back to school!

And just like that, summer is over and it's back to school again!

Brandon started 9th grade (Freshman in high school). He is doing a special STEM (dual diploma) program and his very rigorous schedule starts at 6:30 a.m. each morning:
Spanish, AP World History, PE, Honors Algebra 2, Honors English, Honors Biology, Seminary

Tyler is in 6th grade, his last year of elementary school.

And Natalie is now in 4th grade.

california - part 2

The next day after a dead car battery replacement (which thankfully happened in my parent's driveway instead of in the middle of the desert, and while Kevin was still in town) we were off to the beach!  The kids could literally stay all day and Kevin and I enjoyed just sitting and chatting in the beautiful weather.

Unfortunately, Kevin had to fly home that afternoon and work the rest of the work.  The rest of the week was fairly uneventful and relaxing.  We completed 5 large puzzles throughout the week (I think we did 3,000+ pieces total).

We also visited with my longtime friend Bekki and her girls.  I was worried that Tyler and Brandon would be awkward with her older daughter, but they hung out and played games together for several hours.  Darya and Natalie always act like best friends no matter how long it's been since we've seen them.  We all went out to lunch and the older kids did NOT think I was cool taking their picture!

Another day we found a fun new park in a different city and had a picnic lunch.   Unfortunately, my boys have decided they are too old to run around playing at parks so it was short-lived.  But at least I got a picture of them on the rocks!

We also visited an exact replica of Independence Hall across the street from Knott's Berry Farm which was built by Walter Knott for people on the west coast that couldn't travel to Pennsylvania .  Can you see us in the picture?  It's HUGE!

It's been on my California to-do list for awhile, but I wasn't sure if they would enjoy it very much, so I may or may not have bribed them with Slurpees afterwards if they behaved. There was a 20 minute audio presentation in this room that was a dramatization of the meeting when the Declaration of Independence was actually signed.  It was particularly poignant because we had just celebrated 4th of July a few days before. 

And of course a replica of the Liberty Bell.

Interestingly, on our trip home to Arizona I asked the kids what their favorite part of the whole week was and they all stated Independence Hall! 

california - part 1

We always try to escape the brutal Arizona heat for at least a week during the summer.  What better place to go than Huntington Beach?  Beautiful weather, Grandpa and Grandma to spoil you, a free place to stay, and lots of fun things to do!

We also have some of Kevin's family members that live in Southern California and we got together with them the first night we were in town.

Church with Grandpa and Grandma on Sunday.  I don't even think they introduce our kids as visitors anymore!

 No, Brandon is not taller than me (yet), he was just standing on a higher patch of grass!

The next day was 4th of July.  I made everyone go to the parade and it was a wonderful patriotic way to start the day.  The Huntington Beach 4th of July parade is the largest one west of the Mississippi and it was even televised this year!  We stumbled upon a great little spot that wasn't taken and were even in the shade!

The first group was firefighters from all over honoring their lost comrades from 9/11.  They carried one flag for each firefighter lost that day.  It was a sobering reminder and I had tears streaming down my face as I watched hundreds of flags pass by.

Lots of great floats and performers (Natalie LOVED all the horses!) and even Mickey and Minnie Mouse as the grand marshals.

That afternoon and evening we spent with neighbors, many of which I grew up so it was fun to visit with them.

They always do a potluck and this was my fun contribution (strawberries, angel food cake pieces, and blueberries)!

The main reason my kids love to go to Huntington Beach for 4th of July is that personal fireworks are legal.  A few streets away they have professionals setting off dozens of huge ones, so it's like our own personal show, and the neighbors always have a good supply of smaller ones so Tyler is in pyromaniac heaven helping to light them in the street.  Natalie just loves dancing around with the sparklers!

 Tyler with neighbor Sean and the stash.

Natalie somehow attaches herself to neighbor Cindy every year.