Condensed version of our summer backwards!

These accidentally got deleted at the end, so I'm putting them at the beginning to be really confusing.

Swimming

My big boy!

I always forget that I need to put the pictures in backwards, but oh well. This time we are starting at the most recent. This is my pretty mug right now (well, a few days ago). Condensed version= I broke my nose in a terribly stupid swimming accident the first day I met my new Arizona mutual friends in Jr. High, had surgery, didn't help, had surgery again, helped, but scar tissue built up & my nose was turning into a freak show similar to the late Micheal Jackson's. Hopefully, no for sure, this is the last surgery for my nose. Will post before & after pictures when it comes back down to a normal size & color.

Cutie boo & I had glitter toes done at book club. She chose pink & I chose copper.

Here is Bella showing off her new sparkly piggies!

"This is the life!" Pampered already at age 2!

Mack being a goof.

Sam being cute.

Bella being irresistible.

Noah probably gone at a friends.

One of the funnest things we did all summer was our kids book club. We started the Magic Tree house series & did fun, educational activities based on the books. This month we read about pirates, mummies & knights. We decorated & designed out own shields, got knighted by the Queen, followed an old pirate map on a treasure hunt, played mummy games & built pyramids out of sugar cubes & frosting. It was so fun!

The boys trying to wrap a mummy before the girls!

Len took the boys camping for 2 nights & Noah got stung by a bee :( Can you guess where? Check out that big, floppy ear! Poor guy was a trooper.

They had lots of fun getting dirty, hiking to Cecret Lake, cooking hot dogs & smores, whittling sticks & sleeping in a tent. Bella & I met them for a campfire foil dinner & smores one night.

This is Bella before her haircut. Such pretty hair, but it constantly had food stuck in it & she'd pull out any hair clip, bow or rubberband that I had put in there. So, she now has a short bob!

Sam & Mack played Bees baseball & had a blast. Sam loves to make gangster signs at the camera!

I was able to volunteer for Extreme Makeover Home Edition while it was in town. I had a shift from 7:00 pm- 2:00 am. It was before the house was up, so we went back a few days later to check it out. Looks great!

It was super hard work.

The kids loved the lake & playground across the street.

We took some friends & played for hours.

This summer we also saw a few dollar movies, Noah went to Scout camp & British soccer camp, all the boys took swim lessons, Sam & Mack had Chinese Mandarin language camp & played with lots of friends & our new dog. I can't believe the summer is coming to such a quick end. It seems like we just got home from California & school was ending. We didn't hit everything on our bucket list, but it was a fun summer. Monday I go back to work for training all day & the boys are going to sports camp at the recreation center. It's their last hurrah before school starts. Luckily, I got the schedule I needed for this school year & will be able to be home & volunteer at their school a lot more. Yeah! Bella is so big & going to attend Challenger with me on M,W,F mornings & another fun pre-school that all the boys went to on T,TH morning. Then, all 5 days I get to pick her up after work & head home for the day.

It will be a wonderful year & I'm looking forward to watching the kids grow up. Sam & Mack going into first grade & being gone all day will be such an adjustment. They are also going into the Chinese immersion program. It's going to be huge for them. Noah will be in 4th grade & I've heard that's a year where they change a lot. I feel like I'm saying goodbye to a big part of my life not having any babies at home anymore. It's so weird. I'm glad that they all are still my little kids though. I still get love you's, hugs & kisses. I hope that never stops.

Under the knife

Sweet Sam had to get his tonsils & adenoids out, plus tubes put in his ears today. We were a bit surprised when the doctor recommended this, since we were mostly there for Bella & her chronic infections. Sam has not had chronic infections, although he's had several & he has a constant stuffy nose. We have him blow & blow, but nothing ever comes out! Turns out this is because his swollen adenoids are blocking the back of his nasal passage.

The doctor assured us that he is a textbook case & will certainly be helped by this surgery. Sam was very worried & anxious about the surgery, until we told him a few of the perks: Popsicles, not being sick so often, more Popsicles, wearing a cool breeze gown, no more snoring, even more Popsicles & a ride in the short stay surgery express!
He then became very excited to go under the knife.

In recovery he looked so innocent I just got teary eyed & wanted to climb into his bed & hug him. I wanted to say sorry for talking him into this by enticing him with Popsicles! His lips & tongue were all swollen & he cried when he tried to talk. It was heartbreaking. I really put the parents & kids with severe health problems, who go through numerous major surgeries on a pedestal. I don't know how you could handle seeing your kid in pain all the time.

Everything went well & we don't anticipate any problems with his recovery. He kept down the slush we fed him, tolerated the medication & is drinking regularly. Yeah! What a trooper :)

Sam is glad to be home getting pampered...

by everyone who loves him!

This wasn't part of "the plan"

Eva

So, we got a dog.

I've always known we'd get a dog someday...but not now!!! My sister-in-law is all to blame! :) We were running a mud race Saturday & she was ohhh'ing & ahhh'ing about this cute dog on the Humane Society's facebook page. She showed me the picture & I also ohhh'ed & ahhh'ed. Then, we talked about how perfect the dog would be for us. I agreed with all her points, but pointed out that I just got the kids a hamster last week to avoid the whole puppy issue for awhile. I knew I couldn't handle a puppy or a big dog. I have 4 kids, 2 cats & a hamster...geez.

We decided it wouldn't hurt just to go look at the dog, who probably wouldn't even still be there & which probably wouldn't be as perfect as we imagined anyway.

Let's just say she's a master interviewer! It was flawless. She curled up on my lap, kissed all the kids, showed us her vulnerable cow belly & gave us some serious puppy eyes.

She's home now & we all love her! Thanks Amy :)

Life

I love looking at the camera after I let the kids play with it. They always capture real life! Here's a great shot by Mack of Sam running away from him :) Haha

Sunshine

She's my Bella, my beauty!

She's also....



crazy


adorable


temper mental


cuddly


hilarious


chatty


clingy


mean


happy


active


moody


sweet

naughty


and all mine, all the time!

This little girl is all of the above, packed in one compact, squishy, soft & amazingly adorable package. She's the light of our house & family right now. We all are in awe of her cute new version of Bella talk & how she constantly sings as she goes about her day. She also gets lots of complaints by the boys that she bites, hits & screams! They have figured out that all they have to do is fake crying or say "owe" really dramatically & she immediately sighs, hugs & kisses them while saying "surry". It's become a game for the boys :) She copies every move that I make, down to looking in the mirror at her non-existent wrinkles. She cries for our neighbor every time we drive down the street & screams excitedly for "mana" when we pull into Grandma's driveway. Her best trick is her "double dig", which is picking her nose with two fingers; one in each nostril! It's very effective.

We are so grateful for this little beam of sunshine!

Newport journal, days 6-7

After 2 long & exciting days at Disneyland, we were all ready for some r & r (except Sam, who was still thrilled by his light up Disneyland bracelet!)

This looks like a good place to relax!

We just walked around Laguna & Newport in the morning, taking in the beautiful scenery & ocean air.

Then....we hit the pool!

These boys are really mermen, who have to be dragged out of the water kicking & screaming!

Our final day was spent in the sand...literally!

Trying to catch some waves :)

I actually got in a swimsuit, sat on the beach, dug in the sand & fought off some pretty big waves...it's just not photographed (phewwww!) I did take the opportunity to walk around the cute shops with my Mom whenever possible though!

Beautiful day

Goodbye California.... until next year!

Newport journal, days 4-5

As sometimes happens when opinionated people are together for an extended period of time in a small space, a few "arguments" (that resembled the photo above) broke out. Hissssss!

Luckily, just in time, we went to the Happiest Place on Earth! Disneyland did live up to its claim & we all had a fantastico time. It's unbelievable how whining ceases, attitudes change & opinions weaken once you walk through the magical gate... Poof!

This is Sam & Mack's first time in Disneyland. Before we left, Sam told me Wheeler Farm is the best place ever. We have sheltered them a little! Their eyes were as big as silver dollars as they walked down main street Disneyland :)

We are so grateful that my parents took us for the trip of a lifetime. They love their only grand kids soooooo much!


How come every time whoever is behind the camera says, "say cheese"... Sam & Mack hear "make a scary & goofy face!"?

I sat this one out.

I'm not a fan of walking around in public with a wet bum.

I would do anything to get in that kids' head! Mr. Curious!

This was my favorite ride!

I am a big fan of the free fall. Adrenaline junkie.

Thunder Mountain Railroad was another favorite of every body's. I believe we went on it 3 times. We were SO lucky that the longest wait we ever had in 2 days of Disneyland was about 20 minutes. We were basically running from one to ride to another non-stop!

Daddy & Mack having a blast!

I get slightly nauseated just looking at this ride. The boys thought it was great though!

California Adventure was awesome! It was the first visit for all of us.

See what happens when you eat your veggies?!

My 3 buggies :) The Bug's Life movie made my top 10 list too.

"Who are these large chipmunks we're standing by?"

Just stand there & smile, Mom loves Chip & Dale! Who knew they were still around? Maybe they're making a comeback, with their show in Las Vegas and all!? Doh!

A few of my friends, who are regular Disneyland goers, gave us the advice to stop & enjoy lunch. Don't eat on the go, or the kids will fizzle out early. It was great advice, but it was adults that needed a re-charge!

Once again, Sam & Mack heard the voices in their heads telling them to make goofy faces. Luckily they are cute!

I heart Mickey.

I heart these guys even more!

We all missed our Bella girl & thought of her everytime we saw little girls walking around in princess dresses. She will have a blast next year, when she's a bit older. Luckily, she was in her own version of Disneyland being at Grandma & Grandpa Ayers' house for a week. She got super spoiled & totally loved!

Arrggghh!

California Adventure at night is amazing!

We loved the World of Color water show. It was one thing that I knew I wanted to see for sure, but the fast passes were gone by the time we got there. So, I scrambled & bought a totally over-priced picnic dinner for our family that included a pass to get good seats. It was worth it! What a great way to finish up one fabulous trip to Disneyland.

We all agree, Disneyland ROCKS!