Family Vacation

CALIFORNIA

So we ventured to California for a family vacation. We went with a good friend of ours, Cameron Hodge and his 3 kids. We drove from here to San Francisco, and stayed there for a few days. We took the kids to the Pier's and the Wharf. We had fun watching the seals, and opening oysters to get pearls. The girls all ate clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl, OK all except for Brianna, she doesn't do any type of fish or sea food. So she had Chili. We rode the cable cars, took Lombard Street, and went into China Town. San Francisco was beautiful but freezing cold, the high was only 62, very cold for California especially in August. Then we headed to Anaheim to do Disneyland and California Adventure. This was the first time we were all tall enough to ride all the rides. Rachael is my little dare devil, she will do anything and everything. There wasn't a ride that she didn't like, Addie on the other hand, not so lucky. We rode the Tower of Terror, in California Adventure. She did pretty good, so we went again, well right before the worker was going to shut the door she rose her hand and asked if she could get off. The ride was just way to much for her. Sorry Addie it was the best. Then it was off to Santa Clarita, Valencia area. Here we went to the beach, we went to downtown LA to the Jewelry District, yes I have started another project, of making bracelets and watches (pictures to come)so that was fun for me, not so much for 6 kids and 2 men. The boys and Rachael went deep sea fishing, Rachael was the only one to catch anything, and she caught 5, Cameron was getting a little frustrated. Then all the boys went to a Dodgers Game, ya I would rather shop, so the girls shopped and swam. We had such a wonderful time. So worth going. Thanks Hodges for inviting us.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

We had the opportunity to go through the open house to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. We went we a couple really good friends and had the most amazing time. We are so lucy to leave here in Utah were we have several temple that we can get to with in minutes. One of the little boys that was with us named Noah, who is only 2 was soaking everything up. He kept asking questions and pointing to pictures of Christ. He even asked after we left and we were driving home, he would see a church and said "That is my temple and I love the temple" how close they still are the veil is so thin for these little ones. The other day we found a flier of the temple and he asked where the picture of Jesus was on the flier, he just seemed to remember. He also remembers what the swimming pool was for. We have taken our kids to two of the open houses, and Rachael kept asking me where her room was, I said what are you talking about "Your room" what she wanted was the Sealing room that has the mirrors so she can see herself forever. It is amazing the things they remember. What an amazing experience. Thank you to the Gillmans and the Rodriguez's families for going with us

Monday Night Mud Fight

Summers are so busy around our house. So therefore things don't always get taken care of. For example our garden, we have an amazing garden this year, but we also have amazing weeds. We cant stay on top of them for some reason. Well, maybe it is because we are gone every weekend and just don't find the time to get out and care for the garden. Also, weeding and yard work are my least favorite thing to do. So I decided that for family night we were all going to go out and pick the weeds and get our garden looking they way it should. Our dirt is awful so I told the girls to go turn the water on so it would get things a little soft, I also told them not to worry about wearing shoes because they would just get muddy. They were a huge help, but every once in a while someone would splash some mud. So Mike and I took one look at each other and new that this would be the perfect time for a mud fight. Addie and Brianna were talking when I took a handful of mud and threw it at both of them. That was the beginning of the end. We had the biggest mud fight ever. There wasn't a spot on us that wasn't covered. What fun we had, and yes the girls were SHOCKED that mom actually started it.

Final Swim Meet

We had our final swim meet on Saturday. I am so proud of my girls they did so good this year. They usually sign up for the Freestyle and the Backstroke. Brianna decided this time she wanted to try something new. She did the freestyle and took 7 seconds off of her swim. Then she did the breast stroke and she came in first for her heat. She was so excited, I think she may have found her sport. She has come a long way this summer, she wouldn't swim without plugging her nose and now she is swimming laps. Addie did the freestyle and backstroke and did amazingly well. The girls each participated in a relay race and both of their teams came in second. Way to go girls.

Rachael's 1st Tooth

Rachael has been trying for months to get a loose tooth. She would wiggle it every day to make it loose. All of her friends had lost teeth and she was feeling a little left out. So finally on Saturday it was really loose, she would wiggle it and it would bleed then she would cry. Loosing teeth is pretty painful. She was really worried that she would loose it at the lake while she was on the tube. It took us a while and a little reassurance from Aunt Jessica that it wouldn't fall out in the lake. Well by Saturday night it was looser, so her and Addie went into the bathroom and Addie pulled it out. Rachael couldn't be happier, and the tooth fairy came and left her a gold dollar.

Kids

This is what happens when the kids get really bored in the summer time.