HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK!!!

J-Ma & G-Pa took Jack away today for a special all-day birthday trip. They went to The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach - Jack loves it there. They were gone from 7:30 this morning to 7:30 this evening. They took the train from LA to Long Beach, another thing Jack loves. They had a fun time - here are some special shots off of Joyce's camera from the trip. Joyce called to let Geoff and I know some of the sweet things Jack had said and done on their trip and one in particular is worth recording on our website. She asked him what it meant to him to be 7. What do you like about being older and he said that he liked it that he was growing in the area of self-control in his life. She confirmed for him that getting older not only meant getting bigger, but also growing in character. We thought it was sweet that Jack was so mindful of growing in character and that he found that to be interesting and exciting. Go, Jack!
Jack with some corals or something Jack and G-Pa

Jack was given $7 as a gift to spend and here is one of the things he bought...I'm not surprised...it looks as if it was probably the sugar-iest drink they had (not to mention the biggest!)

I've been to the Lorikeet Forest with G-Pa before and so can say that this is definitely NOT the first time the birds have been attracted to his hat!!!

Jack has recently gotten over his fear of feeding the Lorikeets up close and personal over the last year or so...now he loves it.

A house of cards at meal time

A birthday cake

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TYLER!!
Tonight, J-Ma and G-Pa brought a super fun birthday cake over to celebrate Tyler's #2 birthday. He loved every second of his party and managed to blow out his candles in one blow! We spread powdered sugar on the table and ate the cake right from there - no plates! We didn't plan it, it just happened. Afterward, we headed outside to enjoy this perfect weather and had a rousing game of freeze tag. Jack, the freeze tag instructer, informed us that there was no "Puppy Guarding"! Ha! Things haven't changed since I was a kid. I didn't know what puppy guarding was, but I remembered saying "no gives, no takes, no guarantees" when I was 7.
His first glimpse of the cakeGetting ready to huff & puff - turned out he only needed one (huff)!

Then, he wanted to see where the candles came from

This was Tyler's version of holding up "two" when asked how old he was.

Forget the fork

Jack & Gabe were SOOOO excited to lick powdered sugar right from the table. I was a dream come true for Jack.

Wearing off the sugar-high

Tyler, ALMOST two (his birthday is actually tomorrow)

No "puppy guarding"!

J-Ma going for it, too...Tyler kept pushing her out of her seat, pleading "Meee-Ma!" to come play

He's here!!!
My sister and Bro in Law had their baby a couple of weeks ago....so cute!

Declan & his Mommy

Rock Climbing in Malibu
Today, Geoff's brother Todd flew in from Santa Cruz for a one-day visit. That was so spontaneously fun. Geoff and Todd went to Zuma Beach in Malibu to enjoy rock climbing together (something they've enjoyed doing together for a long time!). Here are some "self-shots" they took while they were there.
The Millikan Bro'sTodd with his gear

Geoff...goin' down
(my guess is there is a term for that, but I don't know it)

Geoff...goin' down even more

Todd...goin' up....? I think...

Todd...

Geoff...

Geoff...also, what a gorgeous day! (and a gorgeous guy)

Tyler & the sprinkler hose

Geoff was outside tonight setting up some sprinkler hose for our hanging baskets. Tyler got to being super cute with it, so I ran in for the camera and got these shots.