Family Visits!

Loyal readers may be wondering where we've been all summer! Well, we've been:
1) working (Alex on a new Rappin' Mathematician album, available in a few weeks! Me on a book editing project and a new blog project TBA);
2) dealing with sleep deprivation (Senna is getting her molars and canines, and still itchy with allergies - oy!);
3) and, best of all, entertaining a slew of family visitors!

First, we got a great couple of days with Senna's Grandpa Toshi from Selma, Calif., and Uncle Mark from Portland, Or. We had a blast! We went to the beach and to the sculpture park and fed the ducks there -- Senna is still talking about Uncle Mark grabbing a big stick and saving the bag of bread that fell into the pond! (I already sent out this photo album, but hadn't blogged it yet!)

Second, we have had two wonderful morning visits from Grandma Loren (who Senna lovingly calls Nana) from L.A. Nana is now expected to bring bubbles to blow with Senna every time we see her. And, this last visit, she taught Senna an adorable new phrase for her: "upsie-daisy!" They're good buddies.

On Nana's first visit this summer, she brought along Senna's Great Aunt Liz, who was in town from Arizona and got to meet Senna for the first time. They bonded over Itsy-Bitsy Spider.

Lastly, we got a fun, four-day visit from Senna's Grandma Karen and Grandpa David (a.k.a. Pa-Da -- Senna can say Grandpa David, but she prefers to call him Pa-Da!) back in SoCal from Arkansas. We took walks around the neighborhood and watched the trash truck:

Went to the beach and watched Alex surf (photo courtesy of Pa-Da!):

And found a duck pond nearby to do some more feeding. (The story from that duck pond is the killer geese scared Cowardly Mommy! Thanks for capturing it on film, Pa-Da.)

At least I also got to grab a rare Pa-Da photo there, too (although he's getting much better at handing over the camera - thanks, Dad!)


So, you can see why I haven't been blogging. We are so grateful that Senna got to see all of her grandparents, and an uncle and a great aunt, this summer. They've been wonderful, special times, every minute of them. And now Senna is talking about all of their visits and has a growing collection of great memories. Thank you all for coming.

Any other family (aunts, uncles, cousins) and friends thinking of visiting, come on down -- Senna loves visitors!!