Sunday nap

Taking after Daddy!

Trip to Southern Ca

Jason had to go to Scout camp the week of July 5th -10th. So I decided that instead of hanging around my house, with nothing to do but take care of the kids and be hot, I would head down to SO. Ca. to visit our good friends the Bruschke's. I convinced my youngest sister Mary to tag along and help with the driving and the kiddos. And let me just say right now that it was wonderful having the extra help! We headed out in the afternoon of the 4th and arrived in LA just in time to see Fireworks going off everywhere! so much for thinking we would miss out on seeing any this year! I think we saw about 20 different shows and maybe some illegal ones too! The air on the Freeway was filled with smoke for part of the time there were so many fireworks! Needless to say the kids enjoyed watching fireworks from the comfort of their own car seats!

We had a wonderful week shopping, eating good food, going to the beach and swimming in the local pool. The weather was overcast most of the week and it even rained on Tuesday, the only day we were able to meet up with my brother Mark. It cleared up before we got there, thank goodness, and we were able to visit the Cabrillo National Monument and one of the beaches in San Diego. At the beach in San Diego, we played on the boogie boards and enjoy some time playing in the sand!

I enjoyed all the time I was able to spend with our wonderful friends and my Little sis. and bro.!!! I hope we can go visit again soon and that Jason will be able to come with us next time! I'm so blessed to have been able to go on this trip and grateful for such good friends and family! Love you guys! Thanks for the wonderful week!


These are most of the pictures that I took of our trip, so it's a long one! Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Rachel!!!

(Rachel with two of her favorite things)

What an amazingly wonderful big girl we have been blessed with! Rachel has been such a life saver with all the help she gives me and her family members! She is a joy to be around and loves her family. Today we will be celebrating her 10th birthday. Wow she's getting old! She requested Hamburgers for dinner and a cake that looks like a chocolate chip cookie with a bite taken out of it.

We have invited a local grandma over to celebrate the occasion with us! Our good friend Lynnette Ramsey was Rachel's Primary teacher a few years ago and she taught Activity days for her too. She was even able to come to Rachel's baptism. She joined us for a field trip to the Oakland Zoo a couple months ago too. We are blessed to have such a good friend to share these fun times with! Rachel really has enjoyed having her in our lives.

Now for more about the beautiful birthday girl! I thought it only fitting to share more about this talented young lady on her special day, so here it goes:

Some of her favorite things
color: Green

dinner: Mexican food

dessert: Chocolate Ice cream

best buddy: Her cousin Joshua Bunting

subject in school: Art

book/series: The Secrets of Droon

thing to do: You can always find her with her nose in a good book, or playing with her siblings.

Rachel is so good at finding ways to help around the house and with her siblings. She likes to think of David as HER baby and I can always count on her to be willing to pick him up or save him from his brothers and or sisters that get too rough around him. She was even a trooper and fed him stinky baby food every now and again!

Thank-you for choosing to be part of our family Rachel we love you bunches and hope you enjoy this beautiful day!!!!!

Back to Blogging!?!?!

Hi all, have you missed me?.....(Crickets chirping in background)......

Wow it's been a busy year! I really tried to do everything but I just found that I was stressing myself out too much! Homeschooling was a wonderful experience. I feel that I accomplished a lot that I wanted the girls to learn and experience. And now that School is out, I plan to get back into blogging! The cute kiddos will be back in public school next year (Bitter sweet). But I've found that I really need that quiet time in the mornings for house cleaning, shopping, paying bills, and exercise (things that have taken a backseat to the schooling) to help keep me sane! Is that bad?

Now I have a lot to blog about and try to catch up on! So this may take a while to get back into the habit! Some encouraging words may help. (hint hint)

Rachel's birthday is tomorrow, so I'll see ya then! hehe