Everyday Fun

We really haven't gone anywhere exciting this summer (besides the short trip up to my parent's house). But, we have done a lot of local exploring.  We all made a bucket list at the beginning of the summer so we've been having daily adventures of one kind or another.  We've been to Pump it Up (indoor bounce house arena), the movies (yay for $1.50 kids movies), camping, Chuck E. Cheese's, Costco (yes, that counts as family fun), the aquatics center with friends, playdates, Jocelyn to art camp, etc.

Camping!  Thanks to our old church congregation from Watsonville who let us crash their campout

Chuck E. Cheese's

Playdate with neighbors

Playdate with Woolfords

 Oh, And in the last post I failed to add in the pictures from Gilroy Gardens. We have a neighbor who works there and generously gave us his employee tickets. We were able to take Nate & Tausha for the day and had such a great time.  The girls were able to overcome some of their fears and enjoy the rides after all. The best part of the day was watching Jonas go on his first ride by himself.  As the flying fish took them around he just started laughing uncontrollably and was having a blast. Even other parents watching their kids on the ride couldn't help but smile at his pure joy.  Jared got a little video on his phone but it was priceless!

Tausha & Rin driving their car

Otterstroms in the butterfly garden

On the kid-sized Carousel

Jonas was so excited to "drive" Rin in the firetruck

Nate & Florin on the carousel

Jonas at Pump it Up

Maren & I hosted a "Chef's Corner" activity at our house all about Summer Salads. This is a church ladies activity but I also invited my neighbor and we all enjoyed trying Maren's shrimp watermelon salad...Unexpectedly good.  We shared recipes and visited with each other while Jared and Greg tried to keep all the kids occupied out front riding bikes. 

Jared also went to scout camp with his 11 yr old scouts (again no pictures) and sacrificed two days off work to make sure they got their merit badges, classes, etc.  One morning as Jared was leaving quite early for scout camp, Jonas and I were saying goodbye to him in the driveway (since I was getting back from my morning walk) as all his scouts were being dropped off by their moms.  I looked at Jonas and noticed his eyes were getting a little red and he was moping around.  I asked him what the problem was and came crying to me and told me "my daddy going camping with these other boys!" He was heartbroken that he couldn't attend scout camp with his Dad.  These "other boys" were taking his place.  So cute and sad all at the same time. Luckily we were going camping that night so we pacified him by telling him Dad would come home and take us camping THAT night. 

Now that Jocelyn can read she is quite the handy assistant while we grocery shop.  We were in the laundry aisle at Costco and she tells me "Mom! You should by this laundry detergent...It can get ALL stains out and FAST."  If only we could believe everything we read!  The lesson on "false advertising" will have to wait for another day.  Right now we are just thrilled she can read.

Lillian is really looking forward to her birthday coming up here in a few weeks and asks for the daily countdown.  We still have no idea what we are doing for her birthday (or for school for this upcoming school year for that matter) but she sure is excited to be 5.  She will also give a talk at church on her birthday (just a coincidence) so there is added anticipation.  She is also doing really well with her reading and is so excited to read the BOB books from the library as well as easy reading books Jocelyn made in Preppy K and Kindergarten that we still have on hand.

Emma is growing up way too fast.  Not only is she crawling around everywhere, but she found the stairs last week, puts EVERYTHING in her mouth and started pulling up to stand on the edges of couches and in her crib.  I personally think she is too small to be doing any of this, but she is very proud of herself and thinks she is too big for her britches.  I told Jared I am pretty sure my day has been successful if I have kept her alive. Between the older kids leaving things around on the floor that she can choke on and her uncanny ability to find any object that I have failed to vacuum or sweep up and put it straight in her mouth, I am constantly having to stay on my toes.  Aye aye aye!  She is so much happier now that she can get around and explore and she is a pretty cute little thing.  She has perfected blowing raspberries WHILE eating which is a huge nasty mess, especially if Jocelyn or Lillian are feeding her.  They all just laugh and laugh while Emma gets everything in a five foot perimeter coated in rice cereal and veggies.  She is also demanding self feeding little bits of food which is an additional mess.  Gotta love it.

Little miss crawling around

Standing up after a nap

Super Messy Eater