Just wanted to toot my own horn for a moment. I painted these dried gourds and made them into ornaments last Friday at our Enrichment night. Let me just say... they may not look like much, but it took me a heck of a long time to finish them. Rick was proud of me, so I'm good!

Don't you just love the "Deer caught in the Headlights" look?

I was looking through my camera last night and realized how many pics I haven't posted about. We have had a fun summer!


Drake turned 7 at the end of June. I love this one of him at his party!


Rick and I went to a 311 concert in San Diego, but before we went out to dinner we saw this guy on the side of the road when we were waiting for the light. We gave him $5 for such a creative sign!


My brother and SIL went on a cruise and so their kids got to spend some time with us. Jett and Sophia just LOVE each other. We were wondering why we hadn't seen them in a while and why they were being so quiet. Then we saw this. It was the middle of the day and Jett rarely takes a nap. We thought that they must have just decided "hey, i have this blankie that is so soft and comfy, you wanna share it with me and take a little snooze while we're at it?" I love, love, love those two. I secretly want Sophie for my own. Well not really secretly, I voice it openly!


I went to Target to get a slip and slide for the kids and found the one Cade requested. It's the one with the skim board. Well, they got tired of that and pulled out the boogie boards. Ace always wants in on the action. He kept getting on, as if waiting for a wave to take him for a ride, and the kids kept yelling at him to move so they could use it. Such a turd, but so cute at the same time!




After Rick came home from Hawaii we took the kids to the OC Fair to spend some family time together. That place is a money pit! But we had fun anyway.


This was the biggest Steer I have ever, and probably will ever see! It looked like it should be Paul Bunyan's ox. It was that BIG! Crazy.




We went to Palm Springs to the same hotel I grew up going to. It's nothing fancy, but we all had a great time hanging by the pool!



Rick and Kaleigh's birthday's are a day apart so they are usually celebrated together. Kaleigh was so excited to get a phone! Doesn't every 9 year old need a phone? HA!

Absence makes the Heart grow fonder...

... or crazy.

So Rick has been gone since Sunday, and I'm crazy missing him! Again I feel like a single mom, remembering all too well our life in Utah the last 7 months or so that we lived there. At least this is only for a week (hopefully). The good thing about it is that he gets to eat fish every night at Irifuni's in Honolulu, one of his favorite places for Fish. And I don't have to rack my brain for dinner dishes. How does cereal, corn dogs and mac n' cheese sound? And I get to clean my disaster of a house when all the kids are asleep. That way I know it will stay somewhat clean until I wake up. But, dealing with 5 kids all by yourself who love to fight, cry and scream.... Man that's a good time!

Here's to Husband's we can't live without (hand in the air, holding my Red Bull, waiting for a "cheers")!!!!

Independance Day

We had a great Forth. It started with the 4 older kids going to the tide pools with Grandma Sherri and Papa. So, you know it must have been a good day with only one kid in the house ;). Rick and I took Ace to breakfast at Sunny's and then I got a new Bike! It's called the "Lahaina" (appropriate for us, don't ya think). It is sooooooo cute I love it.

Then, after the kids got home, we went to the Hudson's to start the Holiday festivities. The kids went swimming and Rick and I just relaxed (as much as we could with our busy baby) and ate some awesome ribs.
Then when it got dark, we went to Drew's [Hudson] parents house in Costa Mesa cuz you can actually light fireworks there. All I'm gonna say is that we went to Wyoming the week before while we were in Utah... It was a great show, thanks to Ricky BB! It was a fun day!




Drake and Cade with their stash of Glow Bracelets



I think he is happiest when he's playing with fire

OK, I'm ready...

for a real post.
This is surf camp. The kids had a blast. I only wish I had gone the whole week instead of the last day so I could have had more pics. All of the kids loved it but I think Cade liked it the most. That kid is a natural athlete. He popped right up on that board and rode the wave all the way to shore. Drake liked it, but really only tried the surfing because that's what I told him I paid for the camp for, To learn to surf! He would much rather body board or play on the beach. But, He also did great on the board. I'm so proud of both of them!
Unfortunately, I didn't get any pics of Kaleigh cuz I left my camera in the car and the walk was like a mile back. That is an entirely different story, so I won't get into it. She had fun though, except for the rash from the wet suit. Next year they will all have their own, one's that fit properly!

Did You Know...

that Red Bull, my guilty pleasure, has real bull semen in it? Great...

I hate posting