our summer

swimming lessons, picnics at the park, dance class, summer school

Keagan's little swim class. She LOVED it and passed to go onto Preschool 2. Go Keagie!
Easton's swim class. He loved it, except that one day where he cried the whole time because the water was too cold...., he wasn't as comfortable in the water as Keagan was and I signed him up to redo Level 1.

Keagan's class. She is the one with the pink ponytail holder.

Easton's class

Getting ready for dance class. She loves this also and has been pretty good so far with it. The class is for an hour, which for 3 year olds is long, and you can definitely tell when they are all done at the end.

July 4th

We went and had a bar-b-que at my folk's house and then did fireworks.

I did Keagan's hair in "firework" style. She loved it.

cousins

doing pop-its

our little family

Parker's new baby

For Father's Day we got Parker a gift certificate for a new grill. He looked around and found one that he liked and went and picked it up. It was supposed to be free assembly, but somehow the store forgot....(lame sears) so Parker and I put it together. It was a bit daunting at first, but we managed to do it.

It is awesome and we have used it a ton already. Nothing like grilling in the hot summertime.

Balloon Fest

The kids and I did the balloon fest the Saturday before the 4th of July. I have been doing this since Easton was just a baby. We missed last year because we were out of town, and it just didn't seem like the 4th of July to me. So glad to get back to our tradition.

Even though it was super early, the kids were excited to be there.

This year the Darth Vader balloon made it's first appearance in our balloon fest. Easton was so excited to see it. And there were Star Wars characters walking around the festival, which was even more exciting.

There was a huge line to see Darth Vader, but we were able to squeeze in and take a picture. One of the storm troopers put his hand on Easton's shoulder and Easton said afterward, "He was squeezing my neck!" He was so excited.

The Coke bottle was a first this year too. 180 feet tall. It was cool to see it go up, even if it was only for a minute.

June 25...

ICE CREAM!!

We always have ice cream on June 25th to celebrate Parker's sister's birthday. Ice cream was one of her favorites, so all around the country, the family does ice cream on June 25.

Happy Birthday, Abbey!

California, part 4

My last California post, until next time.

One day we went to the OC Great Park. It is an old Naval base that the county wanted to turn into an airport, but the residents didn't want another airport, so they are turning it into a park. There was a carousel, which the kids loved, and a hot-air balloon that you can go up in. Everything is free, which is awesome. We couldn't do the balloon, because they said there was too much wind (which there wasn't....) but we did the carousel twice and walked around the farmer's market that they have.

pretty awesome bike rack

There was a little park for kids to play at, so we took a little break after lunch to let the kids play.

King of the mountain.

Keagan wanted a unicorn, but they didn't have any, so she had to settle for a "pony with jewels."

Buddies.

This was our last day. We were so sad to leave. We can't wait to visit again.

California, part 3

We went to the aquarium one day. The kids loved it.

trying to touch a sting ray

touching sea urchins and starfish

HUGE crabs

the clown fish exhibit. The kids loved this one and kept saying it was Dory and Nemo.

At the seal and sea lion show

Keagan, Shelley, and Kasen

I thought it was funny how one of the sea lions was named Parker and one of the seals was named Troy (one of Parker's best friends). I had to get a picture to document it for Parker.

Strike a pose.

And here is Parker, the sea lion. He was a show-off and the star of the show. Sounds familiar. :)

California, part 2

My mom had gotten my dad a golf round in California for his birthday, so the 2nd day we were there, they went golfing in the afternoon. Shelley, the kids, and I played in the backyard and did sidewalk chalk.

Keagan loved Remy and Kasen. She was a big helper.

Keagan and I were happily surprised that Remy has red hair. We hope it stays red. Power in numbers.

Kasen was a little more shy towards us, but a sweetheart when you got him to smile.

Easton trying to whistle through a blade of grass.

We did the beach one day. We walked from the condo we rented. It was a good little walk, but a pain to get two double strollers and a wagon full of beach chairs down the sand. I was sweating by the time we got there.

Shelley took my kids down to the waves while I played with the babies.

We built a 4 tower sandcastle and buried Easton's and Keagan's legs in the sand. Keagan was in heaven, saying she was Ariel.