At the end of September we went to Tahoe for a couple of days with John's family. For the last couple of years they've rented a house for a week there some time late in the summer. Because of various reasons not worth explaining, we were only able to stay for about 2 days. The house was really cool with a nice big yard and the kids' first introduction to bunk beds!! They didn't end up sleeping in them, but Isabelle was into it, so that's good news for us getting some!

Anyway, one day we went to a park and the next day we went to a pebble beach on the Lake. The weather was really nice and because it was the end of the season we had the whole beach to ourselves. The rest of the time we just hung out with the family. The kids had a great time. They like the extra attention and the trips get easier as they get a little older and are a little bit more flexible about where they sleep and staying out of things that are not safe. It's rare that these rental places are kid proofed... But two days is just about enough for them (and us) to be away. None of us really sleep that well when we're away and the extra attention that's needed, cooking for big groups, extra activity that wears them out and all that goes along with being away from home is only good for that amount of time, unless we want to deal with melt-down.

Isabelle talked for days after about Uncle Greg. She had great fun playing hide and seek with Aunt Susie and Auntie Joan and wanted to stay at the beach "all day!" David has fun anywhere he goes and just liked running around being his busy self. He had the last of a lousy cold so he wasn't quite up to speed, but he's well- tempered so was still ok.

It is beautiful there, and when the tourist season is over it's doubly nice. Funny thing to say coming from a tourist.