July 2013

July has been a busy month.  We began it by flying back to Arizona from California.  

Neither one of us could figure out where to look!

 Since we were not with Daryle on the 4th of July he saved some fireworks to do with the kids. It worked out because we didn't see any fireworks at all while we were in California.  

(Actually, we were passed out early. We had spent the day at the beach.)

 Connor does not like the noise!

 Our friends Traci and Haley came over for a visit.  Good thing she likes Power Rangers too!

 Travis is finally looking bigger than the dog.

 Dinner of champions.  Poptarts and a lunchable. Please don't judge... it was summer!

 Travis got to be Security Kid again at one of the Dbacks games. Lucky kid even saw his friends there too.

 Checking out the field for safety.

 He bought a new hat with his hard earned money.

 One night Daryle took Connor into the bathroom to brush his teeth.  We had a friend in there... hello Mr. Scorpion!  Yikes, it was big!

 This past Wednesday, July 24th was the first day of school.  I can hardly believe I am the mother of a 4th grader and a Kindergartner.  Both of my kids are now "school age".  I feel kind of old.

 Such a cutie! I am so lucky to get to see him at lunch every day.  He is still little so I get at least 2 kisses and he puts his arm around my neck when we talk. I just love this little guy!!

 Daryle always takes off on the first day of school.  I love that he does this. He always takes cute pictures.  Of course Travis didn't want to be seen with him and ran off to play soccer on the big field.  Thankfully he had to take Connor to the other side of the school where lots of parents had cameras.  Connor is so lucky to go to school with 3 of his good friends from preschool.  He is already asking me if he can go to High School as well as college with them....  All I can think is "Here comes trouble!!"  lol   At least he knows college is in his future... right?

The school year is off and running in our neck of the woods. I get one year with both of my boys at my school together.  

I think the real tears will start for me next year when Travis goes to Middle School.  Until then I will enjoy this year to the fullest!  So far so good!

Santa Rosa 2013

At the end of June we bought a new car to replace the one that was totaled in the car accident. We have been very happy with our purchase.  It has more technology in it than our house I think!  haha

Grandpa and I took the kids to Santa Rosa for a week.  It wasn't really a "pleasure trip" and Daryle couldn't go since he had used up so much vacation time when he was sick earlier this year.  Our main goal was to finish cleaning out Grandpa's California house and put it on the market to sell.  Goal accomplished!  Now we just wait for it to sell. Since we were very busy with this task we didn't get to visit with our friends or go to many places.  We did make it to our favorite park twice and the ocean once.  Other than that it was hanging out with Grandma and her cat Missy while cleaning out grandpa's house.  He has lived there since 1965 so there was a lot to go through.  At times it seemed like we would never get done, but in the end it all came together nicely.  We finally managed to see the light at the end of the tunnel!  I did manage to capture some of our trip in pictures.  Enjoy!

 Oh yeah, there was an intense heat wave while we were there.  Plus no air conditioning. Miserable doesn't even begin to describe it!

 People who know me know I am not much of a "cat" person. That is why it was so funny that Missy sat right on my lap. Ugh was my initial thought.  After spending a week with her we have actually formed a bit of a bond. That is saying a lot for me!!  She really is a sweet kitty.

 Every time Missy came around Travis he wanted his picture taken with her.

 Monopoly anybody?

 Our favorite Santa Rosa Park. (We should have brought some bread for the duckies....)

 Going on a short hike.

 Playground time.

 I was actually ahead of schedule and was able to spend a day with the boys at Bodega Bay.  I have never seen the beach like this before. If you know Northern California beaches then you know they are usually gray and foggy.  The sun comes out for a bit in the afternoon then the fog rolls back in again. Well, this day it was like a Southern California beach day!  The sun was out the entire time.  We spent 4 hours there... and got a little sunburned... oops... where was the fog we usually see???  No sweatshirts for us on this day!  The three of us had so much fun.  It was a great way to spend the 4th of July.  Seeing all of the campers there made me want to go camping at the beach sometime. 

 Back to Grandma's and to see Travis' new  BFF Missy.  It was a shocker that she let Travis pick her up. She doesn't let anybody pick her up.  We think Travis is a "cat whisperer".  I don't know what Travis will be when he grows up but for sure I know he will be around animals somehow.

All in all we had a very good trip.  We got a LOT of work done and towards the end of the week the weather cooled off for us.  Thanks Santa Rosa! Until next time....