Summer 2009

**disclaimer** I am aware that this is a Crazy long entry and I KNOW people are probably just going to scan through pics and be done. That's ok. I just needed to write as much as I could since this is as close to writing in a journalas I get.

Well the summer is finally coming to a close. This is going to be a long post. August has been a CRA-ZAE month!! So I have to catch up as much as I can so the blogging anxiety can simmer for a while.

Well I guess it started with Ian's birthday at the end of July!! I have a 4-year old!! Ahhhh!!

(This is a picture of a weekly calender I made for Ian. I put a picture of all the events that are happening that week up so he can see whats going on. He puts an X at the end of everyday to keep track of the days. This day says: first exercise in the park, then daddy comes and stays home, Friday's he is off early, and then Birthday cake for Ian's party that day Next day --Disneyland!!)

Okay so off the top of my head (since I am really bad a documenting this kind of stuff) some of Ian's accomplishments are one writing/spelling his name. He does have the advantage with only three letters, but it is still a very proud moment every time he does it.

Second thing are the people drawings. I just LOVE LOVE the heads with arms and legs!! Its one on my absolute favorite things - watching him create these little people!!

Okay third, taking off the training wheels. What 3 1/2 year old rides without training wheels?? Tim didn't even run behind him - he just took off!! He would just stop in the grass. His legs were too short to reach the ground so take offs and stopping was the only problem. Obviously now it isn't a program. He does jumps and stands up while he peddles. What can I say, He's a natural!
*****and I can't find a stinkin' picture of it right now!!!*****

We went to Disneyland on his birthday! Uh! It was sooo much fun! We are now annual pass holders. It is so neat to be able to go to Disneyland after nap time and then be home for dinner. How cool is that - seriously?? Tim and I plan to use them for date nights, however we haven't had a chance yet. Remember . . . crazy summer. Not a whole lot of free weekends for dates :)

We scored some box seats at the Circus. We had a good time. Hurray for the poor caged animals. I have never been a fan. Ian still has a hard time understanding how the clowns can cut themselves in half and then be ok 2 seconds later. Very confusing for a 4 year old. The elephants and tigers were so neat. That was definitely the boys favorite part!

We have been to the beach countless times too. At least weekly some weeks twice. I can't tell which beach picture belongs to which trip! It has been such a nice summer. It really never got passed 90.

The boys LOVE when we are with family. Grandma's, Grandpa's, cousins, aunt's and uncles -you name em' - the boys are excited. We are so lucky to have such great families. We were able to see a lot of them this summer too.

We had Tim's sister Jaime and her kids come down for a few days. With traveling so much, it was sure nice to have them visit us. We love company and so do the boys!! What awesome kids. Thanks guys for the visit! We had a good time!

We spent a week in AZ in August. It was our cheap get-away. Now that Grandma and Grandpa V have a pool, I can't see how we survived without one!! We swam several times everyday we were there. We baked, went to the movies, took napes, went out to dinner, and just did nothing!! Uh - it was wonderful. A home away from home.

We went to this Mud Park in Huntington beach. It is a huge mud pond that kids can raft across. They have a mud slide and a giant tire swing. I left my camera so I didn't get to take any pictures. A friend captures a couple good ones for me. There was about 6 off us Moms that went. Ian had fun. Nate - not so much. Probably next year for him.

My Mom flew in from Utah for a visit. It was the same time that my sis-ta Becky flew in from Ireland (8 week physics internship program-so AWESOME). So we were able to spend some good girls time together. It is Always awesome when Mama comes. She cooks, and bakes with the boys, cleans, plays games, reads books, we go on walks, go to the beach and play some more. I don't think Tim or I changed Nathan once while she was here. She just takes over and I LOVE IT (and yes Tim does too!!:) I don't know what I would do without my Mom!! I SOO need that once in a while.

(We have never all together gone to get pedicures! It was so nice!!)

So after several birthday parties, more trips to Disneyland, a few more trips to the beach, some camping and a few friend get-togethers, we are now gearing up for preschool to begin. Schedules come back and routines start. I am ready to welcome Autumn!!