ABCD!

In my humble opinion, this is a classic video of Mary Jane busting out her alphabet to me while sitting at the dinner table.  Betsy is having fun off to the left of the screen and Mary Jane feels like she is entertaining the masses.

Mini-Quake

Hey now, some of us are trying to blog here!  None of these ridiculous 3.2 earthquakes which are just a mere shifting boom in the crust.  We Californians expect things to shake and fall in case of quaking.  That was nothing more than a big truck driving by... even helicopters shake the house more than that.

I guess those pictures on USGS.gov don't translate well.  I try to place one over there to the left and all I got out of it was three not-exactly-parallel lines.  Why, that's modern art, for you.

Anyway, the girls never woke up and they've never really experienced a large earthquake (thank goodness).  Oh, but some day they will.  But hopefully not soon.  Hopefully not soon.

The bunnies on the other hand... they might be thumping away.

Having Fun at Music Class

Talking 'bout My Generation!

 Mary Jane and Betsy Jo thoroughly enjoy their Sunday morning music class over on Venice Blvd.  One man, one guitar, nine or ten children, random assortment of parents, noisemakers, scarves, and a tunnel.  What more could you ask?  Mary Jane and Betsy both jump up and down on the trampoline (that's what Baby Natalie is balanced on in the picture below) with aplomb.  Can't say that I've ever used 'aplomb' before in a sentence.

 Two girls with their jeans and Who t-shirts ready to dance!

You mean it's time to go?  Boo hoo!

The Sea and the Sand

 Mary Jane and Betsy went to the beach on Friday afternoon for a brief sojourn while Daddy talked to some of his old UCLA work friends.  Initially, they were both hesitant of the sand as it can just get into everything.  Yes, nothing like raisin dropped in sand (ew, more fiber?).

But they had quite the time there.  The most difficult thing about the beach has always been just getting there.  Luckily it was a weekday afternoon and Daddy has always been quite keen about finding parking spaces adjacent to the ocean.  Hopefully they'll be back to the beach again soon.

Paul wanted to go but stayed in the car.  He was afraid of sharks. He refused any further comments about it.  I guess every week is shark week.  That's what Sharkey says.

Raisins... before the Sand

Flopped on the Sand

To Bee or Not to Bee

Honeycomb

Bees in our tree

This past weekend Mister John came to the surprising discovery that there was a swarm of bees in the corner of the backyard.  No, not the little Bee Girl from the Blind Melon video, actual bees.  While he was feeding the rabbits, he heard a buzz or two and didn't think much of it.  But then he looked straight up, and there it was, three feet above his head, a large swarm of bees centered around their queen.  Needless to say he was a bit startled and was about to tell Miss Jill that they needed Animal Control.  However, that would have been a bad choice of words as that's the number one calls with a deceased animal.  (Thump.)  Time to call some bee people whomever they may be.  At least someone who will deal with the swarm with funny hats and smoke guns or whatever it takes.

Not exactly in our tree

Some  volunteer on the phone said that sometimes the swarms just leave after a day or two.  Well, the bees seemed to grow in strength.  Minor bit of panicking.  Mister John tried to use the sprinkler and later the hose -- all the while ready to bolt for the den door in case of angry swarm -- but neither of those choices seemed to work.  Time to call the professionals.  It took him about 30 minutes but it was successful as he took the queen and the majority of the swarm with him, leaving us the honeycomb behind.



The beemaster told Mister John and Miss Jill that there was actually a swarm of the Africanized bees at a construction site in Marina del Rey this afternoon.  Wow, the actual "killer" bees.  They're on the Westside!  How can they afford the rent?  That assuredly means that the happy couple will stay an even more distant step from the next bee or two that they will see.

The professional

Cooking in the Kitchen

After Daddy cleaned the back yard kitchen with Mary Jane and Betsy Jo this afternoon, Mary Jane decided to cook her own meal.  Wisely using the microwave, Mary Jane cooked her pretzel with a great deal more efficiently.  After all was completed, she proudly proclaimed, "It's my lunch!"  Yes, it is your lunch... and a good one at that.

Brief Note from Betsy Jo

Betsy Jo says Hello to all the nay-sayers who don't think she can make another cute picture.  There ya go.  She'll make another one tomorrow as well.

As for the bunnies, they were not happy (or hoppy for that matter) of being chased around today by Betsy and Mary Jane.  "Not so cute," proclaimed Heidi in between thumps.

And so it goes in the Erb family for another Friday...

Survived!

Getting to and from Mary Star today was no easy task.  Nothing like stalling in the middle of traffic a few different times.  But I made it.  Assuredly I made it.  I won't be trying that again any time soon but it can be done.

Got home right in time for baths.  Ah, nothing like Mary Jane and Betsy Jo splashing about.

"Cold water time!"  Yes, indeed... nothing like being able to drink some cold water from the tap after a nice long warm bath.

Beware the New Stick Shift Driver!

Watch out, San Pedro.  Mister John is heading down to San Pedro tomorrow in the CRV... yep, a stick shift.  Jump onto the the sidewalks... find some sort of escape route.  At least the departure from  home will be no later than 6:30 so the roads will still be clear of potential victims.

Ruby Jane Makeover?

Ruby Jane was having doubts about her own flop-eared appearance and this afternoon briefly thought about having stand-up ears.  However, she realized that was not the real her and she then chased her cage-mate Philip around the cage and bit him.  That's what he gets for mocking her appearance.  Luckily Mr. John was around to take this photo before the mocking and the resultant chomping occurred.