Camping Trip

Well, our camping trip was a complete success!!!! The kids had an absolute blast swimming, fishing, riding scooters, seeing lots of animals, eating smores, riding in boats and being super super dirty!




Aubrey eating her smore.

Don roasting marshmallows with the boys.

Brady and Trevor riding scooters and bikes. They did this any time we were at the campsite. They wore themselves out which was good for night time.

All the kids eating dinner. Thank goodness for the portable DVD player and the new Dora movie.

Aubrey and TT playing in the sand.

Brady and Trevor playing in the water.

Trevor fishing.

Daddy and Trevor on the boat.

TT and her marshmallow face.

Family picture before we were leaving All the kids actually looking at the camera, not all smiling but at least looking in the right direction.

We really did have a wonderful time. The kids did great and had such a blast. They wore themselves out all day and slept great at night, I think I got more sleep there because I went to bed so early. It was definitely worth all of the work and we are already planning trips for next year.

And We're Off......

We are about to leave for a little camping trip to Lake Lopez (in Arroyo Grande). It is actually not "little" at all. As much stuff as we have to pack we may as well be staying for 2 weeks instead of 2 days. We are going with the Allen's and sleeping (hopefully) in a tent for 2 nights. Wish us luck.....

Date Night, Football Draft and more pool fun.....

Last night Jeana and I went on a date. Don was at work and Anthony was at a concert so we hired my babysitter for all 4 kids and the two of us went to Joe's Crab Shack. She was a little nervous to leave her girls because they have never been with anybody but their grandmas but we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try. I have the BEST babysitter ever and so we thought we could go somewhere close to see how they did in case we needed to come home quickly. We got home at 9 and all 4 kids were bathed, fed, and asleep. Jeana and her girls spent the night and we had a fabulous slumber party!!! Thursday night was Don's Fantasy Football Draft. Not a great picture but look who is in the middle of all the boys in his own chair. I don't know who is more excited for Trev to have his own team...Don or Trevor???

THis is another video of Trevor and his swimming skills. It really does no justice though on how good he is doing. I wasn't able to get a video of him from one side of the pool to the other. Thanks again to the Kollen family for the use of the pool, we loved it!!!

Pool Time!!!

Kelly has been house/dog sitting at the Kollen household for the last few days. I have been trying to talk my parents into getting a pool (our yard is too small) but they seem to think that we don't need one. We have been swimming every day since Saturday and the kids absolutely LOVE it!!! Trevor is in lessons and I cannot believe how much he has learned...he will be pool safe for sure by next summer. We were going to wait to get TT lessons until next summer but I think we might do it now so that she will be more ready/safe for next summer too. WE have had such a blast, my kids ask each morning, "Mommy are we going to Piggy's house (meaning Peggy) to go swimming???"




Trevor using TT as a boost for his jump!

Notice that Trev is jumping off the side of the jacuzzi. I will have more pics tomorrow because he is now jumping and swimming in the deep end without the life vest!

This is where my little daredevil likes to jump, the highest part in the pool!

Jeana joined us on Sunday, Ruby spent most of her time sitting in the jacuzzi, and Abby bean........

was contained in the pack and play with the Disney Channel.....next summer Jeana!!!!

Don went back to work on Saturday so I am now back to invading Jeana and my parents on his work days. Here is a picture of Anthony with all the kids at the end of the night! Cute!!! Do you think Trev likes him????

This is the best part about the pool.....a picture of both sleeping kids before we even left the track of homes the Kollen's live in.

I hope you are all having fun at Bass Lake because we sure are enjoying your pool! Thanks!!!

First day of school.....

Our little precious princess started school on Thursday. It was a much different experience for Don and I dropping her off than it was when we dropped Trevor off. We were both VERY emotional and sad with Trevor but for some reason we didn't get the least bit upset with TT. I'm sure it is the whole second child syndrome and the fact that we know the school and the teachers, but it was definitely a different feeling. She has been going with us to drop Trevor off for the last year so she already thinks she goes there. When we dropped her off she just ran over and started playing with the toys, when we said goodbye she cried. We stayed outside to hear how long she cried, about 30 seconds, and then Don went in to check on her again and she was busy playing again. The report at the end of the day was that she hit Monica (surprise surprise), but Ms. Betty said it wasn't hard (like that makes a difference) and she doesn't know the rules yet (we have rules at home!!). I think this is going to be soo good for her, we have seen how much Trev has grown in this one year. She was in Trev's class on Thursday and will be next Thursday too, but after that he moves up so she will be all on her own. It will be so nice to take them to the same place once work starts, maybe I can make it to work on time! By the way, Don and I went golfing while the kids were at school!!!!!! FUN FUN!

We went to the water park on Wednesday, 4 out of 6 looking at the camera is not bad!!

Poor Jeana!!! SHe was soaked because Abby almost drowned about every 30 seconds in the wading pool. She thinks she is 4 not 1 and wants to do what all the bigger kids are doing. Next summer Jeana will be so much better!

Trevor and Brady playing "pirates" or some other make up game where they pretend their hands are guns, swords, bats, etc.... Such boys!!!!

Lots of fun and cool cool tricks!!!

What a wonderful few weeks it has been having Don home. Unfortunately, he went to the doctor this morning and got cleared for work which means he has to start on Saturday, boo!!! The accident was horrible but what a great summer we have had. Here are a few pictures from the last week...

On Saturday we went to the Allen's house for a BBQ. Here are a few pictures of the kids playing.

On Sunday night Jeana planned a "Girls Night" movie and dinner. We went to see Mama Mia, which was soooo good, and then went to Islands for dinner. WE all had a great time eating, drinking and catching up.

On Monday night we were all outside eating dinner and Trevor FINALLY learned how to do this "cool trick". He saw it on TV and has been trying to do it for a few weeks. He figured it out and so now he dirties about 10 spoons a day. TT of course had to try it too and did it within the first few tries!

Busy, busy, busy part 2....

The last couple of weeks have been a blur. We get up in the morning and go do something fun, go home and take naps and then as soon as we wake up we leave again until about 9 or 10 at night. Our family from New Hampshire just left this morning and we are all extremely sad....we will not see them again until Christmas!!! I had to go through my pictures just to remember what we have done. To sum it up.....yesterday morning we went and played 18 holes of golf, played 2 games of bowling and then Don and I met Angie and Brian at the Angel Game. Very fun, but I am absolutely exhausted!!! These first pictures are from last week when we all met the Allen's and Mitzner's at the OC Fair. On the teacups...

Trev, Brady, and Ruby (Jeana too) on the slide.

Swings

The two "bestest friends" on Angie's Sit and Stand.

Trevor just started some one on one swimming lessons last week and OMG what a difference even one week makes!! Here he is with goggles on and all.

Friday night we had a Poker Night at our house. We ended up with 15 people,kind of alot when playing poker. Here are the kids playing with the chips before everyone got to our house.

Saturday night we went to a wedding. It was in a backyard and was absolutely beautiful and lots of fun too.

Sunday night was mu Aunt Carol's (middle) 60th birthday party. Most of our family was there and we had soooo much fun!!! I think she did too.

Most of the family around the birthday girl.

My mom and her two bestest daughters.

Carol and 2 of her 3 babies!!!

Jeana and mu cousins Dave, Emily and Ethan.

Ethan with his baseball game face on.....that is frosting by the way!

Don and his mommy, doesn't his beard look sooo good??? Maybe he can take another week off of work and keep it!

Golfing on Monday.

TT bowling on Monday.

Trev and his pink ball. He absolutely loves bowling, TT not so much.

This afternoon (Tuesday) we went and picked up the boat from the shop and took the kids out through the harbor, they really enjoyed it. The boat didn't run great but we are hoping it is an easy solution so that we can keep taking it out for the next couple of months.

Trevor on the boat. He is soooooo easy nowadays, his sister is another story. She really does ruin alot of our fun because she cannot control her emotions/mood/attitude. She is cute, but also a BRAT!!!!