San Clemente camping, temporary blindness and a bum knee

Months ago we planned a family camping trip in San Clemente. When the date rolled around we found ourselves packed and ready to go, but plagued by such injuries that Mark and I together barely counted as a single functioning adult. In mid June I hurt my knee badly enough to need an XRay, MRI and visit to the orthopedist who said I'd need surgery to repair a torn medial meniscus. I gimped around as well as I could.
Then early in the morning the day before our trip Mark began experiencing horrific pain on his left eyeball. After a trip to the the emergency room we found he had a serious corneal abrasion that required steroid and antibiotic drops, lots of pain medicine, lots of rest, and an eye patch for 4 days. It was in this gimpy, half blind state we made our way to San Clemente State Beach for the long-awaited getaway.
We might have been better off staying home, but my difficulty tolerating disappointment and Mark's determination to muddle through got us there and we did the best we could. We got our tent up so Mark could rest and I took the kids to the beach - it was beautiful. I felt bad for him stuck at the campground and bad for myself hauling two kids, an umbrella, beach bag, beach chair, and sand toys down the switchbacks all by myself. The girls had a great time. Sleeping together in the tent was a fun adventure and our kids did actually sleep so that was a relief. We ate out all our meals - at restaurants, not outdoors - the cooler sat untouched. And we returned home early for Mark to see the ophthalmologist again. It was a crazy trip but I am glad we did it.
Fortunately, Mark's eye is completely healed. It was a scary experience for both of us. I was very worried about him and it was extremely difficult to see him in so much pain and keep my cool. Once the pain passed, I think Mark was mainly bored and frustrated by his limited vision. We are lucky it turned out all right.
My knee is also doing better. I just started physical therapy and am going to put off surgery as long as possible. We are having a great summer and have another camping trip in less than two weeks. I really hope the four of us can enjoy it together with good health and all the important parts of our bodies working correctly.

Our little artist

Mark did some touch up painting recently. He knew Claire was watching and definitely interested so he was careful to keep all the paint and paintbrushes out of reach. But she must have been a lot more interested than he thought because Claire got a bowl of water and a Polly Pocket with hair and painted the kitchen table, chairs and wall. We were very amused, impressed and relieved all at the same time.

Colorful kids

Hey, Mom, what color is my tongue? Blue.




Hey Claire, what have you been eating? Jelly.

Hi, Ojai

We decided to take off to Ojai on a Sunday afternoon earlier this month. We threw a few snacks, clothes and blankets into the car and took off. It turned out to be a wonderful time. We drove up to a little town in the Ventura mountains called Ojai. Stayed at the Ojai Ranch Inn and our room had bunk beds that were one of the many highlights of the trip. We spent hours at the park playing, building a fire, crossing the stream and running one of Mark's birthday presents - a remote control off-roader that had all of us laughing hysterically. We had some good pizza and some so-so shopping at the outlets on the way home. It was a terrific getaway.

Mark's birthday

We celebrated Mark's birthday this month. We had a party for him, except the party was really for the kids. When I got Claire out of her bed that morning I said "It's Daddy's birthday" and she shrieked "Oooohhhhhh, CAKE!" I took Mark out to dinner and bought him a grill - looks like the entire family is fixated on food, cake or otherwise. Happy birthday, Mark.

Audrey graduates from preschool

There were no mortar boards, but there was a party and lots of pictures, hugs from teachers and more than a few tears shed by mommy. Audrey started at her preschool just two days before Claire was born. I was ready for a few hours a week to rest before the baby came, but then Claire arrived 6 weeks early and those quiet hours did not materialize. It's been a great preschool. We have always felt the care and concern of the teachers and Audrey has always enjoyed herself doing crafts and practicing letters, playing with other kids, going to chapel, rejecting her snacks, bringing home "treasure" for mommy, having open house, Eggstravaganza, Mother's Day Tea, walking to the library and playing a game called "poop machine" with her friend Maureen that involved throwing gobs of mud down the slide, lovely. We could not have asked for a better, sweeter place for Audrey to get her first taste of school. Her teachers have been super: Mrs. A, Mrs. Furbush, Mrs. Dewart and Mrs. Kosch. We are so grateful for all their kindness and hard work. Audrey showed only a few moments of uncertainty during her first few days, but after that she never looked back. Now it's been more than two years and she is on to kindergarten this fall. She's ready, but I'm not sure I am. This is a picture of Audrey in March 2007, the month she started preschool, and on one her last day (June 2009). She's changed so much - no more baby fat. I thought she was a little kid that first day, but she still looks like a baby and now she really looks like a little kid. What will I say when I look at this picture in another two years?

Quit taking my picture!

Claire is ready for the paparazzi...

Fence building day

We wish we had a crew of Amish laborers or seven dancing brothers who could stay out of trouble, but we had to make do with Mark, my dad (the talent), and our neighbor Scott, who conveniently and severely broke his arm several weeks ago, but still helped, and we got our new fence up. They did a great job! The project coincided with Mother's day so it also ended up being my gift - I'll take it and I hope it comes with a free lawn. I supplied the food and had a fun time pretending to be my mother who used to feed my dad's construction crews. My avocado/tomato/cheese sandwiches can't compete with her bean/cheese/egg/potato burritoes, but I tried. All went relatively well - we couldn't have done it without my dad's help. He is a trooper and a genius, and we're grateful for all he's done to help us with our house. These are just a few pictures of that day - the finished product, the guys working, Audrey celebrating (anything and everything) and Claire signaling her concern over the loud noise of my dad's handsaw.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to Nanie and Grandma - we love you, Claire, Audrey, Mark, Melissa
And a happy day, too, for all the mothers we love.

Easter dresses

A little late, but still cute...