Brotherly Love

Even though the volume in my house exceeds what I think is humanly possible to endure, I still take great joy watching our boys become friends. I'm convinced it's the greatest gift we will ever give them.

One of our regular rides on the #1 bus en route to the Santa Monica Pier

Levi our little rule follower telling me to get out of the street

The boys having a moment with their babies (my closest experience to having girls)

Our daily coloring session

Levi is super into tennis, and Felix is so patient. Felix will just buzz around the court doing his thing, while Levi wears his opponent down, and we finally have to drag him off the court!

JWG and LHG hit the recycling fair!

Levi LOVES 'bump trucks,' so John took him to the Santa Monica Recycling Fair where he was able to sit in a garbage truck and work the magic claw!

LHG graduates from Ecole Claire Fontaine's 'small campus'

Levi's little French school had a 'graduation' for all the children who completed the small campus. It included a Capeoira dance performance, sing-along, and a lovely brunch. While it was very much organized chaos, it was fun to get more insight into Levi's experiences and, most importantly, realize how much he grew over the course of 1 year!

Sing-along

Frankie, Levi's closest friend at school, with his dad, Oscar

Levi studying his graduation certificate!

We're most proud of Levi for learning to share. It's a work-in-progress, but we've made leaps and bounds since he started at Claire Fontaine!

JWG's bday weekend!

For JWG's bday, Michael and I arranged a bday weekend, complete with a surprise visit from him and Sara. I'm not sure who was more excited....John or the little boys...

We also surprised him with a full day 1:1 kite surfing lesson. Levi, Sara and I drove down to Long Beach to watch and it was beautiful. There's only 2 spots in LA that you kite surf, so the sky was literally filled with a 50+ surfers!

 

I was very curious what John would think of kite surfing since he's quite a seasoned surfer. He said getting the feel of the kite is the most challenging bit and and that it's a lot like wake boarding....

They spent the first 3 hours just learning how to fly the kite!

Levi was in heaven just relaxing on the beach

For Father's Day we had a big BBQ at Roy Rogers park which  always has polo matches going on Sundays.

Levi setting the ground rules with his friends

The boys being boys.... Felix is now starting to hold his own quite well

  

Sean and sweet Penelope

Michael, Felix and Hanky just hanging out

A Hike Up Topanga Canyon

We joined Penelope and her family for a hike in Topanga in attempt to catch butterflies; the children kept talking about their butterfly nets in Palm Springs, so up the mountain we went in search for our winged friends!

Pen, Levi and their walking sticks

Levi and his homemade magnifying glass 

Our 1st critter in Levi's critter box...a big, black beatle!

Felix's 1st hike; he fell a sleep after looking for bugs

It was just so much fun to be out in the wilderness with the boys and to share my love of nature with the wee ones!

Memorial weekend in Palm Springs

We headed to Palm Springs for a relaxing weekend with the Mihal Family, eager to swim, eat, and relax (as much as one can with 4 little children!)

Penelope and Levi were their usual busy, happy selves...doing puzzles, playing cars, catching beatles, and swimming!

 Felix did his best to keep up

Every morning Hanky, Felix, and I went for a peaceful walk in the cooler weather (definite highlight of the weekend)

We took the children up Mt. San Jacinto's Arial Tram. Levi LOVED it

The two dads

 Tippy Toes!

Group Story time was the best!

Felix on the hunt

The children loved the Palm Springs Zoo, complete with a very cool merry-go-round

however Levi's highlight of the Zoo was the massive train set up. We of course saw it at the very beginning of the trip so we didn't see a ton of animals...

We did a lot of hanging out at the train

Majority of the weekend was spent in the pool, which we kept at a mere 80 degrees

Laurie and baby Annabelle

 

Felix LOVED pool time

Levi and P all cleaned up and out on the town headed to dinner

 Pizza making party with Penelope and Levi

 Our little bakers helping make whip cream!

The final product...strawberry shortcake

The highlight of the weekend was watching the children swim. After lots of lessons & practice, Levi graduated to swimming solo without any float device!

Felix wishing he could climb in and give Annabelle a kiss!
 

Wow...the biggest Marilyn ever!