Happy Beach Birthday

UPDATED WITH NEW PICS.




Friday morning, Claire woke, stretched and promptly asked, "Daddy, am I still two?"

She was. But for only one day more. For that, we packed and headed to the beach to celebrate Claire's third birthday with Sonya, Matt, Ella and Mauren.

Destination: Oceanside. Specifically, Moondance, a new favorite beachhouse. The mobile girls found plenty of room in the two-story house to run, to jump and to swim in its big jetted tub. Good thing, too, because the wind and rain kept us indoors much of the time. Paige enjoyed watching it all unfold in front of her.






In fact, the weather was wet enough that it wasn't conducive to taking many photos. So, we didn't. We only made it down to the surf as a group one time.



Saturday night, Mom made cupcakes at Claire's request, Matt made a big salmon and risotto dinner and we broke out the candles to sing happy birthday.



The parents managed some adult time late at night after the kids went to bed, sitting around on leather couches talking about the election, Saturday Night Live, music and budgets.

At one point, Claire yelled from her bedroom for dad to come in to help her go to sleep. After dad curled into bed with her, Claire asked "if he'd sleep all the night in my bed."

At first I balked at answering. Then I leveled with her: "Mom and I would like to have some adult time with Matt & Sonya," I explained. Claire thought for a moment, then said: "I want someone to sleep with me, and you and mommma want to talk with Matt & Sonya. How can we investigate this?"

I was stunned and puzzled. Later, we realized that mom had interceded in a scuffle between Ella and Claire by asking, "Claire and Ella both want to play with the same toy. How can we solve this problem?" Now, Claire was applying that problem-solving approach to a conflict that she perceived between how she and dad each wanted dad to spend his time. Happy third birthday.

Sunday evening, we unwrapped more presents when we got home. Claire made out with a doctor's kit, a hugable globe, a new sweater, a play board, a rope ladder (yet to be hung in the basement),








books,



a hooded bathrobe,





and a harmonica.