The Littlest Daisy Scout Blooms

Earlier this month, Lola's Daisy troop had its "bridging" ceremony, a beautiful ritual where the girls are honored for finishing their first year of Girl Scouts.. Every girl got a certificate and a little pot of - yes, you guessed it.

Beach Party Bonanza

Last weekend, we ventured up to Point Dume in Malibu for a double birthday party on the sand. Lola's good buddy Samantha turned 5 and lots of wiggly pre-schoolers swarmed the shore for hours - at least until the rip tide drove everyone back to the tent for cake and sandwiches.

The Summer Ritual: Swim lessons

It's been three years since Lola's first swim lesson (a two-week stint at the Rose Bowl that didn't really work out, but anyway...) And now, she's on the cusp of being "pool safe," as they say out here in the Land of Swimming Pools. Today, Lola jumped in the water, pulled herself up to the surface and kept on swimming - a real milestone that prompted a lengthy victory song afterward..

Her teacher Monica was an Olympic contender back in the 1960s. Over the years, she's taught generations of kids to swim. Naturally, she has the patience of a saint.