Look Who's Driving!

Steven's favorite part about going on Papa's boat was definitely helping him drive and eating cookies. The other kiddos enjoyed that part too.

Swimming in the Lake

Cameron was definitely not a fan of going on the boat - I don't think he liked having to wear a life jacket. But he did love getting out of the boat for a quick swim in the lake. The other kids were big fans of swimming in the lake as well.

Big Kid Fun

While the little kids had fun on the boat by riding the tube, eating treats, swimming in the lake, and helping Papa drive the boat, the big kids got a chance to wakeboard and waterski. It had been a while since I had wake boarded, and even longer since I had skied. I had forgotten how fun it is! I'd also forgotten how much it leaves you hurting afterwards though.
Chris skiing:

Kara wakeboarding:

Chris wakeboarding:

Kathryn wakeboarding: Kara skiing:

Adam wakeboarding:

Tubing

We visited my parents in Redding for about a week in July, and of course we had to go out on the Lake a few times while we were there. Elise was brave enough to go on the tube, but Steven wanted nothing to do with it. It was funny because last summer Steven was the one who was such a dare devil on the tube. He kept wanting to go faster and faster. I guess all things come and go in phases when you are only two or three.

Bike Riding

You always hear it said that once you know how to ride a bike, you never forget how even if it has been a long time. Well, I think it must be true because I am fairly certain I hadn't ridden on a bike since I was a teenager, but while we were visiting my family we decided to ride bikes along the Sacramento River Trail and luckily, it came back to me. We had a lot of fun. The kids rode in trailers pulled by Chris and my Dad and they weren't so sure about having to ride in trailers, but we let them get out and play at the park right by the river so that made up for it.

Elise and Steven in a trailer:Chris getting ready to leave the park pulling Elise and Steven: Hannah in her trailer.

Cameron fell asleep on Steven in the trailer, and that was the only part of the ride he didn't scream. When we stopped at the park we called my mom and had her come pick him up in the car and take him home so we could finish our ride in peace. All the cousins by the river.A terrible family picture by the river. This is really close to where Chris and I took our engagement photos so I thought it would be fun to snap a quick family photo here. Since Chris and I were both wearing out bike attire and the kiddos wouldn't look at the camera, and we stupidly sat behind a bunch of reeds, it didn't turn out so well. Oh well, nice thought.

Swinging at the park. Thanks Dad and Uncle Adam for pushing us for such a LONG time.

Summer Fun

Wow - school starts in a week and a half! Where has the summer gone? These kiddos have been having a ton of fun and I have a lot of things to catch up on posting. They have spent a ton of time in their little pool in our backyard this summer keeping cool. Elise and Steven have contests to see who can jump in and make the biggest splash, and Cameron loves to watch. He thinks the whole thing is hillarious.

Toothfairy

Elise lost her first tooth last week. It just fell out while she was wiggling it right after she got out of bed one morning, and all day she kept asking if it was bedtime yet because she couldn't wait for the toothfairy to come. I had to laugh, because when she went to bed that night her prayers included this:
"Please bless the toothfairy that she won't get sick.....And if she does get sick help her to recover quickly so she can still make it to my house to take away my tooth and leave me a prize." Classic. I had to hold back the laughter. I think she looks pretty cute with a missing tooth, don't you?

So Steven

I love this picture because it is just so "Steven" in so many ways.

First, he is covered in dirt from head to toe. I don't know another kid that attracts dirt like he does. I'm not sure if he rolls in it or what, but whenever he plays outside he always comes back inside a nice shade of splotchy, dirty, brown.

Second, he is holding his markers. I used to never let him use markers because he just couldn't be trusted. The second I would turn my head he would be doing something naughty with them, whether it be writing on himself, his clothing or a wall. However, the last few months he has proven to be a little more trustworthy, and now that I will let him use markers he wants to make pictures with them everyday.

Third, he is taking a little nap right at the table in the middle of his art project. I promise you that when this kid is really tired he can fall asleep anywhere and doing just about anything. When he decides it is time for a nap, there is just no keeping him awake.

I love that kid, dirt and all!

Summer Art

I have been trying to keep my kiddos busy through the summer months so I don't have to listen to whining of boredom or fighting due to boredom and so on. I have decided to have them make something artsy at least once a week. This was one of their more favorite projects. Maybe I will make a little gallery at the end of summer with all the stuff they have made.

A Little Piece of Quiet

Elise has gone to a day camp in Arcadia all this week. She has really had a good time there. They play games, sing songs, do crafts, swim at Arcadia High School swimming pool, and they even went on a Field Trip to Dodger Stadium one day. She will be going again next week and she can't wait!

Today when I picked her up from camp she said to me, "Mom, now I know how you feel when you say you can't get any piece of quiet. My best friend from camp, Ashley, just talks, talks, talks all day long and I can't ever get even the tiniest little piece of quiet when she is around!"

I love two things about her comment. One, if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black, I don't know what is because she is the biggest chatterbox I have ever met. Maybe she's met her match. Two, I love how she has interpreted what I am saying when I say "I can't get any peace and quiet." Almost six year olds are funny.

The Milk Situation

Three kids, three kinds of milk. I think this situation may be a little bit out of hand. I laugh everytime I go to the grocery store and load in six or more milk containers (at least two of each, sometimes more).

It is almost as ridiculous as my diaper situation. I buy four different kinds of those. Size 6 for daytime and nighttime, and size 4 for daytime and nighttime. That alone can take up an entire cart at Target. Belive me, I know. I sort of protested about a month ago by just not buying the nighttime ones. A few mornings of wet sheets and I was over it. I went back to Target and bought two more boxes. But at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel on that one. I am hoping to have my big boy potty trained by the end of summer. Keep your fingers crossed for me on that one.