Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Beach Therapy

 
 
It only took me one hundred years to upload our beach vacation.
Probably because I have one hundred pictures!
It is hard to not over capture your most favorite,
looked forward to vacation of the whole YEAR!
That's right.
 The beach is my counseling, my therapy, my happy place.
Without it I would be a lost soul.
The boys love it just as much.
Casey likes it but prefers sand from the sand dunes:)
 
This year we were sad to not have my parents and 3 brothers join us.
It was us girls with our spouses and families.
We left on a Sunday morning after going to Sacrament meeting.
The drive started out rough.
Restless kids begging for movies and snacks the second we backed out of the driveway.
Had to pull  over numerous times of fear that the bag of beach toys
strapped on top of the car were going to fly off.
We pulled into Yuma not sure if we were going to make it another 3 hours.
I seriously almost starting looking on Southwest Airlines for flights home.
Hence this picture.
 

I stayed in the car with Lindi to change her diaper and let her walk around.
Casey came back with the boys... and push pops.
I hate push pops and never let the kids have them.
I gave Casey a disapproval comment but then quickly caught on to his motive.
They are huge and last FOREVER!
Kept their mouths and tongues busy and quiet.
Push pops saved the day.
And Lindi finally deciding to take a nap helped as well.
 


 
We did eventually make it!!
We unloaded then ate at Claim Jumper.
Because they have amazing meat loaf.
And we needed a legit Sunday dinner:)
 
 
Lindi was already getting special treatment.
She loves her aunt Marcie.
 


The next day was my BIRTHDAY!!
I hate getting older but being at the beach made it all better.
We needed to stock up for the week so Walmart it was.
And stock up we did!
 
It barely all fit into Marcie and Austin's new car.

Then somehow we all ended up working out to T25.
It was really fun, yet you felt like you might pass out and die at the same time.


 
Then it was beach time baby!
The birthday girls. Marcie's birthday was the next day.


 

 

 
Rusty being spoiled.
Whatever it takes to get food down him!



 
We ate at Harbor Fish and Chips for dinner and ice cream for dessert.
 


 
On Sunday at Claim Jumper somebody joked that we should get the Motherload cake
for our birthdays.
Then we all looked around and said, hey, why not?!!
YOLO.
 
 
 
We ate on that beast the WHOLE week.
I mean that monster was being taken out of the fridge hourly.
Somehow we still had 2 layers left.
Best birthday cake ever.
 




More morning T25 workout sessions.

 
This was my spot where I perched all week.
Dirty Dr. Peppers and nacho cheese, our beach specialties.






 

 Every night was spend staying up late playing ripple.
You are supposed to keep score but to spice it up we played with consequences for the loser:)
Casey lost the first round.
Where he had to dance for 30 seconds.
Casey loves to dance. NOT!
Twirling around like a ballerina is as crazy as it gets for him.
 

Other consequences were: eating baby food
 
 
doing a head stand while singing I'm a little tea pot

Licking the bottom of Stephanie's foot
 
 
and drinking a shot of straight coconut syrup.
Which ya wouldn't think would be bad but was by far the WORST one!
My face says it all.
 


 
Wednesday we all kind of split up and did our own thing.
We started off by eating lunch on the pier at Ruby's.
They think the fisherman are so cool.





Then we headed to a random park that I spotted off of the freeway.
The weather was so nice I figured, why not!
In fact I would freeze if I was in the shade, being in the sun felt so nice.

 Then we went back to the pier and rented the big bertha of bikes.



 
Lindi didn't want to sit in the front basket so I had to hold her.
Which meant I couldn't really petal so Casey got the workout of his life!


Thursday and Friday were beach days.
I love how the kids play and play with each other.
There really is no whining, crying or fighting while we are on the beach.
Maybe that's why I love it so much.
The beach is my babysitter. Luckily our kids don't cry when they get wet and
want to be done after 15 minutes. They literally are playing hard the whole. day.
At one point I looked up and noticed that the cousins were off in their own age groups at the same time
 
Collin and Lane
 
 
Rusty and Weston

 
Lindi and Olive;)



Boogie board or die!


 
And trying to get a family picture is always comical



 
The last day is always the hardest.
We took group pictures before we hopped in the car to drive home




 
But first we must not leave before eating at Phil's!
The line out the door says it all.
AMAZING
 
 
And of course the boys are already asking when we can go back!
I hear ya boys, I hear ya!!
 
 

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Cuz cousin time Rocks!

 
 
Lucky for us the Evans' stayed for the whole week after the 4th!
I love how every time they are in town we make up for lost time.
We took the boys to the free Imax summer movies.
It was a treat for them because I never take them to the movies.
We loaded up on 3 large bags of buttered popcorn and soda.
I think that is the best part of seeing a movie.
Oh, and watching it in peace was a perk.
 Lindi was with Olive and the babysitter.
Genius idea, Steph!
 
 
 
 
Air works was a hit as well.
Lindi and Olive playing a round of crack the egg:)
 

We hardly saw these four rug rats.
Just glimpses of them flashing by as they ran from one tramp to the other.
They keep each other entertained for HOURS.
It is sooooo nice.
I wish so bad that they lived in AZ.
 


I couldn't resist.
My 30 second jump sesh had me burning hundreds of calories,
my heart rate had never been so high!
#shouldhaveworndepends

We needed to refuel at Gecko Grill afterwards.
Thank goodness for outdoor seating.
Our noise levels can make a scene!


Swimming was on our agenda most days.
But on their last day here we went to the Children's museum.
 The only picture I got was during snack time.
These kids sure make me smile.

 
And lucky for us AGAIN, they only went home for a week then
drove back. But this time we got to party together on the beach!!!
Stay tuned:)


the FOURTH of JULY!

 
 
 A happy 4th of July it was!
Stephanie bought the girls matching outfits.
I think they might match a lot for the rest of their lives:)
 

 
There is nothing better than little ruffle bums on baby!
 
Have you ever been to the Fractured Prune for donuts???
Jump in your car and head over right. now!
And get the salted caramel custom donut...
it melts in your mouth.
You might eat 3 in a row.
 
This donut shop owner was a hoot!
He put on a great show for the kids while our donuts were frying.


And our show was sort of long because we ordered 2 dozen donuts:/
It's impossible to not when there are thousands of combinations you can create at this place!
 



 

 
We went back to my parents for swimming with the Martineaus, Wells, and Marcie!
Followed by a "BBQ" (Hungry Howies:)
And of course my patriotic cousins brought the cutest festive side dishes.
 
 

 
And ended the night with some sparklers.
 




Monday, July 14, 2014

LaZy Summer Days

 
 
 
I guess I can't say we have been super lazy this Summer.
In fact, I think this is the first year we have been up and at it by 8:30.
For me, the queen of loving to sleep in... I impressed myself even!
 
Our June and first week of July schedule went like this:
Wake up at 7:30, eat breakfast and throw on swim suits (for the kids).
Go to Brimhall for 8:30 swim team practice.
Come home for a quick thirty minutes then load back in the car for swim lessons.
Rusty had his class first and Lindi was second.
Come home starving for some lunch.
Nap time.
Afternoon play time.
 
It really was the perfect schedule to keep kids from complaining
that they were bored!
 
 
This year was Lindi's first year of swim lessons.
AND she hated it.
Usually by 2 or 3 lessons most kids quit crying.
She got to the point where she was happy during the first half.
But would start to whimper when she knew jumping off of the diving board
was drawing near. Then she was a lost cause the whole second half.
Oh well:)


 
 Lane did well for his second year on the swim team.
Unfortunately, we only made it to 2 of the swim meets.
But he got 2nd and two 3rd place ribbons!
I think its funny how they bring out the kids to line up for their races,
choo choo train style.
 

 We would find ourselves at the pool often.
This day I was watching them from the patio.
They seemed so relaxed, soaking in all of the wonderful Arizona sun.
 
 
 
Lindi was naughty and wore a bikini behind my back.
Haha. just kidding. I couldn't resist a gold, polka dot ruffled 2 piece.
Next year we will crack down on modesty:)
 

 When I was taking this picture I couldn't help but think,
does he think he is back in the womb or something?
I don't know why but he loves to fall asleep in the most uncomfortable positions! 

 I had a car full of kids and the only spot left for Rusty was the front seat.
He was so excited because obviously he knows he isn't allowed to sit up there but
I was in a bind. I buckled Lindi in her car seat and when I looked up Rusty
had on my glasses and said with the happiest tone, I'm all ready to go mom!!

 
We did have a week of being sick.
It. was. horrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was folding laundry in my room and hadn't heard any noises in a while.
When I peeked into the living room I found 2 sleeping boys.
I knew something was up, they never fall asleep like that.
I had a doctors appointment for Lindi that afternoon because she had a horrible cough.
She had bronchitis.
I came home, fed the kids then Lane said his throat was all red.
Sure enough, it was.
Loaded both boys in the car and headed back to the doctor
to find out they had strep throat.
The next day I started coughing and got laryngitis.
You would have thought it was Winter time at our house!

(11am)
 
 
Poor pups.
When I told them I was taking them to the doctor they both started crying and freaking out
because they didn't want to get shots. It seriously took Casey and I 15 minutes to calm them
down and promise them they were not getting shots!
Instead they got otter pops.
Way to win them over, docs!

 We went out to Sushi for Jefferson's Birthday!
I love my siblings.
We went to RA, I love it there.
It's such a fun atmosphere.
And I am shocking myself with starting to love sushi!
So far I will only venture out to the Vegas roll.
It's deep fried:)

I opened a can of worms and let her drink a Capri Sun.
She's hooked and thought she was such a big girl.