fini

newport beach, part last

maggie and milly and molly and may 

went down to the beach(to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang 

so sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles,and

milly befriended a stranded star

whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing 

which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone 

as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose(like a you or a me) 

it’s always ourselves we find in the sea

--e.e. cummings

newport beach, part penultimate

or the one where we do stuff other than go to the beach.

at the san diego zoo:

(ps - we had a *much* better experience than we did last time.)

the getty villa in los angeles (we also went to the getty museum, but no pics):

and more eating our faces off on balboa island:

ice cream for dinner, kids!

with cookies for dessert!

newport beach, part second

the wheelers. at the beach. (in the rain.)

really love what the weather is doing to your hair here, buddy:

dear emily: why are you wearing such gigantic dark sunglasses if it's overcast and raining out? 

duh, it's because they make me look like a movie star (insert glam emoji here).

actually, it's because i have a pretty intense eye infection hidden under those suckers. one that started the day we left for newport beach, lasted nearly the entire week we were there, and landed me at urgent care for a few hours trying to get it checked out.

and if i hadn't told you, you'd never have known.

so i guess the sunglasses did their job. and also the internet is full of people who are hiding something (insert sunglasses emoji here).

an evening stroll down to newport pier:

newport beach, part first

spring break fell on a big week for our family (anniversary + two birthdays) this year, so we decided to pack up and take a little trip to southern california for some sun and surf to celebrate.

unfortunately, socal didn't get the memo that we were coming and decided to be rainy and overcast for the first few days we were there (we actually left sun in seattle. irony much?)

but never fear, the wheelers don't melt in the rain, and a short ferry ride to balboa island for some sugar 'n spice frozen bananas and dad's hippo cookies cheered the kidlets right up.

plus, no crowds!

happiest day of his life chasing birds around balboa pier:

can't keep this crew from the water for long, though. 

swimsuits or none, the waves just call to them.

the sand, too:

birthday boy, two

happiest of birthdays to this total stud.

(who does not like candles poking holes in his angel food cake.)

love you, babe!

birthday boy

caleb turning four years old today like a boss.

down by the sea

come to the beach

where the sea is blue

and little white waves

come running at you.

a wave comes splashing

over your toes,

you just stand still

and away it goes.

we'll build a castle

down by the sea

and look for shells

if you'll come with me.

--unknown

emily goes to the beach

in case anyone was concerned by that blinding 

white light reflecting off the california coast.

(all the laughing so hard i'm crying emojis 😂)

a dozen

bryan and emily wheeler at the getty villa in 

los angeles on their twelfth wedding anniversary

as photographed by their children.

beachy keen

dear newport beach, 

you think a little rain is going to keep the wheelers away today?

born and raised in the pacific northwest, baby!

bring it.

last weekend's egg hunt

we have a great community egg hunt that the kids enjoy every year.

this year the weather was tops!

taking selfies with dallin before the hunt in an effort to 

distract him from entering the arena too soon.

(which worked for all of twenty seconds before i had to resort to just 

pinning him down while he screamed, "eggs! eggs! eggs!" toddlers, amiright?)

caleb dressed in his easter brights for easy spotting. with that bald 

blonde head, he was practically a sun beam out there.

dallin's first hunt! (it's serious business, yo.)

see summer's first, afton's first, and caleb's first.

spring!