Life is Fine When You're Nine

While we were in California, E celebrated her 9th birthday.

Her cousin, S, shares the same birthday. We were able to have double the fun!

Even their Great-Grandmother, Lala, is an August birthday. She stopped by to be part of the celebration as well.


We started the day by having E, S, their sisters, Grandma Jill and Mom go out to breakfast. We went to play at a park (that didn't last long--sick=no energy). Later in the day, all the girl cousins got together and went to Build-A-Bear. Now, all of our houses have more furry friends to help remember the day.


S with Grandpa Mike and her "Harry Potter" bear

That night we headed down to the beach for dinner. We roasted hot dogs, made corn on the cob with sea water (It is so delicious), salad, fruit, Smores and birthday cake.

The girls even opened their presents down at the beach.

Even a little Boccie was played.

Here the girls are making a wish.

Aunt Jen gave everyone the perfect gift... Glow in the Dark Flip Flops!

Relaxing in the OC

Over the mountain and the tip of the sea to Grandmother's house we go,
The pilot knows the way to guide the plane through the light and drafting clouds,
Oh, ...

Vacation can do a lot to rest the body and raise the spirit.
Here is JR after a few days of unloading the worries of the world.

H- cheerful as usual


Grandpa Mike has started a tradition of doing the "Wild Rumpus" dance whenever he is around our girls. The dance was inspired by the book Where the Wild Things Are. I wish we lived closer so we could all go together to see the movie when it comes out this fall.

Grandpa leading the dance

More Wild Rumpus!


One of the best things about going down to the OC is seeing the cousins!

R(1) and E with cousin R(2) (Her and my R have the same initials: RAZ)

H with A1 and S. H loved these two. She had them babying her all the time.

One not so bright part of the trip that I need to mention is the girls were sick the whole trip. They had a fever and were tired; this didn't stop them from having fun. However, at the end of the day, and sometimes the middle, they were BEAT.
Most nights they were asleep before we were out of the room from tucking them in, like this night.

H and furry friends

R, so tired

E-She was the last one to get ready that night. She hadn't had a chance to sleep yet.

While we were down there JR, E, and I were able to go visit JR's grandparents. (We decided not to take the other two since they were sick). I feel bad saying this, it was such a nice visit. I was able to sit down and talk. We had a wonderful conversation. I was able to participate instead of referring fights, keeping an eye out to make sure no property was destroyed, and all that other mom stuff you have to do while visiting with your kids.

Bobee and JR. Bobee is in his 90th year of life, as he likes to say. (Translation he is 89 years old)

The final night, we went to JR's brother's, Mark, house for an outdoor movie.

The Z men enjoying the flick: JR, Mark(standing), Matt, and Mike

The crowd watching from the hot tub: H and A2

Making their own entertainment: R2, R1, A1, S

Home again, home again, jig -a- dee- jig

The Emerald City, a little Red

Recently we tagged along on JR's business trip to a suburb of the Emerald City. It was so much fun. One of JR's cousins lives up there and we spend every day playing at their house.

Here are my girls with their second cousins (Is that what they are?), Curtis and Trevor.

*The next 2 pictures were taking by R.*

This is Tajee. She married to JR's cousin. Tajee and I are vacation buddies. We have taking several trips together. We always are up to an adventure as long as we are together.


E and Curtis really hit it off. They had a great time hanging out together.


The only picture that shows we are in the Emerald City

While we were there we took in a ballgame

The girls weren't exactly thrilled. So, we showed them how fun a game can be...especially when you eat your way through it.

Of course, we had had hot dogs but we also had:

-Chocolate covered strawberries

-Cotton Candy

-Kettle Corn

And a good time was had by all!

Indulge me, across from our hotel was a playground with the cutest furniture. It had flower tables with caterpillars climbing the stem and butterfly chairs.

Totally Cute!

Girls Camp...The Craft Queens

This was the second year I was able to go up to our stake's Girls Camp as an Assistant Craft Lady (seriously, that's is what the High Council member called it when he gave me the assignment). I love going!!!

Here is the craft I was in charge of. Many of you might recognize it. I am good at copying others creative ideas.


It is a block of wood, that you paint. Then you decoupage on a strip of cute paper with what ever message you want on it. You add a sheet of metal to the slot in the wood block. Add a decorated wood disk to a magnet. Voile, a cute picture frame.

JR was so sweet and used his work connections to have all the sheets of metal laser cut for me. He also went over to a friend in the ward's and they cut all the wood blocks. I love you, Honey. You saved me so much work.

Here are my fellow Craft Ladies: Jan H. (the Head Craft Lady), me, and Kat T.

The beauty queen sashes are another craft. (It is decorated. It is really cute) After all, we are Daughters of a King.

Some ladies from my ward are making the cutest bags out of men's tank tops.

Tracy, Maureen, Larissa, and Alyssa


Morgan showing off her creation

You take the tank top, preferable no seams and no ribbing, and lay it flat on its side with the arm holes lined up. Then you cut out fabric designs. Iron it to the shirt using Heat N Bond. Then you use the seam ripper to open a small hole in the shirt's hem and run a ribbon through it. Scrunch it up tight to gather the bottom and tie a knot. You can add Ric rack around the arm holes for decoration. Put your one arm through the arm hole. Bam, you are styling a one of a kind bag you created.

FYI, we also made picture frames with words created from bent wire. Sorry, no pics.

I can hardly wait to see what we come up with next year.

High Adventure

This year, the Young Men went to the Coast for their High Adventure.

They went sandboarding (like snowboarding, but on the sand).




Here is JR and some of his fellow YM leaders and some Bishopric members.
Tye C., Jon J., LaMar M., Doug Y., and JR


LaMar M., Doug Y. and JR


The beautiful coast!
(Not the same rock as in my other coast pictures. This is a different location)

I love this picture.


As part of High Adventure Week, they also went on a tour cheese factory, built a mini golf course on the beach, hiked a hill over looking the ocean, played other games on the beach, did their own version of Fear Factor and had an Iron Chef Challenge.

They even went deep sea fishing.


They caught about 140 fish

They dropped crab pots on the way out and picked them out on the way in. They caught 17 crabs.

Afterwards, they had a fish fry and steamed crab. JR loved it!

The Best Home Teacher

We love our Home Teacher! ( Home Teaching is a program in our church where priesthood holders are responsible for watching over the members. Home Teachers visit their assigned families at least once a month to teach and strengthen them. Home Teachers build a relationship with the families, so the families can call on the Home Teachers when in need.)

We have had the same Home Teacher since we moved here. His companions have changed, but he has always been there ever month. He has always been willing to help us out with anything we need, until now. He is moving all the way to Austin, TX!

Larkins, we will miss you and wish you the best in Texas. John, thank you for your dedication as our Home Teacher.

BFF

My BFF from high school went to college and meet this cute Canadian boy. As seems the case with many of my friends and family, my BFF could not resist the charms of this Great White Northern. She married him. Now, drum roll please, 15 years later she is still residing in the Great White North! She has four children whom, I am pretty sure, consider themselves Great White Northerns, too.

Last week, my BFF , the Charming GWN, and 4 mini GWNs came down to the promised land for a visit. (I am sure BFF still dreams of moving back here someday, right?) The last 2 times we have gotten together we have used Beth's house as our meeting location. I figure she endured our torture, now she can enjoy the memories with us.

Mindi and fam, it was great to see you! Hope you make it down this way again soon.