We were SO lucky to have the Phelps come and visit us this past weekend. It was awesome to see them again and it was especially sweet to see Amelia and Drew reunited at last. When I told Amelia they were here, she ran out of the house screaming with delight, stood in front of Drew (still screaming) and then started laughing hysterically. Drew looked at her like she was crazy, as usual, and then pointed at her and said, "Ma!" and broke into a smile of recognition. It really was so sweet. And then they played just like old times for the rest of the weekend (a.k.a. Amelia stealing whatever Drew picked up, and Drew politely sharing all his toys, food, parents and personal space).
See what I mean about personal space? Since Amelia doesn't need any, she assumes no one else does either.
Unfortunately I was really bad at taking pictures and I missed so many of the sweet moments. But in all fairness, it is really, really hard to capture the perfect moments between 2 toddlers. It's pretty much impossible to get them to BOTH hold still, look at the camera and smile at the same time. So this is what we've got.
At the beach
Amelia forcing Drew to hold her hand
So sweet. Even if it was forced.
Andrew teaching the kids to skip rocks into the ocean 
The kids poised with their rocks (that Drew would find on the ground and Amelia would steal out of his hands).
William loved watching these 2 play all day.
Awe, so sweet!
We were so happy the Phelps got to be here for my birthday. It's always fun to eat cake and it's even more fun when you eat it with good friends!
What a cute family!
Don't worry. The 30's are the new 20's. I've only found a couple gray hairs.
There was a little bit of cake in there, underneath all the frosting. Just the way I like it.
We went to the zoo and the kids loved the penguins...
...and sliding down the hill on cardboard....
...especially with Dan!
This next series is just a little photojournalistic view of the constant motion. I was telling them to smile at the camera, and this is what I got.
Amelia: "Hi Drew! I'm just going to hang on your stroller so I can be as close to you as possible."
Amelia: "Oh, no you don't. You are not done drinking yet."
Amelia: "Here. Drink some more."
Amelia: "Perfect. Thank you very much."
Amelia: "Um, still no. Don't put that in there. You're not done until I say you're done!"
And that's when I have to stop taking pictures and save Drew from the dictatorship that is Amelia and try to help guide Amelia towards a more positive interaction with her best friend.
And here is the farewell hug. So sweet. We miss you already Phelps and can't wait until you move in next door to us again...in Santa Barbara! Come on. You know you want to!
In other news, Amelia has decided that napping is so last year and she instead enjoys putting on dress-up clothes, emptying her toys onto her bed, filling the toy box with books, and sitting in it by the door yelling, "Mom! I wake up!" Until I decide we've both had enough of "nap time" and let her come out and watch a movie. Awesome.
Amelia enjoying the 1 rainy day we've had in Santa Barbara since moving here...yes, Eugene friends, that is an invitation to come visit :)
And, yeah, you've probably figured out by now, but clothes very rarely make it on my "list of things to fight about" for the day, so she often runs around in her diaper (or some form of nakedness) or in funny clothes like you've seen in past posts. We have too many other things to fight about; like to sit or not to sit on William.
And here is that sweet boy reading a story with Grandpa over Thanksgiving.
