gets a good leg work-out toting around his brother's weight!

A few more California pictures

Zac at Ghiradelli Square in San Francisco

Benji enjoying an ice cream cone

Benji climbing the "ghost trees" in Monterey

Zac's new way of saying hello and introducing himself - playing peek-a-boo with new people

Aunt Susan reading a bedtime book to Benji and cousin Marcelo in Berkeley

Trip to California

We spent 8 days in California, starting off in Santa Barbara and driving up to Berkeley. It was the first time either boy had been on an airplane, and it was actually better than we had been expecting. It was a fun trip: the boys got to see the ocean for the first time, we got to visit good friends and relatives, and it was a general fun time as a family.

We realized that it's good to vacation with kids because it makes you take things slow enough to enjoy. Both Shearn Yoong and I would tend towards being too busy during vacations so we don't miss anything - and then we would come home and need another vacation.

Wow folks. So this is what sand is. We don't have this strange stuff back home in Arkansas - but it sure does look fun!

Bike for four (with seats for the two kids in front) in Santa Barbara

Benji in foggy Santa Barbara

Brave Benji enjoyed his first ferris wheel ride at the Santa Monica pier
(Mommy stayed on the ground)

Strolling in Solvang