Cups loves the water.

Did you see the huge smiles on Cups' face? Adam got in the water, and Mama put Cups in as well. Cups loved it so much that she kicked, smiled and smiled. The first time the kids treaded in the water was when the tide was super low, and Mama didn't bring her camera that time. Both times Cups ventured deeper on her own and didn't want to get out!! She relented Mama's sore back from holding her, and we did get out of the water eventually. After the craziness from the first time about a week ago, the water was not so bad the second time around.

On the way to the beach

Water sparkled as the sun hit it. Cups rode to the beach with supplies in the back of her tricycle.

Cups' first visit to Chuck E Cheese

This ride printed out a picture of Cups with Chuck E. Mama called it her second ultrasound of Cups since the picture printed on the same paper Cups' first ultrasound pictures printed on. We have the picture framed on the bookshelf at home the next day.





















Should we say that some had more fun than one? Cups did fine sitting next to Chuck E, and she was not sure about the rest of the rAt the end we had so many tickets. RyRy gave up his tickets, and O and Cups benefited. O walked out with many toys in hand, and Cups got a necklace and a bracelet - wow! Thank you for all the fun, Auntie Jo and Uncle James!!

Dessert time at Chengdu

Mama got some more business for Uncle James' photography business, so he treated everyone out to dinner — yummy! We had spicy Sichuan buffet at Chengdu. Desserts were very good, too. Kids enjoyed frozen treats. Oli, you'll be eating with us soon enough! After dinner the kids held hands as we got ready to go to Chuck E Cheese. Thank you, Uncle James and Auntie Jo!!

Signing the contract

Cups in front of a Wells Fargo coach that Mama's new boss is so proud of.



While waiting to sign the employment contract, Mama got a piece of blueberry coffeecake at Starbucks to see whether Cups would eat some of it since she just had a few bites of Mama's fried rice at lunch with Auntie Iris and Uncle Johnny shortly before. Cups had one bite.



. . .and a couple sips of the iced green tea.



Cups rested in the big chair for a little bit.



Cups admired the flower arrangement in the reception area.



"Are these real?" wondered Cups.

The contract signing took about 10 minutes. Towards the end Cupcakes started whimpering some and bit Mama's finger when Mama extended her hand to Cups while talking to her new manager-to-be. (Cupcakes had signs of teething the following week.)

Cupcakes' bed hair

Cups loves her tricycle.

Cups sat where the seat WASN'T before Mama was done putting her tricycle together. Cups managed to put crocs on (wrong feet) and entertained herself with shoes while Mama was busy. Later she would come and keep screws that Mama needed safe in her mouth.

A couple hours later the tricycle was ready for a ride. (It took a while for Mama to figure out "real-life" assembly from the simple instructions.) It was all worthwhile since Cups enjoyed it so much. We took pup-pup out for the first ride, and pup-pup rode in the yellow bin most of the time. Since there is not much room in the condo, we parked the tricycle in the garage, next to our new grill, "secretly" in our neighbor's parking spot that is not being used. Daddy's the only one that has asked to hang his bike on the wall.

The next day Cups went down to the garage with Mama to take the garbage out. Cups did not come along to the dumpster. When Mama came back in, she found Cups yelling to let Mama know where she was. Then she said, "Please. Please." How could Mama refuse Cups' request for a ride when she was being so polite?! Mama gave Cups a ride in her tricycle up the elevator. We parked the tricycle outside the condo door, waiting for Auntie Lisa's family to come play on Alki. Cups sat on her tricycle for about fifteen minutes before she got off to play around it for another ten minutes before we headed out. She does love her tricycle.

If anyone ever hears any whimpering coming from our garage, it's Cups wanting to get on the bike when it's time to go inside. She's very good about coming inside once she's had a ride. She's also been very good about staying on the bike for up to half an hour at a time!