Weekend Fun

Last weekend, the last weekend of summer vacation, we ended summer with a bang.

Saturday we hosted a "end of summer vacation" barbecue. Lots of family came and brought yummy food with them.




Carley was happy to have Gaia to play with.

My brother, Barry, and nephew, Leyton, were also able to come to the barbecue. They stayed the night and on Sunday we went to Sunsplash water park.

It was a bit cool, which is low 80s, so the lines weren't as long as earlier in the summer. That meant less waiting and more sliding.


Carley is just 4 months older than Leyton. But he's all boy and love to play with Josh and his things.







We had such a good weekend. Walt and I voted it the best weekend of summer.

First Day of School

Today the kids headed back to school.

Carley started 1st grade.

She's in a K/1st combination class. It's the only one at that school. Initially I was hesitant and had my doubts but I think it will be fine. The first three hours of school, the Kindergartners will be in her class. After lunch, the class will only have eleven 1st graders.

Either way Carley is excited to be back in school and having recess on the "big kid playground." She's going to Discovery Club after school program again this year for three days a week while I'm in school.


Josh started 4th grade.

I can't believe it, he's growing up so fast! He was not excited to be back in school. He's dreading the heavier homework load and most of his friends are in the other 4th grade class.

He did start attending Bridges after school program because my classes get out after his three days per week. He found that he loves Bridges. They play lots of outdoor sports.



I'm happy they're both back in school. It gives us routine. To celebrate, I'm taking them out to Baskin Robbins for ice cream. Then I can check it off the "summer list".

Summer List

This summer there were so many things that the kids and I wanted to do. So I made a list.



School starts in three days and we haven't completed the list. That's okay. We've crammed in a few fun trips this week. We're having a BBQ on Saturday. Maybe we'll get Baskin Robbins ice cream or make face paint after school starts.

The point wasn't to finish the list but to have a fun summer doing things we enjoyed. That definitely was the summer we had.

One of the things we checked off this week was Folsom Lake. Going to Folsom Lake is one of Josh's favorite summer outings. I couldn't let this summer pass without going once.


The lake was low! We had to walk forever to get to the water. Walking back out was so much worse.


Josh and Carley each invited a friend to join us. Since the kids had friends to play with, I wasn't on call as much as usual.


The boys played in a mud puddle most of the time.


The girls could touch through the entire swimming area. I took them out past the bouys so they could actually enjoy swiming.


No matter what, they had a great time in the water.


And the boys had a great time in the dirt.


We all had fun in the sun at the low, low lake.

And it was one more thing to check off the list.

Southern California Fun

We enjoyed ourselves in Carpinteria visiting family and playing on the beach. The weather was a little cooler and cloudier than we anticipated but we still got out to the pool and beach to have some family fun.


Walt's sister, Emma.








What's the beach if someone isn't getting buried?




We took the dogs. Neither are typically much for the water.


But Smokey loves to bite at the waves.


He went after one wave he didn't expect to be so big.












She didn't wear her swimsuit. She insisted that she wouldn't swim. This is before...


This is after she swam in her clothes.


Buried again.




Josh tried body surfing.

So much fun. We miss it.

Life is a Beach

We're visiting Walt's mom and sister in Southern California. Good company, good food, and good beach fun.

Here's a few of playing at Rincon Beach.

Dog Day of Summer

This summer has been fairly cool as our summers go. We haven't hit the expected 22 days over 100 degrees yet. Today is one more 100 degree day to tally up.

Today is also the one day lull between last week's classes and parties and this week's trip to visit Walt's mom and sister.

We were home and it was hot. Right as the kids started watching too much TV and getting irritable, I pulled out a bit of fun I've been hiding for weeks.

Treasure Ice Blocks.


I got the idea from a blog I occasionally read but I can't remember which one or else I'd give credit.


I made them by collecting small objects around the house or in our craft box and layered them in ice over the course of several days. They've been ready in the freezer for weeks but there just hasn't been a chunk of time at home to surprise the kids with them.


With a hammer, screwdriver and cup of water each, they busted through these blocks and found all the treasures in no time at all.


Perfect for a hot day.

Since breaking through the ice blocks didn't last as long as I'd hoped, I filled buckets with bubbles and cold water.


That bought me a little more peace and quiet.


Small buckets of bubbly water definitely don't entertain the kids as well as our old pool.


We miss the pool.


The pool is officially dead. Walt and I disposed of it last weekend.


RIP favorite pool.

Water Filled Weekend

Friday the kids and I floated the river with my friend, Christy, and her son, Julian. It's a pretty popular thing to do here during summer. This is the first time that I've taken the kids. Josh thought it would be boring because he wanted to white-water raft. I think he had a good time anyway.


Julian isn't much for smiles if the camera is pointed at him. It's too bad, he's got a handsome smile.








The river was chilly but not too cold to swim in.

Saturday the kids and I went to a swim party at a friend's condo. There were five kids from Josh's grade and three siblings. The kids swam for six hours! SIX HOURS! Really they didn't swim much, it was hours of the game "push each other in." They had so much fun.









What a fun weekend.