Labor Day Fun

Today is officially Labor Day, but we really celebrated on Saturday and Sunday, with pool parties and hot dogs a plenty. On Saturday, Vivian, Ryan and their daughter Cameron came down from Los Angeles. We haven't seen them since Lauren's birthday party in April, and my, how Cameron has grown!! Even though she just turned 2 in February, she is just about the same size as Lauren. It was so cute to see them engaged in conversation and playing together. I only wished they lived closer. Viv is due with baby #2 in just two months and looks fab as always.

Immediately upon arrival, Cameron and Lauren scrambled up on our carousel horse for a ride:


It was a gorgeous, warm day, and before lunch we all lounged in the pool. Well, the adults lounged, while the girls went ballistic with activity. Cameron promptly introduced Lauren (and us) to a new form of pool entertainment we had never considered. Even though we have had kids of all ages in our pool over the past couple of years, leave it to a 2-year-old daredevil to come up with the idea to jump off of the travertine planters on the side of the pool.

Before I knew what was happening, Cam scrambled up on the ledge, and . . . .


She got more daring as the jumps proceeded (there must have been 30-plus!). I call this one the "Everybody Was Kung-Fu Fighting" pose:


As usual, Lauren was slightly hesitant upon viewing the new activity. She initially approached the ledge with some trepidation, begging Daddy to come closer:


But within 30 seconds, became an absolute pro:


The pool is only 5 feet deep, which is fine at Lauren's current size. After another year or so, however, we may need to figure out a way to put the kibosh on our makeshift jumping platform. I just hope and pray she doesn't figure out how to climb up on the top of the wall backing the pool anytime soon . . . . . . .