Life in the fast lane

Please, can everything just slow down for a moment? I can't even tell you how crazy last week was....(last week of school, school parties, school awards assemblies, school celebrations, bathroom leak which lead to warped wood floors, kitchen sink leak, a dying dishwasher, washing 34 windows, getting Jenny ready for Girls camp, etc, etc, etc.) My mind is still trying to catch up.

We have been counting the days for our big family Fourth of July Weekend, and now that it is so close, our house is falling apart. Luckily they will look past all of that (Right???). The kids have been counting the days for over a month. They miss their cousins so much. Living far away makes you so grateful for any little family gathering. Kind of sad, but true.

Last Day of Kindergarten

Spencer had a Kindergarten celebration on June 26th. They sang a half dozen songs. Spencer was the best, of course :o) He sang the loudest and made up quite a few movements to go along with the words. He told me, "Mom, I am going to sing my best. Probably the best ever." And he did. When they were done performing he came and sat with me and started getting teary-eyed. He is so tender. He said, "Mom, that was my very best singing...And I am going to miss this class so much." He totally started crying. All the other kids were playing around, and Spencer is sitting there reflecting back on his Kindergarten memories. Too cute. Of course I am just like that, so it probably didn't help that I was crying with him. Oh well. I just had to document that day because it was so priceless.

Notice the intensity in his eyes, and no one else is doing a movement like that!

Our Camping Trip

We love camping

For the past five days, we have been camping! It was so much fun. We went to Olema Campground which is by Point Reyes. It was so beautiful. During the day it got to about 85 degrees and it always cooled down at night to the low sixties. We had lots of campfires, s'mores and hot cocoa. We even made a dump cake in the dutch oven.

We went to the lighthouse at Point Reyes and to South beach. It was very windy and chilly, but that didn't stop us from having fun. In order to get to the lighhouse you have to hike 1/2 a mile then go down 308 steps. That's right...going down means coming back up.

South Beach

Hi, I am freezing, but I don't care!

Bridgete was so darn skinny and weak from being sick....she was a trooper! Everyone gets so filthy camping, but mix in a little sand....yikes! Filippo and Evan. We were the only ones on the beach...you would never see this in Southern California, that is for sure. Jenny looking cute. Me and Bridgete Point Reyes National Park This place was breathtaking. Everything was so green. It must be ladybug season, because they were flying everywhere. Bridgete loved that. The Motley Crue Ok, everyone is looking pretty rough in this picture....as a mom, no good clothes get packed for camping trips. I think you can tell. Dave and me. Ok, here comes another excuse...I don't wear a smudge of makeup when we camp. Now, I think, maybe I should. Oh well...au natural. We hiked in the Point Reyes National Park. We hiked about six miles on the Bear Valley trail and the Meadow trail. There were some pretty steep inclines, so the boys were elated to find a stream to get wet in.It was so beautiful.

Camp life

Here are the boys on their side of the tent trailer. A typical late afternoon consists of....Dave trying to sleep, Evan bugging everyone to the point of insanity, uncontrollable laughter, Dave waking up and then they all wrestle. Here are the girls on their side of the tent trailer....giggling, playing quietly, being sweet. Notice any differences? And through it all, Tucker behaved himself. He chased a couple racoons, smelled some new scents, barked at some strangers, and had some good leftover meals. Bridgete was always concerned about him and wanted to make sure he knew he was loved by her. All in all, it was a great trip and it was wonderful to get away with the family with no outside distractions.

Gratitude

Ok, I didn't do a post on Father's Day. But that doesn't mean that I think anything less of my sweet hubby. That day had a few twists to it...like Bridgete puking all day long! Dave worked Saturday night so he came home, opened presents, ate french toast and hit the sack. We all stayed home from church because everyone was feeling woozy (being near someone who is throwing up all day long can do that to you :o) I cooked my hubby his favorite things, visited for a few hours and then off to work he went.

Now back to Bridgete...she was sick all Sunday and then got real sick again Monday night and Tuesday. I was really getting worried about her, because she doesn't have extra weight to begin with. She was very lethargic and couldn't keep a thing down.

I told Dave that she needed a blessing. He felt the same way. So after working Monday from 6:30pm t0 6:30am, then going straight to his chiropractic office and working til 12:30pm, he came home (exhausted) and layed his hands on sweet Bridgete's head and gave her a blessing.

From that moment on, she was able to finally keep some much needed fluids down. She slept for three hours and slept eleven hours that night. I cannot express my gratitude for having the priesthood in our home. It is truly a blessing. And words cannot explain how thankful I am to be married to a worthy priesthood holder. My testimony has been strengthened by this simple, yet miraculous blessing.

Now, I need to go shop, pack and get ready for a five day camping trip. We leave this afternoon and I haven't been able to do a thing. I promise I will post a ton of pictures next time (but still not as many as my sis-in-law Stacey :o)

Two Week Challenge!

This challenge might not seem like a big deal to some of you and I KNOW some of you could NOT do it; but I have prevailed!

The Challenge: For two weeks, do not buy any groceries (other than milk, eggs and bread). Plan a two week menu with the food that we already had in the freezer, fridge and pantry. We are allowed ONE night out if it involves a coupon at a restaurant.

Sounds easy, right? I admit, some nights it was, but come the 11th day, we were eating some interesting meals. I ran out of chicken (argh) so I was trying to get creative with other meat. Last night I was soooo my Mom. We had Slum Gulley. I kept saying to myself, "I am so Gerda Bishop right now!" But hey, the kids gobbled it up. Actually I find myself saying that a lot when I cook. Especially when I do a cup of fruit on the side (trademark of my mom that I do all the time :o)

All in all, I am glad I did this. I cannot wait to go get more chicken! We definitely saved money and I have become more creative with what I can throw together. I love when the kids ask me, "What is this called?" I have come up with a lot of names lately.

Ok, off to the store...finally!

Evan...Class of 2012!

On June 5, 2008, Evan graduated from middle school. He is now officially a Freshman. After all the names were read, they announced them as, "The class of 2012!" He is such a cutie and we are so proud of him.

This is Evan walking back to his seat after his name was read. I screamed as loud as I could....he said he could hear me so that made me happy.

Like father, like son. Aren't they darling? Evan is so much like Dave; it's funny. Dave's parents, Claudia and Bill came down for his graduation. Spencer and Bridgete came as well, but Jenny and Filippo were in school. Evan with Grandma and Poppy. They just love him! This was supposed to be a picture of just me and Evan, but Poppy wouldn't scoot over, so here are the three of us. Sadly, Evan is now taller than me. Yes, he is 5'10. I put up a good fight, but he finally passed me. How sad. I love this kid. He was six when Dave and I got married, and so it has been such a joy to be a part of his life. Now on to Elk Grove High School!

Filippo the Swimmer

Filippo decided to go out for the Elk Grove Piranhas this year. This is his first year on the swim team and he is doing great! He practices four times a week and every meet he improves his time.

I get choked up watching him (no surprise there!) because I know he is pushing himself to go as fast as he can, and also because I was on a swim team for eight years, so I know exactly how he feels. Go Filippo!Isn't he so cute in his swimsuit? He is already as brown as can be. His stroke of choice is back stroke. He works it! Here he is doing the 100 yard freestyle. This is on his fourth lap. He said his legs felt like jello. He did great.

Do I sound like a proud mom or what? I just feel such happiness when my children take on new challenges and rise to meet them.

Memorial Day weekend

We went up to Dave's folks for the Memorial Day weekend. They live two hours away in the little town, Groveland (on the way to Yosemite). They have a beautiful marina there that the kids love to go to. We thought it would be perfect since the weekend before the weather was so hot! Well, the weather changed just a bit. We were stuck inside all weekend because it was raining and about 60 degrees during the day. I had to run to their little thrift store to but a sweatshirt for Spencer and Jenny. They were having a half off sale, so each sweatshirt was $1.00. I love that! Dave and Evan raided Poppy's closet to find warmer clothing. Dave's sweatshirt said, "#1 Grandpa"....he wore it all weekend long. Lovely.

Enjoying the break in the rain....Bridgete stopped to pose.

Running down Grandma's street. The other dog is Val, Suzanne's dog. Tucker loves her. She puts up with him.

Dave is his Grandpa sweatshirt with Tucker.

Bridgete showing off her lip gloss collection to Auntie Suzie. Diane is in the background. She already has the pleasure of seeing Bridgete's collection:o)

We had a good time and it is always great to be with family!

time to blog

I don't get how everyone keeps their blog so updated. I am very impressed! It is the last thing I think of in the day, and by then I am so darn tired (actually that is when I do laundry...so that has to come first, unfortunately). But alas, I am going to try to do better. Aren't you glad I informed you of this?