Bunk beds

Daddy finished the bunk beds just in time -- Robin figured out how to climb out of her crib last week, so she was ready to graduate to a Big Girl Bed. It took about a month of labor (and many trips to Strosniders' Hardware), but Daddy put the final touches on it yesterday. Mommy, meanwhile, painted the girls' room so that it looks like a place they might actually want to spend time. Last night was the test -- Miri on the top bunk, Robin on the bottom -- and they managed to go until 6:40am. Woo-hoo!

Cousins Matthew and Damon came to visit and prove that more than one kiddo can fit:

Over & Under Water

There's something about the water in California that makes folks want to swim (or, in Robin's case, fly over water). Miri ditched her last floaties a couple weeks ago but still struggled to stay above water. Then she came to California and watched Cousin Chase squirt through the water like a dolphin, and she decided that she, too, could swim without help. Now there's no stopping her! Here she goes:

Week Two in Coronado

Daddy headed back home and Mommy and the girls have had another week to enjoy time with the Grandparents in Coronado. We have really enjoyed our trips to the pool, the park, the children's museum, and to visit the cousins. We started our day with a trip to Zoomars with Cousin Chase. It is a petting zoo with a train and a playground...what fun. Miri loved chasing the bunnies around and trying to hold one (they were a little bit terrified) and the kids did a great job holding their own against the very hungry goats. We finished up the day with pool, pizza and ice cream. Yum! Having Grandma Jean there made the trip much easier and more fun. We had a great visit to Coronado!Robin enjoys feeding the rabbits. The kids hang out after a swim. Chase smiles on cue, which makes for some good pictures. Robin is hanging out and, as you can see, Miri still isn't so cooperative when it comes to smiling.

Coronado Time

We love coming to Coronado each summer. We get to step out of the high-stress busy-ness (and the heat & humidity) of DC and into a place where it's always 80 degrees, where everyone knows Erica and her folks, where we all can relax. It's a family-friendly area, with all kinds of things for the kids to do. Miri, Robin, and Cousin Chase had a great time at the San Diego Children's Museum -- they made a ridiculous mess of themselves!

Independence!

We're in Mommy's hometown of Coronado for our traditional 4th of July. It's a wonderfully patriotic place to celebrate the 4th, especially because Auntie Megan makes the kids (our girls, plus cousins Brynn and Chase) special outfits each year. Check 'em out:

Catching Up with the Freedom Project

It's been nearly five years since we left Mississippi and the Freedom Project, but we're lucky to still be in touch with many of the great kids we taught there. In the past month or so, we had the chance to catch up with a few of our all-stars:

Cornesha, Tashanna, and Ariel were inseparable as first years in the SCFP.

It's been years since we all got together.

Robin with Cornesha and Ariel.

We're lucky that Cornesha lives in DC -- she is a budding businesswoman!

Luke just graduated from UNC.

We had the chance to catch up with His Highness in Durham.

We even got to spend some time at the LEAD Center in Sunflower.

Check out the amazing mural! (Thanks, Mark!)