Some of our June Goings-On

As long as we've lived here and loved driving down to Big Sur, we've never visited the Big Sur River Inn area. So on a recent Saturday we headed that way. It was a gorgeous day! We stopped at the general store at the River Inn for a nice little lunch ($68!! next time Subway on our way there) which we ate by and in the river.

There is also a heated pool right next to the river in which we swam. It was a lot of fun and since Albert was with us, I finally got to really swim and play with Linnea and Gavin.

Gavin braved the cold water...all the way. He got completely in the water from head to foot and it's COLD...as cold as the ocean!

Micah loved throwing in rocks. We all tried skipping rocks and all got at least a couple skipped.

We found some really cool looking rocks.

It was neat how we could actually put our chairs right in the water.

Back at home Gavin found some worms!

Micah did too...and with the funniest face ever!

We enjoyed an awesome 50's party for Nanette turning 50!! Linnea and Gavin both won a hoola hopping contest and won gift certificates for In n Out! Dallin is doing a great job here too!

There were obstacles bounce courses, a bounce house with a basketball hoop even, and this bungee cord bounce game. So fun! I even did it.

The decorations were amazing, the food was great, the company was fun. I tried dressing Micah up...see his slicked back hair?

Thanks Nanette for turning 50!

We've spent tons of days at the beach! I feel like I'm on vacation in between my laundry loads and cooking of meals.

I've enjoyed having some extra time to do things with the kids. We also have spent some time at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, PG Museum, the dozens of great parks around here, the PG High Pool, the Carmel Valley pool, bike rides and walks to see the baby seals... so much fun to be had in our own backyard. I love it here!

Summer Bonfire

One of my favorite things about summer is having more time for summer bonfires. This time we went to Seal Rock beach. The Olsen family happened to be walking by and stopped for a bit. The Huston family came down and we played a fun game of football. I don't think any one scored though. It was fun. Hot dogs, s'mores, listening to the ocean waves...some of my favorite things.

We took along the Friend magazine and Linnea read a story to all of us. (I have to take teachings moments that I can and I won't hear any complaints when mouths are full of s'mores. :)

I'm learning to endure summer better and even enjoy it! I just need to be sure and get a run in every morning and get the kids out twice a day. The first week after school let out was tough but I am enjoying extra time for outings with the kids now.

Baptism Day

Two of my nieces were baptized. Above my sister, Tera's, daughter. Below is my brother, Leif's, daughter. So sweet. I got to play the piano for the baptism. The cousins all sang a pretty song. Too bad I have a serious shine factor in these pictures. I'm not used to the heat of Coalinga.

We didn't go to the derby rides because of the filth and digustingness but the parade was great. The kids loved it. Especially Micah!

Leif rode on a float with his class--they had their 20th class reunion.

That afternoon we had a water fight and barbeque. So much fun with the whole family!

Leif's family with Grampa N. and Grama Shirley.

Catch Up-Easter

I'm a bit behind still on posting my pictures.
We had a nice Easter Celebration in Coalinga.
At Grama and Grampa Zuniga's house we dyed Easter eggs.

We barbequed...

...and ate. Jacen is in heaven.

Jacen hid the eggs.

and all the cousins found them.

Micah was proud to show his Dad the egg he dyed.

He even put stickers on it.
It's nice when kids are excited about just the regular old fashioned egg dying. I see kits that enable one to create gorgeous eggs but I can hardly get incentive to do the regular ones. I'm just not that into egg dying. I guess because it makes such a big mess maybe? Not sure.

Then we ate the eggs. It was really funny to me that none of the kids in Albert's family eat hard boiled eggs. Maybe its not a Mexican thing.

We drove home Saturday night and were in our own house for Easter Sunday.
The Easter bunny came.
Linnea learned the truth about the Easter bunny. I think it was a bittersweet moment for her.

The next week, time to give the puppies shots. My first time. It was scary at first but then easy.

Fresno Zoo

Well, I am playing catch-up here.
In April for spring break we visited family in the San Joaquin Valley. We went to Fresno to the zoo with Grama Shirley and Chris' family. It was the first time Micah has been to the zoo and he loved it!

Chris' son below, excited to see his favorite attraction, the elephants.

Micah's favorite was by far the giraffes. He couldn't get enough of them!

Gavin

Chris' youngest.

At Grampa and Grama's house the kids loved the trampoline as usual. Here they are playing with their cousins, Jada and Dezmon.

Oliver!

Linnea was recently in the 5th grade play Oliver.
She was a townsperson with a singing part.
Oliver is based upon the book Oliver Twist. It was so much fun to see!
She did a great job and so did all of her classmates.
Micah sat right in front with us and loved the whole thing! He kept saying, "Nay nay" (that is his way of saying "Linnea")

Me: Linnea, what was your favorite thing about the play?
Linnea: My costume
Me: What is your least favorite thing about it?
Linnea: I wanted to be a different character.
Me: What is the next kind of play you'd like to be in?
Linnea: Another musical play.

Me: What was your favorite song in the play?
Linnea: I liked all the songs but my my favorite one was either "Consider Yourself" or "Where Is Love?"
Me: What is your least favorite song?
Linnea: Oliver
(Try looking for some of these songs on You Tube. I wish we could have taped her and her classmates performing them though!)