Kindergarten

Chandler has been counting the days until school started.  "7 more days till schools starts after we get home from grandma's house....... 5 more days, the day after tomorrow school starts!"  The excitement has been tangible.  

Chandler always has to do this weird rock star pose....

 

Sterling HAD to have a backpack.  Good thing we have an extra!

This is my favorite.  I love them lots.

Ready to go! 

"Okay mom, you can leave now."

There wasn't one tear for me or Chandler.  But Sterling was pretty upset that he wasn't staying at school with Chandler.  He could tell it was going to be a fabulously good time.  The only difficult thing for me was the realization that this is the beginning of 20+ years of kids in school.  We are very excited for Chandler though, he is so ready!

The San Diego Zoo

We went to the San Diego Zoo, and it was fantastic!  First we rode the train around most of the park, picking out what we wanted to spend our time looking at afterwards...

(It was hot!) 

(Scarlett & Julie on the train checking out the giraffes) 

(Chandler & Uncle Adam on the train)

(Chandler watching the monkey swing)

(everyone has to take a picture on the shiny silver polar bears)

(Chandler photo bombs... hilarious)

 (Riding the sky tram.  I am so glad we did this...)

 (oh my heavens are these the cutest pictures, or what?!)

We were at the zoo from 12-6:30ish.  Then we picnicked at the park near by, tried to keep the babies away from the bum, and almost ran out of gas driving through San Onofre.  It was very sweaty, but so fun!  Those animals are really cool.

Chandler's Shark Attack Birthday

We waited two weeks after Chandler turned five to have his party, so that my family could be here.  It is so much easier throwing a party when you don't have to do everything yourself.  Thanks for all the help guys!

We have pretty much the same party every year just with different decorations: A Super Hero Brithday, A Dinosaur Birthday, and  A Splash Party (I guess I didn't blog about that one).  We put out the kiddie pools, the slip n' slide and have a party!  

 free water bottle printables: http://www.bumpsmitten.com/2011/03/diy-shower-water-bottle-labels-free.html 

Can you tell they're supposed to be fish? 

I was so nervous about dipping the shark heads, but it worked out pretty fabulously.  I loved the shark cupcakes.

I love this picture.  All the kids are like, "Oh Nic, you are so grown up and fascinating." ....because he's 6.  Actually, I think he was burping.

Thank you to everyone who came and made the party just so much fun. :)

I wanted to link all my sources, but that would be way too much work, so here's the two big ones...
http://blog.hwtm.com/2011/06/caution-sharks-scuba-birthday-party/
http://www.thepartypressblog.com/2012/05/beware-an-adorable-shark-5th-birthday/ 

The Fourth

This was our first time doing our own fireworks (besides sparklers), and it was so fun!  We didn't do a whole lot, but we didn't need to because we thought everything was so cool.  It was fun to sit out on the street while all around neighbors were shooting fireworks too.  

I hope your fourth of July was as exciting as ours was!

Lake Mead 2012

"Las Vegas-- Park officials say they rescued more than 40 people at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area amid Fourth of July winds that capsized some boats. 

National Park Service spokesman Randy Lavasseur says monsoon conditions Wednesday were partly to blame for six watercraft accidents, two disabled vessels, and four medical calls....

Gusts that reached 50 mph formed waves that battered some boats, but park spokesman Kevin Turner says nobody was injured in the capsizings."

-WashingtonPost.com

Being out of the lake was terrifying on Wednesday around 2:00, when we decided it to was time to go home.  After slamming through waves you could surf on, we were all happy to sit and wait at the dock (where the water was calm) as the ambulances picked people up, and the cost guard sirens blasted as they headed out to pick up boats and people (including children) stranded in the treacherous water.

But then, Friday and Saturday was fantabulously good time! 

Miranda rides on the tube, and looks like a turtle that can't get up..


Chandler and Grandma ride on the tube, at Grandma preferred speed...

I ride the tube, and wake up the next morning feeling like I had been hit by a car...

Natalie rides the tube....

Grandpa rides the tube, and is qualified for the coolest grandpa in town award...

Various people jump off a big rock, and the rest of us in the boat wonder if they're going to die... 

Brandon rides the wake board, looking serious. 

Uncle Adam rides the ski, trying to look as cool as possible...

And other people do a lot of other stuff, we bake in the sun, but are happy to have wonderful memories... and to be alive....

 

 .....until next year