Eli's Dive Meet

This morning (bright and early)(and yes hot even at 7am) we finally made it to a dive meet! He was excited to show Dana what he's been working on. First off- the "melon roll" which is like the pre-cursor to doing a flip. Looking like so and rolling into the water. He also did a great front dive which I failed to capture. (boo me) (and Sadie for pitching a fit right then).
We knew he wouldn't place because his dives were too simple to earn high points, but he did great on what he did.
Keeping very straight for his back jump :)
And here's what he'd been waiting for:
Oh yeah. So proud of you Eli!

Sweet Babies

When I was a brand new mother, I visit taught a lady that had pictures of each of her babies on her wall at 6 months wearing white. I thought it was so cute and decided to do the same thing.

It's a different feeling to be "done". I feel alot of peace about it and a sense of satisfaction. At the same time, I love looking back and remembering each of my babies- when they were babies :) I'm really glad I copied her idea. I don't have them on my wall at this point, but fun for the blog too right?



We also have been recently transferring our little tapes from our old camcorder over to DVD at Costco. They have done an AWESOME job. I definitely recommend it. It's $20 for each 2 hours so we just take in a couple tapes when we go, to spread out the cost.

Blow Up Pool #5

I was feeling sort of wild and crazy when picking out a pool at Target this year. Notice the underwater window action. Plus...this pool was on sale. The kids broke it in, in style by playing "Pirates of the Caribbean" for about 5 hours. I'm not kidding. They really had a great time that first day.

Which is a good thing since a couple days later it had deflated on the grass. I reflated it and it slowly pooped out again. I suspect the bird-killer.
Now I'll leave you with Sadie's greatest "funny-face".
look for #6 in the saga next summer...

Holly's First Swim Meet

This last week we were finally home to go to the swim meet. We've been running from party to vacation to party again lately. And I am really not complaining. It's so fun to drive away leaving your cares and triple digits behind. But after all the running, I'm glad we don't really have anything planned this week and I can get the kids back on the job and school work schedule.

We got there late and arrived to this crowd for the 5-6 yr. olds. Holly really likes swim team most of the time, but felt nervous because this was a new experience for her. Holly and few girls- including her friend Julia waiting for their turn.
It is cute and sometimes comical watching the 5-6 year group. This meet was for backstroke and breast stroke and since some of these little kids' top priority is just making it across the pool alive, the strokes are more of an afterthought. Holly was doing the breaststroke and started coming up with big smiles and sort of nodding her head (as pictured). Afterward she told me she heard Emma cheering for her and was trying to acknowledge her without her hands :)
She did SO great and was brave and loved it and can't wait to go again. Yea Holly!
Then we had a wait until Emma's meet began at 7. So we just hung out, mostly in trees, and desperately waited for Dana to arrive and rescue us with food and water. Hopefully I learned my lesson and do not make that mistake again.

It was so fun to watch Emma. She loves backstroke but got worried about running into the wall so she looked back a few times which caused some girls to pass her. She's just learning to give it her all in races. But Emma is always great at keeping a good perspective on life and really focuses on the "fun" of swim team. Which I'm grateful for.
On breaststroke she went for it and was so excited to get a new color ribbon she's never gotten before! (4 of 8) Go Emma!!! This week we'll be back for breast stoke and butterfly.
I love swim team. And more importantly, so do they.

Bienvenidos a San Diego

It was such a treat to get down and visit Sally an Eter while the big kids were in Catalina. We got to have a little vacation of our own! And we love them so.Holly at Coronado Beach. We jumped into fun right away. I loved this beach. It reminded me of Waikiki but of course without the beautiful, clear water. The sand stays level for a longer ways out than a typical beach, and the waves are smaller. The water was actually not freezing cold either. I went out and swam in it which was really fun! I can't remember the last time I did that.
A really cool purple sand dollar.
And I got to play with my sweet little Holly in the water too while Sadie played up in the sand by Eter and Sally. Sally and I also played smashball which was super fun :)
After a wonderful time, we showered and the got all clean and cozy back at their place. The girls took turns brushing each other's hair.

Sally made us lots of yummy food while we were there- already the expert wife :) She let the girls help make pancakes the next morning.
After we got ready, we headed over to a nearby strawberry patch. Upon seeing these strawberries, I know I will never bother planting them in our garden again. So far the few we've gotten have been about 1/4 of this size and usually with at least one hole where a bug got to it first. Aren't these beautiful?

We got to fill our bucket for $15.

The girls picked the very best ones for our bucket.

And fill it we did!
After that we actually went to a sushi place for lunch. This was my 2nd time trying it, and right on the heels of the 1st time. Sally helped me out with ordering whatever the next step after the "California Roll" is. I got something that had 4 different kinds. One had eel in it, another raw tuna. I tried it all and liked it all for the most part. I love trying new things, so it was fun.

Afterwards, we went to the tide pools at "La Jolla" The girls had such a fun time looking at all the birds and seals everywhere. See them lounging on the rocks?
My girls just love both Aunt Sally and Uncle Eter :)
In a little cave on the beach.


A little beach where no people are allowed. We stayed and watched the seals so long I got to make 2 separate little girl trips to the porta-potties. The girls loved watching them flop their way to and from the water.
The next morning we packed up, picked everyone back up in Long Beach and got to hear about all their Catalina fun. Then we actually stayed one more night at mom's house and headed home the next day. On the way back I stopped in Beaumont to visit my dear friend Jodie I hadn't seen for forever.
She is an amazing mommy and person in general. We had so much fun talking!

Finally, we continued on into the desert as the temperature increased. I thought about how I used to complain about the "June Gloom" and now I was trying to soak up every minute of it.
I love where we live though and really wouldn't change it if I could. And if they won't move out here and live near us, I'll just have to enjoy our California visits!

Grandkid Trip

Dana's parents have a great tradition of taking their grandkids on a trip the year they turn 8 and get baptized. Emma had a wonderful time with her cousin Savannah 2 years ago, when they took them to Disneyland. This year was Eli's turn! He's been soooo excited about it. Eli doesn't have a cousin his age so Emma got to go again. He chose Catalina over Disneyland (which worked out since we just went).

Dana's mom has been busy getting everything ready for the past couple months. She made them matching "jams" (long shorts), got them snorkeling stuff, found a place to stay, got all the meals planned, etc.

I drove down last Sunday with all the kids, except the big one that had to stay and work (haha-jk). We stayed with my mom and then in the morning I drove everyone down to the boat. Afterwhich, the little girls and I left straight away down to San Diego and spent a couple days with Sally and Eter and got to see their new place. Post coming on that portion.

I remembered to get a few pictures of my mom and grandpa with the kids this time too. My mom has a lemon tree out back full of lemons and the kids had a great time making and drinking lemonade.
Getting dropped off Monday morning. I love these cute suitcases she made for them!
So excited for his special trip.
All the kids with grandma and grandpa in front of the Catalina Express.
I scanned these in from the kids pictures. (They gave them each a disposable camera). Don and Shirley have a friend there that drove them all around in his golf cart the first day and basically gave them a tour of the island.
Note the "jams" :)
Getting ready to snorkel at Pebbley Beach.
They had such a great time and I'm so grateful my kids have grandparents (on both sides) that love them so much!