June

 

These always load backwards, so this is end of June to beginning. Luke brought his girls out to play with us.  It was so fun having them here. We love visitors, although we rarely get any. Hint, hint. ;) Mae is a crazy one but so entertaining.  She loved pestering my boys.

The plan was to go to the cabin for a few days and explore up there; however, 20 minutes after we got there a fire broke out on our road.  We decided to wait a little while and see what was going to happen with the fire.  We went down to the lake and boated.  When we got back to the cabin our power was out. Our road was blocked and if we decided to leave, we wouldn't be allowed back in until the fire was out.  We decided to get back in the car (after only being there 3'ish hours) and go to the coast.  It was a fun last minute trip.  We hit up all my favorite Redwood spots.

                                                            Wall sit competitions.

It's always fun taking new comers to the Redwoods and watching their reactions to these MASSIVE creations.  It really is something you have to see with your own eyes to believe.

        Double trouble, well, they're old now, so probably not capable of too much trouble.

I make my kids do these pictures every time we go here.  I got order mixed up this time though.  7 years apart. 

                        Middle of the day, but it looked like night time from all the smoke.  This was the fire near the cabin.  Good thing we decided to leave, because our road was closed for a few weeks due to this fire.

                                    Grant built me a bike/scooter storage for the garage. 

Ava found a baby hummingbird on the ground.  She fed it and kept it safe and when we went back it was gone.  Hoping it was able to fly away.

We got a new driveway poured.  Enjoyed watching someone else do the work. :)

Grant started a cookie business.  He handed out 100 flyers around the neighborhood, sent an email to my Relief Society sisters, and Adam took a flyer to his work.  He did such a great job.  I gave him the ingredients if he did it all himself and cleaned up after himself.  He earned over $500 in about a month.  He got really sick of it after a few weeks, so Ava took over for a few orders, and when people called to reorder, Grant told them he went out of business. :)

                                            Girls night with some church friends.

        Front yard mess.  Decided to pull out the grass out front while pulling out the old driveway.

Adam was gone somewhere on Father's Day, so we were showing him what he got at church.  As Relief Society president, I'm in charge of the treat for Father's Day.  I did mini bundt cakes. It was a hit, and now the mom's want that for Mother's Day.

                Stop for lunch at Ghiradelli factory for ice cream on our way to Monterrey.

Adam and Grant were at our cabin for the Deacons high adventure, so Noah, Ava and I went to Monterrey.  It was a super hot week, so it was wonderful to be cold for a few days.  Ava enjoying deep fried artichoke hearts.  So good.

The boys were dared to swim across the freezing cold river for an extra scoop of ice cream.

                                                        Deacons exploring at our cabin. 

                             

                                                McWay Falls on Highway 1 in Big Sur.

                                    So many amazing sites along Highway 1.

Noah, Ava and I had such a good time at the coast.  We explored a lot of beaches, ate really good food and explored. 

                                                            Camping at Bullards Bar.

Grant wanted to buy a mini corn hole for camping, but I told him he had to make one if we wanted one.  He got right to work and made a corn hole.  He did a good job.

Noah sleeps in a hammock whenever we camp and Grant really wanted to sleep in the tree pod.  He got it all set up and lasted about 10 minutes.  :)  He ended up in the tent.

                                This angle makes Noah look like an alien with super long legs.

                                Youth activities.  So happy activities are a regular thing now.

Ava did a dance class with her friend, Amy.  This was her little recital.  She DID NOT want to do it, but actually enjoyed it once she started.  That seems to be the trend for her.

                                                            Exploring out by the lake.

Ava and Grant went to the creek and caught some crawdads, and then came home and played Top Chef and created a delicious treat for me.

                                                                Grant's baseball party.

Ava's birthday party.  Very last minute and zero prep work (just how I like it).  I had a ton of ice cream and pies left over from our ward's Pie in the Park, so I just brought it all out and let the girls go to town........and did they every.  They pretty much finished off most of it.

My baby girls 12th birthday!!  She got roller blades, Lord of the Rings series, pocket knife and some coloring stuff.

                Her sweet birthday twin, Elaine Fisher, brings her flowers and a treat every year. 

Noah got his fist cast off and pins removed.  Pretty crazy how the remove them.  Just like pulling a nail out of wood; just grab them with pliers and yank.  Noah got super pale and lightheaded right after, so he had to lay down for a bit.

      Nasty wrist with pins.  He had a splint for a few weeks after this, but at least he got to wash his arm!

                    One of Ava's YW plans for an activity.  She loves to write and draw.

The kids got Kiwicrates through the school.  Grant and Ava got the craft ones and Noah got the building one.  This was Grant's first one: stitching appliques on an apron and pins.

Noah turns EVERYTHING into an instrument and tries to use them in all sorts of ways.  Playing the recorder with his nose. Yuck.  It works though.