Tyler's Wipeout at the Wave

It was in the mid 90's today so we headed to the Wave Waterpark in the afternoon. I rocked the fake wave. No tricks but I stayed in it forever. Tyler did an awesome wipe out. All three kids got up on their knees in the wave. it was a lot of fun. When we got home we had a crazy thunder storm with lots of rain and lightning. Super cool!

Addy flipped her tube

We camped with the Bennett family at the San Luis Rey River this last weekend. This video of Addy is so funny!

Happy Birthday America!

It was our 2nd year spending the day in Coronado for the 4th. We'd love to have you join us next year! It is better than Christmas. Shawn carefully packs our loot into a wagon for the trek to the perfect spot. The Parsons have been doing this for decades and we're so glad they've included us in this perfect secret. Cole, Corbin, and Chandler spent the day working on a laptop that had washed up. Tyler played football on the golf course with friends and strangers. Addy loved having Ashley paint her face. Addy won a beach chair from the radio station near by. Ashley and Kevin were awesome to take us out on their boat for rides on the raft. The Coronado Golf Course is opened up to the public for America's birthday. A barge rolls in with the fireworks just before dusk. The Coronado fireworks are directly in front of us while 3 other fireworks shows are in the distance. KYXY radio station broadcasts next to us with patriotic music. The kids are covered in glow in the dark bracelets and necklaces. To our left is the Coronado Bridge and to our right is the Hotel Del (which I call the Hotel Adelle). We eat and eat and eat and life is great!

Will You Sit By Me At The Fair?

The kids and I ran away to the circus... oh I mean the fair. The theme is Taste the Fun. We went on Tues. where many of the food stands had a $2 item. Fair food is so expensive it was a real treat. The kids tried lots of fair food... pizza on a stick, cinnamon pretzel bites, potatoes on a stick. Tyler, Cole and I went on the kid ferris wheel. It was scarry! Addy slid down whirly slides and said it was the best day of her life. She has lots of those. We saw monster trucks, our friends' pigs, a one man band, and the famous hypnotist. I love the garden show and we ate our fair food while looking at beautiful garden ideas. We ended the day listening to a bit of the Uncle Kracker concert.

Surf Lesson at Doheny with Grandpa Paul

It is wonderful to check blogs of friends and family. I am a crummy blogger, journal writer, scrapbooker, video maker, and so on. Tonight I've spent some time updating our happenings. We are still celebrating Shawn's new job. We have hit the one month mark. It had been just shy of two years since Shawn had had a reliable work situation. We are so glad we've survived.

My dad was teasing me about my vast thrift store knowledge today but it has taken some creativity to survive. I am so grateful for my little jobs as a teacher in adult education as a parent educator and math teacher. I am also grateful for Shawn's creative thinking and vast skills. He can fix anything and has always found a way to pay our bills. We still don't have cable and are in no hurry to get it. Some things are a blessing to do without. Thank you to many of you for your encouragement and prayers over these last couple of years. We have fasted and prayed many times.

Shawn mentioned a few months ago that when he had a new job, he wanted to go to Mama Testa's Taqueria to celebrate. He heard about it on the radio. Well, he has his job and we have been to Mama Testa's!

Today we spent the day at Doheny. I love this place. Here's to summer!

San Elijo Camping Adventure!

Summer it here! We spent the first weekend camping at the beach. Beach camping is the most relaxing for me. I just love it. The days consist of... read in bed, go on a walk, eat breakfast, watch the kids ride scooters, play chess, play Trouble, make sandwiches, hang out at the beach, shower, BBQ, and make smores! It is the best!

Spelling Bee Winners!

It has been a couple of months, but I didn't mention that Addy won the First Grade Spelling Bee and Cole was second in the Second Grade Spelling Bee!! With the Second Grade Spelling Bee it was down to the final two kids FOREVER. Back and forth, back and forth for a really long time! He was awesome. Both Addy and Cole were amazing sports. I was impressed. We celebrated with a trip to the Ice Cream Deli after school with the Wursters.

Padres' Game

Yeah! Uncle Johnny is home! We headed to a Padres game and had a great time with our baseball fanatics. I love Petco Park. It's gorgeous. The Padres got a Grand Slam Home Run at the beginning of the night. Woo hoo! Check out Addy's shiner. She bumped into her friend, Jazi, while playing tag at school. We've seen it change colors daily... green, purple, blue, brownish...quite the fashion statement.

End of the 2010 School Year

I really would love the freeze the kids at their current ages. They are my life and I love to be with them. Addy's class did an adorable dance towards the end of the year. Addy would love to be with her teacher forever. They really were a perfect match!

Baseball Post Season

Tyler was on the Jays and had a wonderful season. Post season, they played in Esc. for a couple of weeks and ended up with the title of First Place Team for Mid City Tournament. I don't know if Tyler or Shawn had more fun.

Lavender Fields

We always see the signs for the Lavender Fields but had never been to them. I love exploring and checking out new things and it was a real treat! We even tried lavender infused lemonade and scones. It was way out there in VC but a fun side trip.

First Grade Field Trip

I love going on the kids' class field trips! The first and second grade trips are my favorites! We had a wonderful time at Sea World with Addy's class. With both boys, we stayed late and rode the Atlantis roller coaster. Addy is a roller coaster girl so we stayed and rode the Elmo Fish Ride a bizillion times. Rosie stayed with us and it was lots of fun. A bit different than being with the boys. Addy and Rosie are huge animal fans and loved the Pets Rule show too.

Arrow of Light

Tyler earned the highest Cub Scout award called the Arrow of Light. He had been looking forward to it for awhile and has done over and above the necessary requirements. We love scouting and appreciate Kendra who makes the pack meetings like Norman Rockwell paintings that are alive. Now Tyler will be an 11 year old Scout!!

Addy Girl

It was our 14th wedding anniversary on June 1. One afternoon, I dressed Addy in my wedding dress and we did a photo shoot. One day she is going to be a veterinarian and then get married. We are working on the details.

Queen Califa

Cole attended Cub Day Camp and Tyler and some friends went to basketball camp. Basketball camp ended an hour before Cub Camp so one day, while waiting for Cole, we headed over to Queen Califa's Magic Circle. It is an enormous art installation by Nikki de Saint Phalle in Esc.'s Kit Carson Park.

Cole's Head

Cole has an um... you know what on his head. At Cub Scout Camp, Cole stuck a popper onto his head. He still has a circle on his forehead and it has been there for four days. Poppers are like a hollow half sphere and suction to things, like foreheads.

Operation Thin Mint

Addy and I had a Girl's Day out with our friends Meribeth and Rosie. We started at the Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum. A helicopter came and picked up the GS Cookies. There was a band playing and everyone waving flags. It was really Patriotic. We want to sell lots of cookies to go to our Troops next year. Then we headed to Sea Port Village to try on hats and ride the carousel. We ate lunch at Ikea. What a fun Girls Day. We were exhausted!

Father Daughter Dance

Addy and Shawn headed to the Hawaiian themed Daddy Daughter Girls Scout dance. They danced the night away and ate junk.

New Dog

We adopted a Golden Retriever and named him Scout. He had been abandoned at Mission Animal Hospital in Oceanside. Shawn does computer work there. We love Scout. He looks like Molly dog but is white.

Disneyland and a Rainforest

What a birthday!!! We had done Disney's Give a Day, Get a Day by working in a creek area in Vista. Cole and I ended up with poison oak but... It was worth it! We got to go to Disneyland!!! We went for my 23rd...okay 36th birthday. Grandma Wendy came too which is great because Addy won't step near a roller coaster ride. We ate dinner at the Rainforest Cafe which I've always wanted to do. I wanted to get back to Disneyland so we didn't get the volcano brownie dessert but Shawn made me one at home. It even had a sparkler to the volcano was erupting. I sure love Disneyland and it was a wonderful treat!!!