Laguna Beach 1

We went on a little trip to Laguna Beach, CA during the first weekend in August. It was sooo much fun and sooo beautiful. I love California and I can totally see why so many people want to and do live there. HOWEVER, the water was fah-reezing. This Florida girl is used to warm bathwater temperature water. I couldn't even let it touch my toes without shivering, let alone get in the water at all. That's alright though because the weather was so perfect. Chilly in the morning and evening but warm during the day. Joe booked us a cheap hotel with views of the ocean and a walking path down to a secluded little beach. The city of Laguna Beach was really fun to walk around with tons of people and lots of fun shops and restaurants. The only thing missing was Marlowe. :( We left her behind with her loving Aunt and Uncle so we could enjoy the beach with ease. Sad but true. She had a great time and got spoiled with attention and love instead of suffering through the long drive and crazy travel schedule.

Us on and overlook of the ocean. I loved the cliffs going straight down to the water.

Sterling does silly dances when he gets excited and I actually captured his joy on film this time!

Ace and I were cold-water-wimps together.

Isn't it lovely?

Looks like we had the whole beach to ourselves, huh?

When Nature Calls...

Sterling and his bestie, Max, went to nature camp together this summer. They were so excited to be at camp and in the same 'tribe'.They got special plaques because their tribe won the most challenges.
Sterling gushing over his plaque, haaa.
Sterling and Max - best buds.

Birthday Lakeside

Buster at the lake, as requested.Watch out behind you Abby!
Happy girl!

Say cheese!Cali and Sterling mucking it up.
Needless to say, it was a great day on the lake! Thanks Buster!

Moe Tired

This pic was snapped after an evening of fun at the lake around the campfire cooking hotdogs and roasting marshmallows and eating pie and running around in the forest and playing with cousins and inhaling lots of toxic smoke from random things the kids threw into the fire. So yeah, they were pretty exhausted.Marlowe is a sweet little thing.
Even when she rips all of her cute headbands off her head a half a second after I put them on.

Birthday Boy, Buster!

Buster turned nine on June 27th! I can't believe my little boy is nine already. Man, time just flies when you're having fun raising five kids. Buster is a great boy and lots of fun. He plays well with one and all and is easy to get along with. He does well in school, one of his teachers even said she would clone him if she could! Ha! He's really cute with his baby brother and sister and Sterling loves to do whatever Buster's doing. Love you Buster! So glad you're a part of our family!Buster wanted to spend his birthday on the lake with his cousins. Those pics will be in the next post. Note Sterling and Cali holding hands in this pic, it was sooo cute. They have lots of fun together and they're in the same Kindergarten class to boot!
Grandma Andreasen and Joe looking on.
Buster thanking Sterling for his gift.
Buster wanted brownies for his birthday cake. I was happy to comply!
A little video of us singing to the birthday boy...

We're On A Boat!

Somehow we had the luck of acquiring an old, jalopy party barge that, with a little work, Joe made seaworthy. Or, lakeworthy, here in the George. We took it out a couple times this summer and played in the water while Joe fished. Joe's nephew, Dallin, came with us.
Ace was the captain.
It's a fun way to spend the day...especially when someone with a tube hooked to their boat joins us. ;)

Awards Tank

Both Abby and Buster scored so well on testing at school that they got certificates and candy bars and recognized during an assembly. Abby excelled in language arts by scoring in the top ten percent in the nation. Buster scored in the top ten in the nation in language arts, core and science. So proud of these kids!!!
One Saturday we all went to Costco and they had an army tank in the parking lot for people to explore...we took some pics. They also had some Star Wars characters that you could take a free photo with. It was pretty fun (and free) ((except for the big bucks we always tend to drop when shopping at Costco)).