Week 3 - JULY!

SUNDAY

When you're tight, you don't even have to call to make this happen.  It just does!

MONDAY

This load is heavy and I think the heat adds 10 pounds.  Or maybe 20?  Cole, Andi and Ryan love going to Magic Mountain.  Jackson isn't always thrilled but enjoys being around his friends.

We hung out alone after "our friends" left.  The kids like the little rides quite a bit so they enjoyed going over and over again on each one.  The bus has terrified Jackson but after watching Andi and Ryan going three or four times, he finally mustered up the courage to join them.  The three of them went on four more rounds until I had to tell them we were done and ready to head home.  It made me so happy to see Jackson overcome this fear.  Silly boy.

TUESDAY

With the 4th of July 5k being the next morning, Tuesday night was spent preparing our PATRIOTIC TANKS for our big day.  It was rather exhilarating I must say.

After studying up on PREPARING FOR A RUN, we felt the best way to spend the night before was to dance like fools, eat Chipotle and head to bed way too late.

WEDNESDAY - 4th of July!

Becky began picking up everyone at about 6:15am.  Whew, what a rush.  I was totally nervous pulling up to the location.  It was much like my nerves before the parades in which I have performed.  You would think as you got older anxiety would calm down.  Nope!  Luckily the goof balls kept me laughing as they "warmed up".

We all started together but soon, Jen and Michalle were in the lead.  Fran and I tried staying close behind but just couldn't cut it.  I really fell back shortly before the one mile mark.  I had to walk for a second and I told Fran to go on ahead.  On my own, I worked to try to motivate myself to keep going.  I walked three times, I believe but overall, didn't do too badly.  Jen and Michalle clocked in at about 29 minutes, Fran at 30 minutes and I came in at 34 minutes.  I could have done better I think but I really do get bored running.  What is that??  Regardless, I'm so glad I did it and want to do more.

Whew - WE DID IT!  And then one of us did it again, when she got back home, in the heat.... crazy lady!

After our strenuous run, Michalle and I walked over to the parade to meet up with our families.  The parade was lame and we lasted only 45 minutes BUT it was festive and the kids did have fun.  I really wouldn't mind doing it all again next year. Just as we were skipping out and heading to the cars, the beauty queens appeared in the parade and Andi HAD to stay and watch the PRINCESSES until she saw the very last one!

We had such a nice afternoon swimming, relaxing and cooling off.  Honestly, this summer has been so fantastic and next year is only going to get better as Cole gets older.

Speaking of Cole... yeah, he fell in, we let him, he has to learn, and yeah, I got a picture!

This year I really wanted to figure out a tradition for our family.  I feel like all day you wait around for the 9pm firework show.  Being the beach lover that I am, I thought it'd be a great tradition to go to the beach during the day, have a fire, and watch fireworks at night.  Andrew was leery saying the kids are still too young.  And the fact is, by the time 6pm rolled around, I was ready to call it a day.  Cole was done, I was done, kids were getting done.  At the last minute we decided to all go out together but we wanted to stay local which meant we missed out on an evening with some of our friends in Stevenson Ranch.  When did we get so old and lazy??  We headed over to Longshore Park in hopes that there would be very few people because there wasn't a show nearby.  

We arrived and were so excited.  We got a parking spot in the teeny little lot and set up our blankets on the grass hill along with maybe two or three other families we didn't know.  This was it - we had finally found our place!

The kids had a blast playing in park and it was really all so fantastic.... until 8:30pm.  Our fun came to a hault when tons and tons of people starting pouring in, sitting in front of us, standing in front of us, talking, being obnoxious, etc.

About 5 minutes after this picture was taken and the cupcakes were devoured, the kids left the bluff they had claimed and headed back to the grass hill with their parents.

None of us made it very long as all were cold and sleepy.  But, it was a good day overall.

THURSDAY

Ugh!!!

FRIDAY

Sanches has us over for some water fun and pizza.

It must have been a blast because this is the first nap of the summer for these two!  Well done, Julie.

SATURDAY

I washed my 5k tank to wear to church but Andi decided she wanted to sleep in it.  And lounge in it all Sunday morning.

Week 2

MONDAY - Oops, should be Sunday but I got overzealous on the last post.  Oh well...

We haven't seen the abuelos for what seems like forever and grandpa has been so nervous about his eye surgery, I wanted to head out and visit with them.  I had a full tank of gas and so I took advantage of this rare occasion.

Andi photographed some of her favorite peeps.

TUESDAY - Swimming at Wirthlin's... again.  Too lazy to take photos.

WEDNESDAY - $1 Movies.  Too busy to take pics because I did this trip on my own.

THURSDAY

After taking Michalle to the airport that morning, we got to hang out and play with Allie and Toby.  The kids had fun having company over all day.  Toby had fun using Andi's bed.  He's getting so old!

FRIDAY

We got a late start and it was breezy, but we still enjoyed our time on the beach.  I love that my kids love it as much as I do.

Despite being chilly, they didn't want to leave.

With Andrew out of town and my kids at grandpa and grandma's, I had the entire evening to myself.  We celebrated Paola's birthday until 1am.  And then, I went home for the best night's sleep I've had in years!

We were all so happy Paola had a birthday!

SATURDAY

Andrew was gone with the YM campout and Jenny was stranded at home so it made for the perfect pool date.  I just love watching Andi swim because she's so determined, fearless, and adventurous.  Cole was a bit of a pill but I'm starting to accept it's his age.  The boys had fun as always making up games and what not with the other boys there.

School's Out - Wk 1

FRIDAY

Andi didn't want to swim.  Andi wanted to wear her pj's.  Andi wanted Lauren to make her a salad.  Andi is a diva!

We needed to have a Primary Activity and so I thought it would be nice to have an End of the School Year party that Friday night.  This way people were still in town and being Friday, people didn't have games and errands, etc.  We had 42 kids I could not believe it.  It was great.... despite the fact the older ones wanted to jump over Mindee's wall or exit out the side gate.  Oh man! 

SATURDAY

Bri and Mark planned an early Father's Day morning so the kids "had" to spend Saturday night at my parent's house.  After dropping them off at about 6:30pm, we headed out to our "free" date night.  We are a couple of weaklings but it was still nice to get out and enjoy the park on the grown up side.

This being our last ride, last of THREE, Andrew was DONE.  I need to go with someone over 48'' tall and under 30!

SUNDAY

We didn't get to see Papa for Father's Day but we did start his gift.  It's still in the making though so maybe I'll post the final product in a month or so??  It's a good thing he doesn't look at the blog :)

Mark took us out golfing for Father's Day.  We so appreciate his generosity because dad and Andrew so appreciated the memories.  I love how we're all sitting in the carts watching Dad.

I, of course, got a birdie and the others, well they played "ok".  Especially Mark - check out that hill he got to play!  Oh, and see dad and Bri ducking in the cart... was that for Ben?

After church Father's Day festivities.

A grandpa and grandma visit is now never complete without a jacuzzi dip.

These are some lucky kids!

MONDAY 

I don't know what I would do without this "little man of the house".  Andrew was gone much of the start of summer and Jackson stepped up to help me.  This Monday began with Jackson making everyone "breakfast".

First trip to Hurricane Harbor - I kinda wish we had passes!

Jackson and Ryan loved the canon's at the top - yes, the ones they could use to shoot water at people.  Andi and Cole liked the little slide.  Cole liked napping in the stroller near the end.  I liked ticking off some girls over lounge chair occupancy.

TUESDAY

This was Andrew's 34th birthday but due to work, we didn't even see him that day.  :(

My friend Katie just so happens to have parents that live in the very nice part of my ward boundaries.  They have opened up their pool for whomever every Tuesday.  Jackson was so very brave jumping from the diving board and the jacuzzi with or without fins.  Such a great day!

 WEDNESDAY

The kids are so happy Summer is here because now they are able to go to the movies.  $1 is much better than the small fortune of normal tickets.  Cole lasted the first hour and we spent the next 40 minutes in the hall.  Oh well.

Finally home for an evening, we were able to spend some time with the "Birthday Boy".  What you can't see in this picture is that Andrew found his dessert in the fridge the night before and ate a piece when we were all in bed.

FHE on a Wednesday, sure, why not.  Let's throw in a little "Red Rover, Red Rover..."

THURSDAY

Jenni, Owen and Emily took us over to a pool to swim and eat.  All was fabulous until Jackson got stung by a bee - being it was his second sting, he was a bit calmer.  He clung onto the cold can until that can was luke warm.  I'm just glad this didn't end our party.

The Magic Show at the Library did not disappoint.  Seriously, he was hilarious.  My favorite part was when he picked up on Lauren but I don't think the kids quite got that part.  They liked the fire, bird, and other silly things.

FRIDAY

We really can't get enough pool time!

SATURDAY

 Doesn't everyone clean the backyard in their chonies?

A lady from my book club hosts an annual Tea Party.  This thing is no joke and simply exquisite.  I loved it.  LOVE IT.  Check it out, it's 100% a tea party.  So cool.

SUNDAY

With old Hawthorne friends at my parents, we decided to head to Acton and spend a couple hours with everyone.  Cole didn't care what we were doing he just cared about stealing Jackson's See's sucker.

PHEW - what a week.  I have to say, we were real adventurous during the first week... KIDS, not every week will be as exciting!