Life of Wry

Last Saturday, checked out of my beloved Ave C cottage (well… beloved, maybe not quite that, but I do love my days a block from the beach in the shadow of my homeland), joined the Magnolia fan club along the sidelines of her first soccer game, then, after the soccer match up in Torrance, it was time for a change of venue: headed down to Matt’s for some Matt/Michael-style R and R.

After settling in a bit and hanging for awhile by the pool, Matt and I took off for Huntington Beach. First stop, nachos & beer at a decent restaurant along PCH, then a long walk on a long pier — Huntington Beach’s — to check things out. Michael joined Staci and Courtney, Victor, Debbie and Maddie at the (not sure what it’s called) Country Music Festival at the LB convention center, so Matt and I had the evening to ourselves. Thai food it was, followed by a movie (Boy Erased), and a great night’s sleep. Woot. Saturday in the southland: check.

Sunday, Matt, Michael and I joined Staci, Eric and Courtney for breakfast (great catch up!) at the Harbor House in Seal Beach, then I spent the rest of the afternoon with River, Magnolia and Juniper… a first for me, alone for five hours. Fun, interesting, challenging, fun, funny, interesting, challenging, memorable. Then I returned to the M&M’s, changed into nice clothes (needed a shower, but forwent) and off to a fabulous Moroccan Dinner at Casablanca in Newport Beach to celebrate Matt’s birthday (belated).

Already posted Saturday soccer pics, so here’s the rest of Saturday..

Matt and Klondyke (look at Klondyke’s paw.. so cute):

Matt at the pier…

Here’s a project that Michael was working on (and finished): a baby quilt for a friend (who loves Barbie and pink):

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And here are Sunday’s pics.

First: an afternoon of grand niece and nephew sitting!

Juni has a thing for Groot.. and wanted to model herself after various Groot poses (which we did about 20 times… ). These were my favorite:

Then.. after lunch (a joint effort with Leona, who, following lunch, uber’d home), there was a walking adventure to get ice cream, complete with harrowing boulevard crossings and challenging kid-wrangling.

River was in a grown up, older brother, I don’t smile mode:

Mags was all over the ice cream outing:

Juni wanted her picture taken at every turn… “take a picture of this!”

After returning (whew), we headed to the pool. This had its fun moments and its challenging moments (don’t run on the deck, don’t throw that dirt into the pool, don’t remove that filter lid, don’t whack your sister with that wet t-shirt…. jeez.. hard not to be a shrew). Still… I thoroughly enjoyed their antics and energy.

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It was a full 5 hours of mostly fun.. then I headed home and out we went for cocktail and adult time…

Ate here:

Ate, among other things, these…. a savory bastilla for an appetizer and stuffed dates for dessert. Between was an amazing chicken, beef filet and lamb sausage skewers-over-couscous dish with veggies, raisins, cinnamon, onions on top (no pic).

And aforementioned adult beverage: an apricot champagne cocktail that was fantastic.