A busy July....

It has been a fun filled July and here are a few pic's to show what we have been up to....

We took a quick trip to my sister's house on the CA coast in Point Arena for our now "traditional" 4th of July visit. Her cute little eclectic town has a fun celebration the Saturday after the 4th with street vendors, music and fireworks. This year marked the 100th anniversary of Point Arena so it was a bit more wild and wacky than the past two years. Our friends came along and we camped out in Sarah's yard at the Ranch she lives on. We had lots of laughs and the trip will be long remembered as the one where Jack woke the rooster who in turn woke everyone at 4am, the "transgender" marching band and the never ending parade with skinny-dipper's! As I said - wild and wacky....


Sarah was a bit hit with the kids when she busted out the fresh strawberries!

A few days later we got a short but fun visit with our long time friends the Robinson's as they were driving thru CA down to their home in San Diego. We stayed with them for 5 weeks the summer of '03 when they lived in Spain. I blame them for introducing Emma to dogs as she bonded with their black Lab Stitch while we were there and has been a dog-crazed loon ever since!! We got a quick photo of the kiddo's here - Patrick, Andrew, Emma and Kate (who was just causing her mother morning sickness while we were Spain!)

Emma getting some "QT" with Stitch before they took off. She is standing here next to me as I type and just sighed and said "I looove Stitch"

The kids finally got out of school July 18th. They were excited to be done and both had great years and grades. We are proud of them both! Here they are posing on their last daywith our most wonderful crossing guard Mr. Benny. We all honestly love this guy. He is the best and at 82 he amazes us with his love and dedication to keeping our kids safe as they cross to school each day.

Here is Emma getting ready to race at her swim meet - go girl!!

Playing catch up...

Cheers!

My adorable cousin Kate with her adorable baby Josephine

some of the cutie kids

My mom actually being allowed to operate an ATV with my cousin's son Nick -who authorized that??

Dave and Corinne - now and 50 years (actually 51 1/2) ago - Way to go!

It has been awhile since I posted anything new but we have been busy being busy.... Here are a series of posts of the latest and greatest - or the latest at least.... Earlier in June I was thrilled to be able to sneak away for four days to attend my Aunt and Uncle's 50th wedding celebration in Colorado. Lots of my cousins and all the Aunt's and Uncle's were able to make it and we had a wonderful time hanging out and catching up with each other. It was of course ironic that I was able to take a "getaway" from kids but wished they and Jim were there the whole time because they would have loved my cousin's ranch. Horse's, cabins. ATV's, incredible scenery. lots of other kids, great company, food and festivities, etc.... I managed to enjoy myself nonetheless - and Mr. Mom did a great job holding down the fort. Thanks

Summer swimming....

The kids are doing the summer "fun" swim team this year again and are loving it. It is laid back but fun and since they are in year round school they at least get a little swimming in. Emma missed the first meet since she was camping with her Girl Scout troop but Patrick was there and by the end was a little exhausted... as you can see.

Just call him Mr. Saxophone

Yes, Jack is wearing a swimshirt and goggles and watching the concert like that atop Jim's shoulders. Believe me you wouldn't have wanted to try to convince him otherwise either.... he is a fiesty one

Last week was the Spring Concert at Patrick's school and he got a chance to play in front of people for the first time. It was adorable hearing the beginning band play BINGO and some other tunes they have been "mastering". He has taken off and actually sounds good when he plays - much to our amazement and enjoyment! Way to go Patrick!

Mom & Daughter camping

getting ready to leave...

Emma taking her dog for a hike
Emma and friends trying out the rope swing

Emma and I went camping last weekend with a couple other moms & daughters from her girl scout troop and had a blast. Here are a few highlights...

Karma??

Emma's new walking cast

Five days after doing something nice (donating her hair) Emma was jumping on the trampoline and injured her foot. She complained that it hurt right then but within a few hours she was running around our court with a rope around her waist and pulling Patrick on his Heely's. Soon afterwards she complained that it hurt again. I, being the compassionate mother that I am, told her that if it hurt so much then why was she running around pulling Patrick??? And so around and around we went for several days. She would run around and play on it and then complain that she couldn't walk on it to do things like... set the table. clear her dishes, so on and so forth and I would in turn tell her I didn't believe her for a second because she obviously felt good enough to do all sorts of other fun activities - like running at the park, family fit night at school, etc... So finally on Sunday I couldn't take her complaining anymore and Jim agreed to take her into the hospital to get it x-rayed. (They get to bypass the ER and go straight to Radiology - FINALLY a perk after all these years!) After 2 hours he called and said that it was indeed broken. She actually pulled a ligament which in turn pulled off a bit of her bone on the top of the foot. She had to use crutches for 8 LONG days and we had to practically duct tape her down to get her to stop walking on it. The hospital does not stock the walking type boot cast that she needed in her size so had to order it. Makes perfect sense right since kids NEVER hurt themselves?!?!?! Needless to say. we were all very irritated. At any rate the boot finally came in on Tuesday (Jim's birthday) so we got to have an excuse to go in to the hospital and embarrass him with birthday treats. She is now free to walk again and has decided that crutches look way cooler when someone else is using them and they pretty much stink when you have to use them!! Maybe she was just getting paid back for all the times she locks Jack out of her room! hee hee

She did it!

Emma (8 years old)

"before"

"during"

"after".... with 10 inches to donate

Her mommy when she was 8 years old

Honestly, I can not even describe how emotional I have been over this event but my sweet girl just chopped off 10 inches of her hair to donate to "Locks of Love". She has been growing it for the last 2+ years because we realized that by the time her hair would be long enough she would be the exact age I was when I lost all of my hair due to chemotherapy. Back then, wigs were awful and I refused to wear one but now they have much better technology and thanks to everyone who is willing to donate hair, kids today can have much more real looking wigs. Her Girl Scout troop was doing a community service actiivity on Friday night so she decided the time was right and she did it! It was amazing and I am so incredibly proud of her. It meant so much to me to watch her do it. Plus, she looks darling and it will be much easier for the summer!! I LOVE YOU EMMA!