So... I stole this idea from
Elsie Marley (because it's such a good idea, and she invited us to join along)... To have a post documenting our summertime activities... Life can get so busy, I think it will be fun for me (and the kids) to look back after summer and re-live those memories! I plan on adding entries by date with the most recent first... I can't say they'll be daily, but I'm sure I will be updating frequently as things happen... Here's what's happened so far...
***UPDATE***
Tuesday August 7th...
Leaving California is bitter sweet...
We always make a mandatory stop at the Olive Pit... It's our half way point on the drive home...
As soon as we see Mount Shasta I know we're close to home...
Saturday August 4th...
We took the kids to Knotts Berry Farm for the first time...
For those of you who haven't been... It's a theme park based on an old western ghost town...
This was my crazy daughter's favorite ride... the Silver Bullet...
Photo op while waiting in line...
We had such a good time... And I'm sure my kids will remember this day forever...
Friday August 3rd...
We pick up my long lost BFF from the airport... Since she moved to the East Coast, I get to see her maybe every 2years... way to long... This time I held her captive for four days...
We enjoyed a relaxing day at Fashion Island... The kids love the Koi pond there...
And of course we love the shops...
Monday July 30th...
We headed to Claremont to visit with some friends... The girls immediately started working on a craft. After cutting out fabric squares, they decided to "quilt" them together and make purses...
With a little help... and a little drama... they assembled them pretty quickly...
and were super excited to use them...
The "quilting"... they overlapped the squares, and then used a decorative stitch on all sides...
The next day we visited a botanical garden...
It was fun walking around a seeing all of the native plants...
We also spied a giant ant made out of twigs....
Being reflective... at the reflection pool...
Saturday July 28th...
Grandma brought Noah home some Lego candy...
Being the mean Mommy...
I told him he had to build two things first before he could eat any... he he he...
He built a house and airplane...
Today was also Mom and Daughter Day...
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| We hit our favorite consignment shop... |
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| I spent a total of $10... and walked away with a dress, top, sweater, and a skirt... |
We ate lunch at the Blue Frog... and wondered around the historic city of Orange looking through all of the antique shops...
We always have fun together...
Friday July 27th...
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| We went Whale watching in Newport Beach... |
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| First we spotted a pod of Dolphins... |
Then we saw them... two Blue Whales right in front of us...
All in all a perfect day...
Thursday July 26th...
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| At the beach again... This time in Belmont along the peninsula... |
Tuesday July 24th...
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| My daughter loves playing dress up from Grandma's closet... |
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| These were her favorite outfits... Silly Girl... |
Monday July 23rd...
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| It was great Grandma Barbie's birthday... We had a lovely dinner out on the patio... |
Sunday July 22nd...
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| Papa built the kids a fort in the office... |
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| They enjoyed sleeping in their "secret" hideout... |
Saturday July 21st...
Today was "Grandma Day"... The kids look forward to this tradition every year... They get grandma to themselves without mommy, brows through the stores along Seal Beach, and end with lunch at Ruby's on the pier... A very fun day!
Friday July 20th...
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| Took the Kids to Newport Beach to meet up with Auntie Sue... We had a lovely walk around Back Bay... |
Wednesday July 18th...
The Kids had their second swim lesson...
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| We are so spoiled... A neighbor teaches private lessons in her pool... So we walk over (usually barefoot) and I can drink my morning coffee while soaking up some sun... Such a great way to start the morning... |
Tuesday July 17th...
We spent the day at Mother's Beach...
Monday July 16th...
Here it is... (For those of that have been following)
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| I found the picture of me at the fountain in the Mission in San Juan Capistrano when I was six... |
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| It was fun to revisit it with with my kids... |
Saturday July 14th...
The kids enjoyed playing in the waves with Papa...
While my Mom(Katie) and I went to look in the shops in San Clemente...
Friday July 13th...
The kids enjoyed ridding they're bikes with Grandma and Papa along the beach...
We also went beach combing...
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| In between playing in the surf and sand... |
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| We also enjoyed nights around the camp fire... |
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| And playing on the Wii... OK OK so we aren't really ruffing it... |
Thursday July 12th...
We decided to visit the San Juan Capistrano Mission...
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| I loved the architecture... |
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| Some where there's a picture of me by this fountain when I was six... |
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| I also loved the arched walkways... |
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| I really enjoyed the wood ceilings... and chandeliers too... |
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| The kids really like watching the Koi fish in the fountains... |
Wednesday July 11th... On the road again... The day after arriving at my parents house we loaded up their motorhome and went "camping" at Dana Point Beach...
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| Our home away from home... |
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| The kids were eager to put on their wetsuit and play in the surf... |
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| I was happy to get my feet in the sand... |
Tuesday July 10th...
I packed up the car... And hit the road for our annual trip to Southern California...
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| Since we will be gone for a month... Our car was full to the brim with "necessities"... The only thing we left behind (besides the kitchen sink) was my husband who unfortunately works an unbelievable amount of hours during the summer... |
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| It's a 16hr trip... but I don't mind... The kids and I are seasoned travelers... |
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| And the scenery for most of the drive is beautiful... Here we are driving by Lake Shasta... |
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| One of our favorite parts of the trip... There are NO In-n-outs in Oregon... |
4th of July (Night)...
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| As we waited for darkness to fall... we entertained ourselves by making smores(roasted marshmallows... sandwiched in between a piece of chocolate and two gramcrackers...) |
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| And making funny faces... |
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| It was well worth the wait... |
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| The fireworks reflecting off the lake... were truly spectacular... |
Wednesday the 4th of July (Day)...
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| We had a full day of sailing... with perfect blue sky... |
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| Sailing since they were babies... |
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| My kids feel at home on the boat... |
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| Their favorite part is anchoring in a cove... and jumping off the boat... |
What ever Floats your Boat (Tuesday continued...)
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| My daughter was determined to make a boat that floats... |
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| She attached a Happy 4th of July message... convinced someone somewhere will find it... |
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| So with a little bit of help... She bid it farewell... |
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| My husband is calling her a cheater for using duct tape... But I say a crafter is always thinking outside of the box... I'm just proud to have such an imaginative daughter... What ever Floats your Boat... and her did... |
Tuesday July 3rd...
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| Today's activities consisted of... Making Friendship Bracelets... |
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| Relaxing in the sun... |
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| And rowing cousins around in the raft... |
Monday July 2nd...
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| Arrived at The Lake for our annual camping trip over the 4th of July... The kids first priority (of course) was jumping in... |
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| Our home away from home for the next four days... |
Wednesday June 27th...
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| Found some sun! Violet and I got to wear our new shorts... made by yours truly... |
Saturday June 23rd...
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| Trying to chase away some rainy day blues... by working on new summer clothes... |
Tuesday June 19th...
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| Somehow wound up with six kids... After our dinner we decided to go on a walk around the neighborhood... Glad we got to enjoy such a beautiful evening... |
Monday June 18th...
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My sons Baseball team won the championship! He earned his place by sliding into home twice... and hitting the ball into outfield... not to mention a couple of good fielding calls... Never prouder! Go Mariners!
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Monday June 18th...
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It doesn't feel like summer until I've made potato salad...
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Here is my recipe:
3lbs of cooked potatoes (let cool to room temp)
3-4 stalks of celery chopped
3-4 green onions chopped
3 hard boiled eggs chopped
mix ingredients together then mix in dressing...
Dressing:
1cup mayo
3TBL of white vinegar
1tsp of sugar
1 1/2 tsp of salt
1/8 tsp of pepper
2 tsp of yellow mustard
mix well...
Sunday June 17th... Father's Day...
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My daughter wrote a Hiku... and made a box for holding pictures...
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| My son however thought this was the perfect gift, because they share a love of muscle cars... |
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I found my husband this vintage "portable" radio...
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Saturday June 16th...
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Little League Closing ceremonies... My son's team is playing in the district championship game... Go Mariners!
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Monday June 11th...
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| My daughter graduated from elementary school... very emotional... I can't believe how fast time flies... |
I hope your summer is going well... Here's to making memories...
