Summer in a Nutshell

For some reason, I was under the delusion that I would be less busy during summer and could get so much stuff done.  Boy, was I wrong!  This past summer was crazy!  There is just too much to catch up on so here are some of the bigger highlights.
The three older girls had their annual dance recital.  This year it was "Snow White."  Rebecca and Breanna were jesters and did an awesome tumbling routine, while Katie was the cutest little squirrel.

We made an unexpected trip to Utah in June for the funeral of Richard's grandpa.  What a wonderful man he was!  It was wonderful to be with so much family and make lots of new memories.  (Some memories I could do without, such as lots of car problems, but we made it!)  Here is Richard's parents' family (well, as many as could be there...probably about 65%.)  So fun to have so many of us together.  We hope to get them all together next year for a happier occasion.

Another fun "reunion" was an impromptu get-together of some friends from high school.  It was so fun to see all these wonderful people and laugh together.

And we have multiplied.  We made all our children line up next to each other by age.  Crazy!  How did we grow up so fast?!?!

Uncle Steve came for a quick visit.  The kids had a great time with him in the pool.

Rebecca and Breanna participated in a 6-week Fit Kids Camp.  Four days a week for 4.5 hours each day, they would spend exercising, such as dodgeball, swimming, dancing, etc.  The best part was the field trips each week to places like Polar Ice, Laser Quest, and Sunsplash.  They had a blast!

In July we went on a family camp-out with a few of Richard's siblings.  Despite the heavy rain, sunburns, bugs, and poison oak we really had a good time.

Richard and Mike made a great shelter to hang out during the storms.

A double rainbow ended the camp-out.  What does it mean?!?!

During the month of June, Katie and Breanna got to go to "Bug School" 4 days a week, all morning.  There they learned all about bugs and did lots of fun crafts.  The best part of it was the price...FREE!  And they were fed breakfast and lunch.  As my dad would say, "Can't beat that with a stick!"

 

Richard and I celebrated our 15th anniversary, and what better way than to going to a Batman marathon. I love my husband so much that I will even wear a  cat mask in public for him. We actually got a couple nights away from the kids, and that was wonderful!

We went to visit my Dad and Kay in July.  We love going to California.  The weather was wonderful!  This picture was on my birthday when we went to Ruby's on the pier for milkshakes.  

We spent most of a day at the beach.  Richard and the kids built this awesome sand fort.  It actually got bigger/deeper, and all the junior lifeguards were very impressed.  But when at the beach all day, you really ought to apply sunscreen more than once.  Ouch.  Lesson learned.

We also took the kids to Magic Mountain.  The girls were very brave and went on lots of huge roller coasters!  *So proud.*  Even Katie went on Revolution!  Jonny wasn't quite tall enough, but he wanted to go on the big rides.  We were actually so thankful that we had Megan so we qualified for a line pass.  We waited, but not in lines!  Awesome!  

The weekend before school started, Becca went to her first year of Girls' Camp.  She had a great time and came home with a stronger testimony.  She is really growing up!

 

Hope you had a good summer too!