Summer Vacation - Part II

We love summer. Sleeping in and lazy days are what part of it is all about. Some other highlights:

Playing some Game Boy.

4th of July b-b-q

We've been known to have a few dance parties now and then before bedtime.

Olivia lost her first tooth. It was loose forever - she would never let us pull it out even when it was hanging by a thread.

More swim lessons.

We met the family in Carlsbad and had a great time with everyone.

Max and Julia stayed in the water most of the day.

What a cutie pie.

Liam got possessive of everything. Even boogie boards that weren't his.

Julia loves the beach and the water.

Baby Peter was born while we were there so we got to see him on our way out of town.

Panguitch 2009

I'm finally posting from the fishing trip '09. Every year the pics look almost exactly the same except the kids are bigger and there are more bodies on the boat. Compare these pics from one and two years ago. It's like an age progression study!













p.s. I kinda wish I had taken some shots of the super creepy hallway.

Summer Vacation - Part I

When Julia turned 10 in April, I had this realization that time is moving way too fast and before I know it my kids won't be kids anymore. So I decided this summer I wasn't going to over-schedule any of us and just let my kids be kids. So far so good.

In May we planted a garden and each of us planted a vegetable of our choice. Olivia picked carrots, Julia-cucumbers, Mommy-beets and radishes, and Daddy loves the tomatoes. We also have red bell peppers, herbs and are planting spinach and broccoli raab this week.

Katie and Olivia harvesting our first ripe vegetable--radishes. Katie wouldn't have a bite, but she sure had fun pulling them from the ground.

Proud farmers.

Liam started swimming lessons again this year and he's fearless and is actually starting to swim.

Julia finding amusement in her sibling's swim lessons.

Last day of lessons and Liam went off the diving board like a champ. Olivia wouldn't have anything to do with it.

My favorite part of June - my peonies.

Liam finding joy and wonderment in those nasty weeds.

Running through the sprinklers.

Liam helping dad mow the lawn.

Last Day of School

The girls were ecstatic about the last day of school and both wanted to wear dresses. It must have been a special day because dresses are usually "like, no way mom!" 

Going to school with daddy on their last day.

Olivia and Nadia proudly displaying their rewards.

Olivia graciously gave her big stick to Liam. Way too nice. I don't know what got into her because she is my sugar addict. She reminds me of someone who was like that at her age (the sugar addict part, not the nice part). 

Olivia, Preslee and Nadia.

Miss Bergstedt, Olivia and Mrs. Bitner. She had THE BEST teachers.

Liam keeping it real on the playground. 

This is the pathway the girls took each morning to the kindergarten playground. Julia made sure Olivia got there and held her hand each morning the whole way. 

All the kindergarteners would peek their little heads over this wall looking for their moms and dads after the bell rang each day. I will miss this sight when I drive up to the school next fall. 

Finally

Another Childhood Scent

When mom and dad left my house a couple weeks ago, mom left me the Noxema they had with them. I've been using it at night, and the first night when I tucked Katie in she said, "What's that smell?"

I said, "What do you mean?"

"That spicy mint smell. I smell grandpa. I love it!"

"Oh" I said. "It's grandma & grandpa's face cleaner. I have some."

"You smell DELICIOUS!! Let me smell your face!"

And every night since then, she calls for me to come to her room so she can "sniff grandpa" and smell him before she goes to bed.

And she has her first loose tooth.

Calling All Cooks!

Olivia had her "Calling all Cooks" birthday party with all her friends. She planned the whole thing. Her menu choice was pizza, blueberry muffins and a crepe birthday cake. The kids loved it!

Rolling out the pizza dough.

Happy birthday girl.

Thumbs up by Eliza.

The requested crepe cake from Olivia. 

Everyone had their choice between Nutella or powdered sugar filled.

Julia was such a HUGE help at the party. I couldn't have done it without her.

Julia's dream come true.

Katie covered in whipped cream.

Going nuts with the whipped cream.

Getting silly.

Right hand woman, Aunt Kristen.

One "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to" moment. 

Second meltdown moment. Party over.