Home for the Week

We are home for a few days before the next trip, so it's time to check things off our Summer Wish List...

Namely, the Ronald Reagan Library.  

 It is fabulous and a real treat.  If you ever go, plan to spend a good 2-3 hours at least.  Plus, it's expensive enough that you'll want to get your money's worth.

There is so much to see and do; it is really a well-planned museum, and beautiful.

Just about to board Air Force One

Going horseback riding with the Gipper on his ranch.

There is a temporary Disney exhibit right now that is great (even if it did increase the admission prices) that the kids loved.  Ashlyn especially loved all the princess dresses.

 The kids loved all the cool Iron Man stuff, and especially Pirates of the Caribbean.

There was a huge special effects Black Pearl

The costumes were fabulous.

With a piece of the Berlin Wall.  

 During the museum tour, one of my kids said, "We need another Reagan."  

Well said.  And yes, we do. 

The kids decided they wanted to practice skating.  Our driveway is steep and our street is too steep for beginners, so it has never been inviting for the kids to learn to skate.  Instead we took it down to the church parking lot where there are wide, smooth, and flat! sidewalks.

 The funny thing is that the girls were using mine and John's roller blades.  They fit in mine, but stuffed paper towels in John's.  Ingenious.

 Christian  was happy just trying out his new bike.

The missionaries were having lunch and p-day so they let us in and the kids got to experience what a real roller rink feels like.  Fun times skating!  Now we need to see if there are any real-live roller rinks out there.  I used to love going.  I used to skate all the time, even in kindergarten.  I can't believe my kids don't really know how.  We might have to ask Santa for skates this Christmas, ones without paper towels stuffed in the toes.

We finally have summer weather this week and it was perfect at the beach. 

So perfect in fact that we stayed at Silver Strand until about 4:30, then headed up to Carpinteria for the rest of the day/night.  

Christian got to see his cousins and dig a giant hole with Kyle and Jacob.

The night was so warm and the sunset so gorgeous!

It's so rare to have warm nights; we felt so lucky to be able to experience it.

We also made the traditional walk up to Fosters for ice cream.  Our friend Monroe (my 5th child) got to experience it all for the first time. 

After enjoying the campfire with Matt and Cyndi, and the kids playing a round of German Spotlight on the beach, we had to leave and got home at 11:30 p.m.

But that did not deter us from going back to the beach the next day.  

 This time with the Gates at Malibu.  

Ashlyn just coming in from getting totally pummeled.  Check out that hair!

Three beaches in two days and it was perfect.  We could have stayed all night.

That ends the week of being home . . . next up:  Hawaii!!

Summer Spontaneity - Avila Beach

We were at Costco last Monday, shopping, having lunch, and Ashlyn lost a tooth! 

Then I asked the kids if they wanted to go to Avila Beach for a couple of days . . . 

Would I even have to ask?  

We went home, packed our bags, and left for Central Calif.

You have never seen four kids cooperate and get their chores done so fast.

It was very fun, as always, walking along the piers, playing in the park, shopping (nectarine pies!), 

and seeing lots and lots of pelicans.  They were not shy whatsoever.

 The view from the room...

We took a trip even farther north just past Hearst Castle to an elephant seal rookery.

 The males come in the summer to molt.

 They looked diseased!  It was very cool.  We would love to go back in the winter when the females come down from Alaska to have their babies.

We love Avila and have so much fun going up there (almost) every year.  

The Tradition Continues

Camping at Carpinteria!  

It had been quite a while since we were able to get a campsite . . . those things are hard to come by!  My sister's friend had an extra site that she was going to let go, so we jumped on it.  Last minute planning and we were off!  

Spending 4th of July week camping is very fun, plus John got a day off so he was able to join us. 

 Camping is a lot of work, and requires so much stuff!

But the fun on the beach is all worth it. 

There's a 4th of July parade with Smokey the Bear, fire trucks, etc. and all the kids decorate their bikes. Crowds of people parade through the campgrounds with patriotic flare.

The weather was pretty cloudy, so we took advantage of our bikes and rode along the cliffs and had a picnic.  Carolyn came with her kids and joined us as well. 

Christian got to play frisbee with Uncle Adam for a long time, and was learning some skills.

Sunsets, campfire, s'mores, family and fun!!

 The very last day, while we were packing, Christian's foot went in a deep gopher hole which just happened to contain a shard of glass. 

 A trip to urgent care, and he's all stitched up.  

Leave it to the cousin to get Mack in the water!  Cute little Mackenzie was afraid of the water and wouldn't go near until Christian was with her.  All little kids LOVE Christian!

The Merrill, Bergmann, and Norris families (Steve is taking the picture)

Camping was super fun and created great memories for the kids.  We hope to be so lucky to get a campsite next summer, too. 

Summer Fun

Summer is Fun!

Summer is Freedom!

 Riding bikes to the park, and reading books in the shade.

 Attending Cub Scout Day Camp for the first time and loving every minute...

 especially when his egg didn't break during the Egg Drop,

 and having mommy volunteer on Friday.

Summer is goofing off with friends ...

 being creative like you're in a rock band,

 or chillaxin' at the pool with slushies.

Summer for us also means our family birthday party

(Happy Anniversary to us!  19 years!)

And what would summer be without a baseball game?

 Particularly Mormon Night at Dodger Stadium with Pres Uchtdorf throwing out the first pitch.  Fun!

 The girls all decorated t-shirts to get in the spirit.

 Dodger fireworks!

Summer is a BBQ with friends and chicken fight in the pool.

I love summer!!!!!!!