Some more of July...

 My mom made this cute flag cake and brought over the night before the 4th. Of course the kids had to get out of bed and eat some.

 On the fourth we went bowling. It's one activity that can be done when its hotter than ... outside.

 Micah was so cute bowling. Jacen actually took video clips of him. I need to get the videos.

 We bought our own fireworks and did them in front of our house. We haven't been able to buy and do fireworks in years and years over on the coast so that was new and exciting to everyone. Chris' family joined us.

 Now this picture was from Linnea's birthday. She had a friend come over from PG and then Chris and his family came and my parents. We did Just Dance. That is one of our favorite things to do. My mom even did it! My Dad wouldn't...not yet.

I'll post the rest of July soon. (:

Ollalaberries!

We had like a week straight of 110 degree weather. We almost died. We decided to take a break from it and drop in on my sister who graciously accommodated our whole family of six plus one big dog at her house. One of the days we drove over to Gizditch Ranch in Watsonville to pick ollalaberries. They are so good! We sampled a few. This picture was taken towards the beginning of our picking. By the end, most of the kids had purple faces and shirts! (: That day we drove back home to Clovis and upon arriving pretty late at night, I immediately froze enough for future pies and then made most into jam. If I had waited until the next day they would have gone bad. They were ripe and sweet! I LOVE ollalaberry jam. It's like a dessert to me on toast. After giving some away, I am savoring the rest and trying to make it last.

Happy Birthday Linnea!

Happy 13th Birthday to my sweet daughter, Linnea!

She woke up and went out with her Grama Shirley and Grampa Jim shopping and seeing some sites in Fresno. Then she spent the afternoon with a friend that came all the way from Pacific Grove to see her. Then peanut butter cake and ice cream with Grandparents and Chris and his family and lots of Just Dance. A fun day!

We love Linnea so much and are so glad she is in our family!

Swimming With the Dog!

 I am SO very sad that I didn't wait out for a house with a pool. I love our house but NEED a pool. Thank goodness we are making friends with pools. I also think we will add a pool but for now we got a kiddie pool to keep the kids happy. Our newfie just  had to get in too. Newfoundlands are water dogs. They were originally bred to rescue people in the water and were kept as ship dogs on boats. Its in their genes. (I have also found him just sitting in a just-used shower.)

Linnea's Girls Camp (comments by Linnea)

 This is when my cabin went to rappel. There was a shorter, easier one, and a slightly taller one with a crack we had to jump over to make it harder. I went on the slightly harder one.

 This was the view of the place we rappelled from. 

 My cousin Morgan was really scared and is took a lot of encouraging from the whole cabin to get her to participate, but she did it and found out it wasn't that bad :)

 Here are three girls from my cabin (left to right): Claire, a Junior Counselor, Lexi, and Lauren.

 We hiked to this creek, 5 miles total. (2 1/2 there and back). After hiking in the hot sun if felt so good to put our feet the cool water.

 This is my whole cabin to a waterfall we walked to. I am on the bottom row, second from the left.

Happy 4th Birthday Micah!

 Micah's birthday is at a hard time at the end of May when school is getting out and graduations are happening and end of the school-year activities are in abundance. This year was even more difficult because his birthday was three days before moving. We celebrated a day early on Memorial Day and he was happy with the little party I was able to throw together. His favorite people were there: his cousins and brothers and sister. We ate chocolate cupcakes and hit open a pinata and played party games.

Yay! Micah is 4!!

Oh Henry!

 Micah and I took Henry on a walk tonight and we took these pictures.

He is such a sweet dog! I love Newfoundlands. They are smart, obedient, calm and sweet. Of course, they also grow huge and are expensive. I think its worth it.

May Happenings (thus far)

 This is Henry. He is now a 16 week old Newfoundland puppy. Isn't he cute?! He will someday be 180 pounds! Now he is 40 pounds.

 

 Pinewood derby was the beginning of May. Albert helped Gavin with making his car and it looked really sharp. It won a couple of races (better than last year when his didn't win any). Gavin was excited to be with his friends and eager to watch his car race. His cousin won 2nd place! Go Dallin!

below: Micah watching the racing festivities. You can't really see it but he wore his Curious George racing a car shirt just for this. (:

  

When Micah climbs into bed with us, this is how he sleeps. (: We have a Cal King size bed but if he is sleeping sideways and kicking, its still not big enough! He often brings stuffed animal friends with him too. This occasion it was just one squirrel. Once recently he brought about 15 animals. Needless to say, they all ended up "jumping" out of bed onto the floor.

 Linnea's Advanced Orchestra traveled to the Bay Area to compete in a music competition. Her orchestra won first place! They played very difficult pieces very well! Afterward they all went to Great America. Linnea is the third from the right (with the headband).

 Today is crazy hair day and Gavin looks a bit like Jack Frost. He's a cutie!

I WISH I had a picture of Jacen but I have to brag about him anyway. He had his Eagle Scout Board of Review last week and passed! He is an Eagle Scout!! SO much time and effort went into this and he is such a better person for doing it! I'm so proud of him. Especially at the end, he really initiated finishing up. We won't be able to have the Court of Honor before moving but we will come back and have one here later on in the summer so I will have pictures to post then.

We are moving next Friday and escrow still hasn't closed so we are on pins and needles! Lets hope we aren't homeless. I am busy packing up our house and also really busy with the end of the year activities of the kids. Wish us luck!