Scoot!

He's a natural!  Just a few days after picking this up, he's flying down the neighbor's driveway.  It appears he (and Luke, for that matter) are going to be pretty athletic...I'm really looking forward to cheering them on in their sports.

In Full Bloom

Chris and I recently visited The Flower Fields in Carlsbad.  50 acres of brilliant blossoms, Ranunculus specifically - a favorite in our house, and a highlight of our wedding bouquets.

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

It's silly really...going to The Flower Fields is something I have wanted to do for about 15 years.  I even wrote an article about it for my college newspaper without even having gone.  (pathetic) 

Yet I made it!  And it was wondrous.

 

Four Cornerstones

On a recent trip to USC, I was struck by this fountain.  Yes, it's beautiful.  Yes, the boys wanted to strip down and jump in.  But I was struck more by what it said.

Around the base of the fountain, it reads

The Four Cornerstones of American Democracy. 

Each figure represents one of the cornerstones.

Community

Home

School

Church

I don't know what all to say about this, but I'm glad it's there.

Justin Roberts

Last Saturday, we went on quite an adventure to the campus of USC for the Los Angeles Times' Festival of Books.  But let's be honest...we didn't drive all that way to see books...

...we came to see this guy.  Justin Roberts, in the flesh.

Yes, Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players.  They provide the soundtrack to any drive with the boys.  Fortunately, they are fantastic!  Last week Chris even requested I turn them on even when the boys were asleep in the back.

The best was when Justin said, "And this next song was requested by the Schmidt family who wrote in and said they had to hear 'Henrietta's Hair.'"  Yup, that was me.  It's OK to get teary-eyed at a kid's concert, right?  You would have thought we were seeing The Beatles.

Thanks Justin!  Truly a highlight in the Schmidt family life together!

A Swift Visit

One of the many nice things about living in San Diego is that people enjoy vacationing here.  Our dear friends Jeremy and Carina were in town this past week.  They brought with them a true gem, their newly adopted son Christopher.  What a joy to finally meet him.  Lord bless this family!

After dinner, a walk to the beach.

Pelicans aloft.

Swifts, it was a pleasure.  We'll be out your way soon.

Clubhouse Snack

Snacktime in the clubhouse.

When I say, "Smile Luke!" this is the reaction I get.  Hmm.

Sound It Out

After sounding out the individual letters, Chris hears Isaac say, "Dad!  Dad!  I think I just spelled kite!"  You saw it here folks.  Isaac spelled a word all on his own without prompting.  Genius!  Nevermind the missing E, please.

Isaac, come on over and we'll get a picture of you with your word.

No seriously, let's get a nice picture of you next to your word.