Queen of the Tide Pool

She is often doing her own thing. Imagining. Daydreaming. In class and during soccer practice. Sometimes missing what everyone else is doing. But those are also the qualities that made her Queen of the Tide Pool when she found a baby octopus, or maybe it was a squid.

And then there is this rock formation that the little guy compulsively created.

I love summer

We enjoy it so much that I don't have time to write about it, though I do still make time to visit friend's blogs regularly:)

So when the signs that summer is coming to an end show up, like the sunflowers wilting and the kids class rosters and soccer schedules being posted, I can't help but feeling torn between the excitement of whats to come and the melancholy of no more relaxed and fun-filled summer days. Seasons change, I guess all one can do is go along for the ride.

Tidbits of July

Because it flew by so fast...

Bits of Colorado

Bits of the boys rafting trip...no that rock is not a good place to be perched, but the alternative free-floating route that Sean was taking (the direction they are all looking concerned towards) was not any better.

The trip that made Ryan's summer. He still talks about his "big choo choo ride" daily.

Peace

Sitting here in Estes Park...big rocky hills to climb on...rushing river as our background music...the greatest little cabin (hot tub inside)...we don't want to leave.

Happy Birthday Me

That look on Rob's face is fear that a small child might be burned by the heat eminating from my 3? candles.

But see, all is good and the frosting was only a little melted.

Happy Birthday USA!

This is what the 4th of July looks like in our neighborhood. About 200 kids and their parents walk or ride in the "parade" while about 20 people watch. Good ol' hometown fun.

Matt got a turn in the leader vehicle with his favorite gal.

Happy summer to you!

Roadtrip!

The first week of summer vacation started off with a bang...an immediate 500mile roadtrip and back! We felt obligated to take the kids to Sea World and Legoland while they are still kids. We live in the same state and the kids aren't getting any younger and I have heard Legoland may start seeming babyish to a big 8 year old girl.

So we packed up the minivan and the dog, stopped off a grandma's at the 300 mi mark and dropped off the pooch, then proceeded to sunny San Diego, with the exception that June gloom doesn't make for sunny conditions and it was actually warmer at our nearby Santa Cruz beaches but anyhoo.

Happy 11 years 6/20/09!

We stayed at the Hotel Del Coronado, which was big, old, has a beautiful beach and was overall quite kid-friendly, though Lauren did have a skeptical look the first day as she had it pegged as a haunted mansion (My critique is that it is indeed a beautiful and historic resort, but don't look for good deal any where on the island).

We had a lovely visit with our friends G&S and their kids at their Del Mar hacienda but other than that it was amusement parks all the way.

Shamu's splashes broke our camera so we got few pix and those we did get were taken on the kids camera so not the greatest quality.

That's the last pic our camera took.

So, any of you who have taken vacations or roadtrips out there lately, may I ask...

1.) Do your older kids just yammer and yammer the entire car ride making you wonder if you aren't going to be able to continue to tune them out or take enough deep breaths before you lose it. Really, we don't say "Shut up" over here, but my mind was screaming it by day 2. L & M talk so animatedly nearly continuously it is driving me bonkers. Is this normal? The yammering and being pushed to the brink by it?

2.) Do all families have one child that always has something happen, illness or injury, during vacations? We do. Interestingly he is rarely ill, except he has impeccable vacation timing. Here is a listing of his lifetime of vacations:

Kona age 2 ...I pat myself on the back for raising such a well-behaved plane traveler as he is simply angelic, quite and calm, the entire flight, only to spike a 104F fever by the time the plane lands and remains feverish and lethargic the entire 7 days.

Kauai age 3 ... Wakes up 4am the last morning before we are supposed to depart at and proceeds to throw-up every 20 minutes until we have to get in the car and leave to catch the plane (thankfully he was done) and I must mention that this is the same trip that Rob, while lovingly lifting kids over waves, threw out his back and couldn't lift anything, luggage or sick child.

LA Family visit age 4 ...knocks loose front tooth prompting emergency DDS visit in not so nice part of Hollywood.

Disneyworld age 5... mysteriously pulls muscle in neck playing in pool and must wear self-prescribed neck travel pillow and sit in stroller remainder of trip (yes, a 5 y/o in a stroller looks ridiculous)

San Diego age 6...He mentions that he doesn't feel well and as I am walking holding his hand I realize why he is keeping me so warm, fever of course, thankfully very mild.

Not meaning to sound like I am complaining though...this was really a great start to summer...let the good times continue to roll!