U.S.S. Midway

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit this weekend. Todd was leaving Sunday night for a seven day business trip and Grandma volunteered to come stay with us and help out while he was gone. She was going to teach Hailey how to sew and help me with the kids school memory books. Grandpa stayed both weekends and flew home to work during the week. Before Todd left we decided to beat the heat and head to the coast. First we went to Bucco de Peppo's Restaurant for lunch. It is a crazy restaurant with delicious Italian food. We fit right in though because our crazy little Madison wore her new goggles I bought her throughout the entire meal. She is a crack up :) Next we went to tour the U.S.S. Midway. Grandpa loves to tour the big ships so we took him along.

They had a walking tour with headsets for the kids and they really loved finding the next spot to stop and listen about. It was really pretty interesting and makes you really appreciate the men and women who fight for our freedom and leave their homes and families behind. Thank you, thank you! Seeing how they live for weeks and months at a time is very humbling.

Hailey and Todd had to crawl in to see how comfortable it might be and it wasn't.

They even have a jail on board for sailors who acted out.

Up on the flight deck they had lots of planes and thingsfor the kids to play in.

It is amazing how many people and planes they keep on the ship.

We are glad we finally got to take Grandpa on the big ship.

Clowning Around

We took the kids to opening night at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus at the Staples Center. It just happen to be the ESPY Awards so the red carport was out for the Nokia Theatre so we snuck a peak at some of the big time sports professionals as they entered to Theatre at L.A. Live downtown. A lot of them ate at the Yard House Restaurant where we had dinner. We felt a little out of place with everyone in their black dresses and suits. It was pretty cool though. Then we headed over to the circus pre show. We met lots of clowns and other performers there. The kids liked being up close to everything. They had some activities for them and passed out tattoos and clown noses.

They had a dress up area where the kids could try on some of the outfits.

They even let the kids perform a dance on the big stage. Abby jumped right in there and followed along to the routine the clown taught the kids.

These silly clowns had a great time together.

We made sure to get a picture by the baby elephant that we took a picture with the last time we were at the circus when Blake and Hailey were so little. It is crazy how fast they grow up.

Our Getaway!

Todd took me to Santa Barbara for the weekend. Just the two of us! We had the best time! We stayed right on the beach by the Stearns Warf.. We left Friday afternoon and walked around the Warf that night had dinner and went to a movie. I love the Santa Barbara Sunset!

This is our hotel. It was so relaxing and so Santa Barbara. I loved all the flowers and greenery. Ever since I got back I have been searching for some of the foliage that was there that would survive in our yard.

On Saturday we took a drive up to Solvang and did a some shopping and ate lunch. We bought a pan to attempt to make our own aebleskivers. They were delish.

Todd found some cool water spots in the Santa Ynez Valley where they had cliff jumping. The sixty foot rock was surrounded with drunk college kids to we decided to go to some of the other water spots we found on the way. Not that I was going to do it anyway. We found one with no one around so we had it all to ourselves. I loved being able to swim without having to watch kids :) Todd ruled the rope swing. It was a blast and we stayed there most of the afternoon.

We drove back down to Santa Barbara and had dinner and hit out favorite movie theatre again for a late movie. It was a perfect day with no schedule. The next day we took the hotel beach cruisers and went on a bike ride. It ended up being a three hour bike ride. We decided to ride up to the mission which we thought was a lot closer. It was uphill also. I had not ridden on a bike forever because we always have little kids around. I made it though and actually enjoyed it. It might have been a little easier on something besides a beach cruiser. We did love the beach crusiers on the beach though when it was flat. I did have to take a break at this cool park we found with turtle ponds everywhere and catch my breath for a while.

We made it to the mission and then took the downhill ride back to the beach. I liked that part the best.

We rode along the harbor for a little bit and had a good laugh at some of the crazy Santa Barbara beggars for money and how creative they were. We had lunch on State Street and walked around the shops and then took the coast back home through Malibu to the Santa Monica Pier.

Todd wanted to hang on the "big kid" playground on the beach in Santa Monica. He along with a line of professional trapeze swung on the monkey bars. Todd would have been there all day if he could. We also swung on the big swings that are so hard to find around anymore.

We went to dinner for one last time and then drove home. We had an amazing time. Todd's Mom was sweet enough to stay with the kids for us. They were so excited to have her sleeping over with them. Every time we talked to them they said they were having a great time and love it that Grandma Di was jumping on the trampoline with them. The kids had a fun weekend and so did we thanks to Grandma Di :) We are super lucky!

Proud to be an American!

We are so proud to live in America and have so many freedoms. We are so grateful for all of those who helped to make America what is is and those who continue to serve and protect our county. As crazy as things can seem sometime we are really truly blessed to be able to raise our family here and live the American Dream. Happy Fourth of July!

I love these crazy kids!

Fourth of July Party

After church on Sunday we drove to Grandma Di's house for a Sunday dinner 4th of July Party. This was our feeble attempt to get a picture of most of the cousins in red, white and blue. These are the picture we will laugh at five years from now though.

Abby and Ruby going the wrong way on the slide. They thought it was so funny.

She is one cute little firecracker!!!

Hailey and Kyla. Hailey loves her older cousins because they can text and listen to ipods with her.

The boys Zach, Blake and Jackson.

The girls hanging by the fire with the Dads.

Inside the girls made glitter bracelets and glow in the dark ones to get ready for the fireworks.

The fireworks were about to start so everyone headed out onto the roof above the family room to watch them. Blake was so excited to be on the roof.

Madison wasn't so thrilled about the idea of everyone being on the roof so I stayed down with her. We found our own perfect spot on the playhouse to watch. She just wanted to be alone with Mommy and far from the roof and the screaming girl cousins. She kept yelling up for them to stop screaming until she realized she loved hearing her own voice screaming.

Thanks Grandma Di and Gramps for a fun 4th of July!

Firework Party

Saturday night was the night Pechanga did a firework show so we invited some families over to watch the fireworks from our deck. They did not disappoint this year and had an almost a 30 minute show (at least that is what is felt like). The kids love having people over to watch together.

We thought it would be fun to bring out the water balloon launcher and let the kids play with it. One broken window later we realized it wasn't a very good idea to leave 8 boys alone with it. Luckily they came right in and told us and all chipped in to replace the window.