A Trip for the White Stuff

A few weeks ago we made our annual trip with some great friends up to play in the snow.  Unfortunately, like last year, Miss Em wanted nothing to do with the snow so Daddy had to spend most of the time sitting in the car with her.  However, after lunch and some yummy hot chocolate, she was ready to sled and we enjoyed a good time getting cover in that wonderful white stuff. :)

McGee LOVES to sled - he had such a blast!

The adults - we always have a great time whenever we can get together.

The kiddos - don't you love McGee's pb&j mouth?

Dear me, could that be a real smile on McGee?

Daddy brushing off some snow after McGee took a snowball to the head.

Hard to believe just an hour or so earlier she was crying in the back of the van refusing to play in the snow.

We found a private little area for lots of snowball fun!

It was a beautiful day - perfect for fun with friends!

Farmers to Fireman

We had a great Saturday as we started the morning out visiting a nearby farm that was having a craft festival that my friend Brandy was selling her amazing nursing covers, onesies, tank tops and clips at.  Miss Em came away with an adorable tank top and Mommy got a cute new clip.  We had lots of fun browsing with our friends Jed and Jackson and enjoyed the picnic lunch that Daddy made for all of us.

Miss Em made friends with some nice Irish Setters

After the farmer's market we had the chance to go visit "Fireman Joe" and have an inside look into the firetrucks and station.  The kids had a blast and McGee really liked wearing the mask and talking like Darth Vader (even though he has no idea who that is!).

Another fantastic summer day!

4th Weekend Fun

We had an amazing, busy and FUN weekend - how about you?

On Friday night Daddy and I went out with some friends for an "adult date" - I think I'll tell you more about that in a separate post.

Saturday morning while Daddy went for his crossfit workout, the kids and I tried very hard to find some garage sales (note to readers: if you list a garage sale on Craigslist - HAVE a garage sale and BE OPEN when you say you will be).  We eventually stopped by Starbucks for a Strawberries & Creme treat for the kids then took it to a new park we found with a cool train. 

Em got a bit energetic about the whipped cream and made it into mousse for her hair.  :)

Saturday evening we went up to our old stomping ground meeting family at Daddy's great aunt Zia and uncle Evo's house then walked to the junior high to watch the big fireworks show.  Matt & Alanda brought the kids, both sets of grandparents were there and cousins George, Carla, Kevin, Christine & Baby Jack were there also along with Zia & Evo.  The cousins all had so much fun playing together before the show began and they REALLY enjoyed the fireworks!

Love this one!  Miss Em could have been me 28 (I mean 29 years ago)!

My All-American Girl

Zia & Evo

McGee and Evo had so much fun together!

My little giggle-box!

The kids had SUCH a great time playing together (like they always do)!

Cousin George bought all of the kids little glow sticks that they had fun twirling around and making necklaces out of.

Grammy & Papa

I had lots of fun taking fireworks pictures this year - here are just a few

Watching the fireworks show

A fantastic finale

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For the actual 4th, we went grocery shopping as a family first thing in the morning, came home and I got my dessert in the freezer then we went to the noon service at church (Daddy plays worship).  It was lots of fun hanging out with our friends afterwards too.  Came home and the kids napped then we welcomed our neighbors to our 4th of July block party.  The food, the people and the fireworks were terrific!  It was another LATE night for the kids (not in bed until 11pm and midnight the day before), but it was just what summer is all about.

Dog Days of Summer

All of a sudden it seems (at least to me), the heat of summer has been turned on and we have been having 100+ degree days.  Yuck!  Thank you Lord for our fairly new air conditioner that has kept me happy (the heat makes me a bit cranky) and cool inside.  Thank you also for great friends who invite us over to cool off by the pool...what a nice treat!

The kids and I (Daddy doesn't really swim much in public, something about not taking his shirt off and a beached whale...whatever) really enjoyed having the sweet relief of a pool to dip ourselves into Sunday afternoon when the temp was 104 degrees.  Our friends Sarah & Joey invited us over to Joey's parents and we had a blast, especially with their two furry pups Bubba & Tyson and Joey's parents dog Tanner (LOVE that name!).

The dogs like to swim, well actually Bubba likes to swim and Tyson and Tanner seemed to tolerate it.  Ever seen a groomed little pup after it's been swimming?  Here's a little peek:

Ever see a blind American Pit Bull Terrier swimming away?  Well I've got a peek of that for you too!

McGee actually had fun pushing Bubba in...

...and Bubba seemed to enjoy every minute of it!  Sadly, shortly after this Bubba got pretty sick and had to be rushed to the emergency vet.  We were all pretty scared for him (he was urinating blood) but after some plasma (I think), fluids and lots of rest, they think he'll be okay.

Little Tanner - a lab pup was just adorable and so soft to pet!  But just like Miss Em, this little toddler pup often snuck off and had to be searched for...

 Miss Em was a little fashionista insisting once again on her little Eskimo boots to complement her swimsuit cover-up and sunglasses...

 
Once our little diva was ready to swim, Miss Em was cute as could be in her most recent hand-me-down swimsuit (thanks Jenna)!

The spa was not heated and made a perfect "kiddie pool" that satisfied the kids for awhile.  I love how Daddy had his little finger hooked in to Miss Em's swimsuit to secure her in case she were to fall in. :)

I did manage to snap a couple of pictures of McGee despite his boycott of the camera and an exasperated "Moooommmm"  when he saw my lens pointed his way.

McGee amazed us with how much he loved the water (swim lessons last year were a nightmare!).  Both kids just LOVED the pool and didn't want to get out.  I couldn't believe he was standing on the bottom step all by himself and I even let go of him and let him float for a minute by himself with his arm floaties keeping him up.  He was excited, nervous and happy about it but then decided that was enough and let out a scream.  Baby steps people, baby steps. :)

This is a terrible picture, but you can see the sheer joy Miss Em had being in the pool.

The perfect end to a super-fun day...a chocolate cookie!

I hope you are staying cool this summer too!

Parading Through Town

I love that I grew up in a very small town.  I loved knowing everybody and have always taken pride in my little town.  I was so excited when the kids and I went up to my parents for the weekend and were able to partake of an annual tradition of our little town, the Italian Picnic Parade.  I marched in this parade many times as a child - with my Girl Scout troop, dance group and then for the last time as a entrant for the Miss Amador Pageant, that was nearly 13 years ago!  Crazy how time flies so fast!

McGee didn't want to go to the parade at first.  That morning I heard lots of "I don't want to go.  I want to stay home", but in the end he went and had a blast (as I knew he would)!  

You can find some pictures in my Not Me! Monday post from earlier in the week.  Here are some more:

An hour before the parade began (we got the time wrong and arrived WAY early)

Miss Em, My mom, My Sister & McGee

My 'lil sweetie got a pretty ribbon tiara

McGee was SO excited Grandma bought him a trumpet!

In awe and wonder...

My niece Skye woke up to enjoy the festivities...

The kids had a blast collecting all the candy that was thrown...

McGee was so into the candy that he started following the trucks down the street in search of more sweet treats (that's him below the blue arrow)...

Finding his way back to us...

The many faces of Miss Em...

Parade joy...

Toot-toot...

I liked this.  These were all of the cheerleaders from BOTH high schools in the county and their shirts say, "Spirit is what counts".  Very nice.  By the way - those with the blue shorts go to the BEST high school. :)

Man I love these people...

My girl...I have no words to explain why she was roaring and making these faces at a parade participant!  She is such a crack-up!

Gotta have Smokey the Bear!

My All-American kiddos...

Dots + A Boy = Pure JOY

As we were heading out from the parade I was taking this final shot and recognized my oldest (as in lifelong, not age) friend in the frame!

I was SO excited to see Liesl and her family.  Our moms were friends when they were pregnant with us and we've been friends ever since!  I can't tell you how many sweet cards, notes, postcards I have in my hope chest from Liesl through the years.  Her family traveled quite a bit (France, South Africa, South America) and we always kept in touch.  She was also one of my bridesmaids.  Sadly, the last time I saw Liesl and her husband Nathan (a friend of ours since jr. high) was more than TWO YEARS ago when I was 8 months pregnant with Miss Em and a very large bridesmaid in their wedding!

As my sister said, it was the highlight of our day to see Liesl and her family!  Hopefully we'll be seeing each other again soon!

Well if you've gotten this far down, thank you for looking at my many pictures, here's a sweet little wave "Bye!" from Miss Em and don't forget to go to your town's next parade!