Beach Beach Beach

 

 We hit Carlsbad Beach again this fall break and it was wonderful. Loren had the entire week off, the weather was nearly perfect, the company was great what more could we ask for? The boys and I went to the beach every day Monday - Saturday we had a storm on Thursday, pretty bad, Loren and I were at Sports Authority getting another awning when the kids called, I guess a huge thunder cloud hit the campsite, blew over our huge 20xbig white awning,and our umbrella and was dumping water. The camp host said he looked out over the water and saw a "twister" said it was crazy, we hurried home cleaned up, ate soup, the sun came out Taylor and Kyley hit the outlet shops for some shopping and the boys and I hit the beach. 

 

Tay, Ky and Wyatt hung out in their tent alot Kyley was reading Harry Potter #7 so she was engaged in her book, it is a good one so I understand.

 The Ricedorffs joined us for the fist part of the week, they left on Wednesday, Dyan asked if 8:30am was too early to be at the beach, the answer is a definite no.  One of the days Ryan borrowed the camp neighbors surf board and gave lessons to whoever wanted to try, it was awesome to watch.  Ty got up, looks like a pro, Taylor got up for a split second  she needs a little more work.

Kyley, Kate, Taylor and Ella my big girls played with the little girls so much

 

Jay and Wyatt the best of friends and not one fight - success!

 

Jake and Ty - the water was a little cold but really not bad.

 

 

 

We woke up each morning pretty early, ate bacon, egss or donuts,  took a walk, maybe a little long board until it was time for the beach.  Taylor looks like she belongs here.

 

 

Taylor and Kyley went to Knott's Berry Farm with the Browns, we asked Wyatt if he wanted to got and he said he had enough at Sea World and Ty said "I'll try."  I thought I am not spending money if they don't want to go - Taylor and Kyley were mad, saying "you ruined it for us.."  Uncle Steve and Aunt Cindy had extra room so they included Taylor and Kyley and guess what we did - yep the beach.  Wyatt was a liitle bored and was complainign a bit, I told him there are 365 days in a year and we get maybe 10 to spend at the beach so get your suit and lets go.  He was there 5 minutes until he was in the water "body boarding" playing the game with Jay where when a wave comes they just plug their nose and gets flipped around - Dyan and I call that getting hit by a wave, but what ever floats your boat.  I played in the ocean more than I have in a long time, the water was "warm" for California I gage it by how long it takes to get in the water, only a few minutes.  The waves were great made for some good boogie boarding, I wiped out at least once each time I went in and I have the bruises to show for it, but it was so much fun.

 

Kyley just missed a wave -she is so cute

 

 



Look at that wave - it was like this everyday- Friday being the best, Ty and Afton were pros, posing trying to do 180's it was fun to try to keep up.

 

 

The last night there was Barrett's 14th birthday so we all went to the park.  When we got there there we were greeted with a banner "Siar Geata of Amtgard" ?? There were grown men running around in reniassance like costumes "jousting" and acting out "fights" we laughed and sat down to watch.

 

 

 The only picture of Loren and, I look how handsome he is and how tan we all are, the tan will fad fast but the memories will last.  I am a little sad because next year Taylor will be in college, hopefully she can make it for a few days .  Loren asked, "how many days until your get tired of this"  I can say not after 7 (but it was nice to dress with dry feet after your shower.)

 Goodbye beach - until next year!

Family

I have thought a lot about family lately and how thankful I am for mine... but since we have moved our internet is hit and  miss (it drives me crazy since Loren works for a communications company and we would get the best for free if only they came out to the "country" ugh - I digress) 

Couple of Sundays ago Loren wakes me with a Diet Coke and the Sunday paper, I love love love reading the Sunday paper slowly, not just the headlines, but we haven't had it in a couple months.  I think I have made a passing comment here and there but I did nothing about it - Loren did and what a wonderful cool morning, sitting out by the pond sipping my Diet Coke reading the paper.

Then last week Taylor was staying with my mom while my Dad and Matt were hiking the canyon and as I drove into school alone it hit me and hit me hard I only have a few short months until I no longer get to ride with Taylor in the mornings thank goodness I still have Kyley for a couple of years.  I love riding to work each morning with my girls, I love walking into school after we have been laughing or dodging rain drops, or singing songs or gossiping I love working where my kids go to school. 

I love ALL my family, my immediate, husband and kids, my mom, dad, brothers and sisters, in-laws, my extended family of aunts uncles and cousins.  Last week my Dad, Matt, Dyan, Jeremy,Kelli, Mike two of his kids Bryant and Tanner, Jodi ,Jimmy,  Willy and  Luke  all hiked the canyon, I have yet to make the 24 mile rim to rim hike maybe one day but I doubt it - anyways last week my dad had trouble making it out, dehydration set in and he actually had to be air-vac out.  It was a scarey 24 hours not really knowing what was going on, Taylor was staying with my mom so  I drove out to be with them.  If we weren't' worrying about my dad it would have had fun, but what amazed me was the support from everyone, Matt and Jeremy stayed with dad and as dad laid in the "hospital" bed at Indian Springs 4.5 miles from the top, Matt and Jeremy got the hard ground outside, I didn't hear them complain but rather comment how cool it was to be able to sleep in the canyon during a full moon.  Uncle Jim and  Aunt Diane "happen" to get a room, (I am sure the Lord had a hand in all this)  Jim hiked 4.5 miles to check on dad then 4.5 miles out while Diane drove around for at least an hour looking for the heli-pad. Text back and forth from family members I actually talked to every one of my siblings that weekend.  I am sure many many many prayers were said as he made it out just fine with a story to tell. I am just thankful for family, I guess that is what it is all about.

Sea World - July 9-12

While I was at my AP conference 8 hours a day, Loren and the kids spent it at Sea World, they got 7 day tickets and spent 4 low key mornings exploring Sea World, I was a little jealous, but I loved hearing about their adventures when I got home. I guess Sea World had some new rides Wyatt and Ty were a little stressed to go on them but they did.  I am so proud of them, this ride was Atlantis and I love love love the facial expressions on all the kids especially Wyatt (I think he is ready to cry) and Loren just cracking up -  this goes down as a classic in my book.  They got to see all the shows, all the animals, they rode all but one ride even,the Bay Side Sky Ride heck they even spent time in the Sesame Street area enjoying those crazy rides - he he.  I am so glad my kids had this time with their dad and that they got to experience while I got to re-learn all about derivatives :)

In front of the shark teeth - heck that shark could almost eat them all in one bite.

Hanging with Shamu!

The Polar Bear - they all loved this exhibit.  I guess he caught a fish right in front of them, Loren said it was so cool, they were the only ones around at the time.

 I love the pictures where the kids aren't posed, you get he real them .

No screams on this ride - unless they are all faking it. ps - Wyatt is standing right here while I type and he said "Yeah I was faking it I was scared at first."  

California 2012

I was asked in April if I wanted to attend the AP Calculus conference in San Diego  - well although four 8 hour days of calculus sounded like a blast, being that close to the beach yet so far caused me some concern -  like will I be able to focus?  Then I found out I was the only one in my department  going so that meant I did not need to share a hotel room which meant I got to bring the family and make a vacation out of it.  I am pleased to say that I was able to focus (most of the time) and I refreshed my knowledge of calculus and Loren and  the kids partied it up during the day.  My only rule was the family had to be rested enough to do something else at 4 when I got done, and they obliged.  Here we are  on the last day of the conference, Loren and the kids met me at USD campus to eat lunch and walked around.  University of San Diego is a private Catholic university and it is absolutely beautiful, the grounds should be with a $50,000 a year tuition.  Taylor was in heaven, I told her we only have to win the lottery, her grades are already good enough to get her in.  We met a USD student and she said "everyone is on scholarship at least $20,000" well a $30,000 tuition is much more reasonable (sarcasm).

Busy August

I guess I only have a few days left to get a post for August - as I have said in the past August is my least favorite months of the year - no holidays, it is hotter than snot and something always seems to happen... Last year it was our AC going out, this year we chose the hottest weekend to move.  Yes we moved from our old farm house to a newer farm house.  We are excited but we have been busy busy busy.  I still have many pictures from our California vacation in July to post and hopefully some on the new abode.  The kids all started school, heck Tay, Ky and I are over half done with the quarter.  Ty is not playing football this year, my fault I didn't get him signed up in time but in reality it has been a relief with the move and all.  Wyatt starts flag soon and it will be October break and beach camping here before I know it so I will survive yet another August.

4th of July

I had pretty low expectations for the 4th this year as we were in town.  It fell on a Wednesday and so no cabin or California for us.  I wondered what we were going to do - well my worries were for nothing.  First we didn't make it to the cabin but the cabin weather came to us.  It was the coolest 4th of July in all my 41 years.  I sat outside at 2:00 in the afternoon and read a book.  It was overcast, we had a good rain, mix that with the cool weather and if you closed your eyes you would swear you were up north.  I did close my eyes to say a prayer of gratitude for this country, our little piece of  land  and my family - I am truly blessed.

Half of my brothers and sisters were out of town so the ones that were my parents invited over to swim at Steve and Cindy's and eat so Dale and his family, Joe and his family, Matt and us celebrated in style.  I hadn't been to Steve and Cindy's pool  in a while it brought back so many good memories of every single summer day spent there.  Loren even told Kyley - "I use to make out with you mom her."  Kyley gave us a face of disgust - ha ha.  Here are our kids and  Durham atop the waterfall, ready to jump in.  Love it!   We headed back to my parents house for some steak and corn on the cob, good conversation and some "Fun Facts" about the 4th of July provided by Joe, Debbie asked the question.. "Fun for Who?"  We laughed, ate, sat outside (again because we could - the weather was so nice.)  We took off early becasue when we headed into "town" we noticed that huge fireworks  were going off by our house and we wanted to beat traffic.  Mission accomplished.

As we got closer, Loren suggested we hook up the boat and go to Perry and watch  - we were all in, since the 'works were close to our house but our trees prevented us from seeing them.  The boat would get us up high enough that we would be able to see them from farther away.  It was perfect!  Yes those are blankets, although I didn't think we needed them ,the kids were "cold" on the 4th of July in Gilbert, Az what in the world.  I  enjoyed hanging with my family guessing the color of the firework before it burst into color, we had to change the rules about that game to the FIRST color since they often changed and heated debates over who was correct ensued.  Since we were so close there was no stress, we headed home and the boys slept in the boat  - I told them this would be the only chance to sleep in the boat this summer, all other nights will be to hot.  I love this country and I love our freedom and I love my family.  Happy 4th!

Summertime Week 2

Tate, Jonah, Ty at Perry Pool

We had another great summertime week.  Ty and  Wyatt  would  wake at 7:15AM, and since Perry High is hosting summer school, the federal free breakfast and lunch program is held there, so we  would leave for weight training a little early and grab breakfast.  Usually a donut, cereal, chocolate milk and  apples.  Ty's friend Jonah is doing weight training with him so after they would come to our house and  recover on our king size bed (yep still in the living room).  From there they would  go to Tate's, head back to Perry for lunch then to swim for 3 hours, then... Monday it was the movies, Men in Black, Tuesday it was Scouts, Thursday it was Tate's swim meet not home until 9:00PM or later, he is one tan fit boy playing the day away, I love it.

Wednesday we took it easy and didn't swim until 3:00 at Dyan's house.  They have a great pool, thanks for the invite.   We were really doing a two-for since it was the Goodman Girl Cousin Night Out.  Jodi put it together, Aunt Diane opened up her house, Karrie made the drive down from Prescott Valley Dyan, Rita, Kelli, Mom, Aunt Cindy, Afton, Barrett, Sierra and I got together.  Most brought a "favorite" gift to exchange, we all ate and we all laughed.  I laughed so hard I had  tears and had to catch my breath, those good  kind  of laughs, I love these people, I wish Laura and Katrina's girls (Kristi, Kim and Kathryn) could have made it.  All the while the boys swam, not home until 9:30 another perfect summer day.

Friday we took it easy, we swam with Durham, Raulin and  'Gregor, watched TV, went to Rubios and just recovered from the week.  Loren left for his California fishing trip on Thursday, hope he is catching lots.  The girls were off at girls camp, they just got home today.  It was Taylor's last time at girls camp, I am a little sad, she has loved it and  I have only heard  great things about her being a leader and including everyone.  Kyley was a 4th year (the best year) they are all off  by themselves  and she got to go horseback riding, repelling, canoeing, cliff jumping, shoot a gun, shower everyday, no 12 year old drama,  she came back loving  it.  Like I said another perfect summertime week.