Summer loves

I have so many Summer loves but here are a few recent ones:

Visits from family:
Sports:And extra time for me and my crafts:Oh please, Summer, stay a while longer!

Summertime

Summer time is so sweet but I feel like we've waited forever for it to get here. We all went to Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs) for Memorial Day and got to feel the hot, desert weather. We stayed at the Mission Hills Westin in a suite with a full kitchen. We've stayed here before and it is just gorgeous!Chasing ducks was the highlight of Max's trip.
While we were in Rancho Mirage we swam and loved just hanging out together.

Sam even went golfing for the first time on a real course (twilight rates, of course!) He was so happy to be able to pal around with his Daddy on the golf course.Thanks for checking in. Enjoy the early Summer!
Christy

I'm back!

Holy cow! I can't believe its already been a month since my last post. I could barely remember my login!Sorry for my absence! (in case there is anyone out there who still checks our blog.) Life has been crazy busy, yet productive. In the last month we've celebrated Easter, changed the kids to a private Christian school (to start in the Fall), teacher appreciation parties, open house and spring concerts at both schools, play dates, swim lessons, gymnastics, family visiting, planning Summer vacation, AND just Brentt and I took a trip together. Whew! I'm exhausted just reading about it.I'll share some photos of the last month. So many great ones!

First of all, Easter was such a fun occasion to watch how much Max's personality has blossomed. He loved the Easter egg hunt
but he did NOT like the Easter bunny. (I have to admit he does look a little creepy!)We also had some warm weather in early May. The kids love the slip and slide and the water table. I hope it stays this easy to entertain them all Summer.
Luckily, Max is not old enough to be embarrassed that I show pictures like this. Who doesn't love to see a cute, chubby, baby butt?!?
Madeleine's school had a cake decorating contest for their Spring Fling. She thought of, and decorated this cake all by herself. She was so proud of her "Ladybug Picnic" cake.
Here are Grandma and Grandpa Bill when they were here. Isn't this a great picture of them? They are so happy and in love. (Happy early Anniversary!)Sam just cracks me up in this picture! He is in full character! I am starting to wonder if "camouflage" is a phase or just part of being Sam. Hmmm...Max LOVES books and he and Grandpa Bill bonded over many books on their 10 day visit.
I have so much more to share but I've really got to run. Thanks so much for checking in!
Cheers,
Christy

Everyday Moments

Sometimes, I feel like it is the simple, everyday moments are the ones that I want to engrave in my memory. Nothing too significant. Just evidence of a good life. A life that I love to share with those we love who live too far away. Here are some moments from the last couple weeks.

Madeleine learning to feed Max. I hesitated letting her feed him, knowing how messy they would be, but they both had so much fun.A trip to the Del Mar Racetrack is always a fun summer activity. Brentt and I had already been to the track but we took the kids on the second trip. They loved seeing the horses.(Pssstt...I finally snuck into a picture! Yay! )and eating ice cream!
Max's first haircut.Discovering the reality that boys are just born with the ability to vroom cars.
Check out this video of Max. He says his first word: "Yeah!"A splash in the backyard pool.How about a daily concert? Or a muscle show? We have entertainment everyday too! Click here to view a recent concert. (We won't be offended if you don't stay for the whole song. They can't see you walk out. :) )And of course, who could miss an opportunity to lick the clean windows?Life is short when the days are long!

Thanks for checking in!
Christy

Where have I been???

Ever since Summer break has begun we have been BUSY! I don't know what I was thinking making that silly "Boredom Buster" jar. We haven't used it once. We really haven't been home much. We have been having so much fun so far. So where have we been?

1. Camping. A few weeks ago we went camping in Idyllwild, about 5500ft.
We had a fun time hiking, complete with walkie-talkies that may have been the best $20 toy I ever bought. Brentt and I had a great time with them!We had great weather, everyone was moving along fine on this easy trail despite the fact that the only shoes we packed Maddie were flip-flops. Max even got a nap until....Maddie fell in the creek. Darn shoes. It was actually snow run-off so it was really cold. Max was jolted awake as Brentt fished Madeleine out of the water. Now we had a cold, wet girl hiking in flip-flops and a baby who needed his nap. Ugh. End of hiking. Back to the campsite to snuggle around a warm fire. Nothing that a warm marshmellow (and a well-deserved beer for me) can't fix. By the time we got home from 4 days camping, these 3 were happy to get a bath at home.
2. We also went to the annual Adoption Center picnic where we saw Sam's birth grandma and uncle. So much fun to see so many great families and just spend the day hanging out and having fun.
They had face painting too. Doesn't Maddie look great?!?
3. The Zoo. Why we need to visit the zoo when I have my own at home baffles me! 4. I have gone miles chasing a crawling Maxwell. He is crawling and so very curious! It won't be long before he actually goes out this doggie-door.
5. The 4th of July was great fun this year.

We had our annual neighborhood bike parade and then some friends here for a BBQ. I just love the boys' matching shirts!
Sam even got a patriotic haircut. That's what you get when your Dad is an Ex-Marine.
Hmmm... Max wonders what will be next this Summer? Max is usually up for anything!
How about some cows and tractors?
I hope you are having a great summer too!
Cheers,
Christy