A PERFECT SUMMER DAY...

Is best friends coming to visit and play.

THE OC FAIR 09...

It feels like yesterday that I did the post about going to the fair in 2008 but it has already been a year & is upon us again. Going to the fair over summer break has been a good memory for me since I was a little girl. The tradition is alive and well because since having me own kids we have never missed a year & they love it.

Now going to the fair 30 weeks pregnant with 4 kids is a crazy idea. Thank goodness this year Michelle and Kaleb joined in on the fun and brought her Mom along who my children especially Josh just adore. I can honestly say that if they were not there I would not have made it. Thank you!!!!!!!

We did all the fun activities we always love, arts and crafts , animals, rides, shopping and of course ate lots of yummy really bad for us food. Here are some highlights.

We are hoping someday the wives of these boys will thank us for trying to instill a love of grocery shopping :)

THE 4TH OF JULY...

has always been a holiday I enjoy. Although I do miss the old days from when I was a kid and you could set off your own fireworks, that was the best.

We had a great day beginning with our little community parade.



There was lots of water squirted and candy thrown out.


This moment was the highlight for the kids.


Now we really did enjoy the parade but Josh was worried that Joe was going to get run over in the street each time he took a picture...his face is classic. I just think it is very interesting that he was never worried in getting run over when he would jump out to get candy.




Then we were off to Kevin and Michelles for a yummy BBQ good company and of course CAKE.


We finished up our day at a fun street fair.




and enjoyed a perfect spot for fireworks. Now I have no photos or cute video but Bryce was so funny during the firework show. He would scream with delight as each one went off and just start giggling hysterically which made all of us start to laugh. He was also hearing some of the kids go Oh my Gosh!!! so periodically he would yell out Oh Josh !!!! it was just so funny.

SUMMER IS...

Blowing by. Well at least the first 2 weeks have, which is better than what I had expected and I hope it will continue until we go back to school in September. What can I say, the faster summer goes the sooner this baby gets here. We have been having so much fun playing and getting together with friends. All of our adventures have been especially crazy but good because Michelle has been watching her sisters 3 kids for the last few weeks so we have this huge group of 8 kids under 9 wherever we go. The beach is always a favorite especially for Bryce or maybe it is just the licorice.



This trip to the beach was like going to Sea World. You can see the crowd of people gathering because we had dolphins swimming by and then a seal came up on shore. The kids loved it but I think the boys were still mostly into their cars.




and even better than the beach we have been hanging out a lot at ....the beach club.


We also took a little trip to go get Taryn who flew into Las Vegas. She of course had a great time with Grandma but we were happy to get her back. We stayed at the Monte Carlo which is the best because they not only havea big pool but also a wave pool and the lazy river. We also enjoy it there because of the fact their food court has a McDonalds so we now have the whole collection of ice age animals to play with.

Joe has often said he feels like he is never in any pictures and I will admit I have a tendancy to just take them of the kids so you will notice I paid special attention to get him in almost every one I took.

Here are some highlights-

JUNE IS....

always a crazy month. We, especially the girls have had lots of fun with all the festivities celebrating the last week of school. Now as we start this first official week of summer 4 out of the 6 of us are left with nasty colds. I do not think I have ever gotten a cold in June, oh well.

Here are just a few events I got pictures of over this last week...

Anika had a blast at her end of the year party at Jump in Jammin.


Josh had his soccer party.


I love this look of pure Joy as he received his trophy. He came out his first game and played and had fun and then he was done. I guess in his 4 year old head he was like well I played once and I can check that off my list. We had to work hard/bribe him to get out there for just even a few minutes of each game. Of course I do hope the excitement of getting his trophy is enough to get him playing in the fall. He is so funny because now if he ever gets in trouble he is always like “Mom don’t take my trophy." I would never do such a thing but if I get desperate…hmmm.





The last day of school was great because it was the first real sunny day we had in like 3 weeks so of course we went and got ice cream.





This lucky girl and her cousin are starting their summer vacation in Minnesota with Grandpa and Grandma.

So we are now ready for lazy mornings, no crazy schedules and just spending our days at the beach or in the pool.

Ahhh... the joy of Summer!!!

MINI CHEFS...

last year I signed the kids up for the kidgets club which does events at the mall and also has lots of great discounts you can use there. The membership is $5.00 per year per kid. It has been the best 5 bucks ever spent. This weekend they did an event called mini chefs where the kids got to tour a new restaurant opening at the mall. They got to go back in the kitchen and watch the chefs in action, it was so much fun. Then after the tour they had crafts and an awesome sampler plate for them each to enjoy. I would recommend for anyone with kids to join the club, you will not be disappointed.

On the tour.

Cotton candy is a huge treat for them because I never buy it. I can not stand how sticky they get or maybe it is how sticky I end up getting just trying to clean them up.

25 week Belly Shot

THE BRIDGE TO...

JUNIORS!!!

Anika is no longer a brownie she has moved on. They had a nice little ceremony for the girls. Next year we are going to try out a junior troop in our area but many of these girls will be Anika's friends forever.

It started out red carpet style.

Then it was time to cross over the bridge from brownies to juniors.

She walked so fast I did not get a cute pic of her on the bridge.

Congrats Anika!!!