End of Summer (Bittersweet)

Summer is over in a week! Where the heck did the time go? These last few weeks we have been at the beach a lot. A friend moved close to the beach so we were able to park at his house, and literally walk around the corner to the beach. It was awesome...The photos are in no order...

Exhausted from the sand, sun and waves

 Playing on some giant rocks down at the beach off Carlsbad Blvd....

 Finishing the day off with a dip in the cuzzi!

Randomly last week I checked the website for San Elijo State Beach and found some sites had opened in the week for camping! I jumped on it and we scored a site for 2 days. Check in is not until 2pm! I reserved the site for both days because its so cheap, and this way we could get there first thing in the morning, setup, and play. It was such a great time with the kids. Everyone slept good - Tommy even napped for 2 hours on the beach in our laps! 

New sleeping bags! 

The TENT!!! Weeeeeeeee!!!

The beach in August is my favorite time of the year. So damn hot, the sun shines all day. The water is so warm. I love this time of year - but only at the beach! HA!

Tired pup

Roasting weenies! We followed the dogs up with s'mores of course, and then to top off the night there was a meteor shower! I saw 2 shooting stars and so did Bobby. So cool!

Friends!!

Sand!

Wee hours of the next morning when the kids were still so exhausted.

Early morning visit to the beach before we head home...

Approval of this family trip.

Cousin Elijah goes back to Washington tomorrow... (he's in the middle)

Legoland! We went here yesterday for our friends' daughters' birthday. (Say that 3xs fast lol wonder if those apostrophes are in the right spot? lol)

Last but not least we added a new member to our family! After our little rendezvous to the campsite last week, and anticipating our next camping trip at the end of September for 4 days at the beach again, we took the plunge and bought a pop up trailer. She is used, but seems to be in good shape. A little bit of TLC (cleaning mainly) and she will be brand new! I just ordered some fabric samples to freshen her up and modernize her.  After sleeping in the tent with the kids (if you want to call that sleeping, the kids did, me and Derek just passed out haha), and leaving our poor Sadie behind, I think we knew our family would get some good days out of this little lady. I can't wait to clean her up and have her shine!

Last week of freedom until the kids go back and then I get freedom! Enjoy!!!!

Catch up photo dump - Summer

Photos in no order...

British Soccer Camp (Challenger Camp)...Kids have been having so much fun in this one! I think its because they knew a lot of the kids in the group.

Hanging at home with the bossiest kid in Ramona... :) 

More Challenger Camp

The quilt I made for Bobby's teacher without any donations from parents or any help from any of those "involved" parents. Hmph....Its ok though ;)

Kids did a soccer camp at NCSP in June (right after school got out) and a few of the days I went and hiked Iron Mntn. I need to get an umbrella for poor little Tommy lol

Brad Paisley concert (with Justin Moore) - this was another goodie!!!

Hanging out by our beloved pool 

Last day of school picnic

Ian's graduation (I think he's in this photo?? doubt it)

Because parking sucks at the high school on grad night, I told Derek we should just walk. This was so much fun for some reason...a very memorable funny night for us.

Derek's bday (6/10)

The "fourth" kid in the family, Sadie....

Another day of hiking

Last day of NCSP camp back in June

Father's Day bowling with my (step) family

Swimming with the best dog in the world 

Del Mar Fair with friends for Brooklyn's dance recital

More pool 

Different Cousins over to play in the pool

This sign made me laugh (thanks Hobby Lobby)

Fourth of July

I LOVE this photo of Brooklyn even though she is terribly sad (she was super sad because we had to go home haha)

Just in case you forget who the photographer is -

Night out with us wild and crazy women

Cameron YMCA in Santee (this place is awesome)

Hoping to savor this last month of summer until SCHOOL STARTS!

Graduation & Mouse House

Hi Friends!
Well we survived a much anticipated weekend. After its all said and done, no, I would not drag my 3 kids to another graduation. I know if we had not gone to graduation I would have always wondered what I missed, so I'm glad we went. But, at times I felt out of place. College kids are little twirps! Wow! They were saying some of the meanest things about little kids and took everything out of me not to reprimand them! LOL...Wish Tommy would have slept better Friday night so Saturday morning would not have felt like the twilight zone. Honestly, probably got 2-4 hours of broken sleep. Awful.

Friday we went to Disneyland with hesitation because of all the rain.  When we parked it was pouring down rain. Derek and I were like oh man, are we stupid? But it actually was great because no one was there! We had on our rain boots and jackets and I made the kids wear layers of clothes, and they actually stayed pretty warm and dry. We were able to just walk right on to 3 rides on in a row when we first got there - Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain.  By early afternoon when the sun came out and things warmed up the crowds had come.  It still didn't seem all that busy compared to a Saturday or Christmas/Holiday visit.  Aside from some boredom in line (mainly Tommy who couldn't sit still) the kids did pretty good - I can't wait to go back.

A classic, hilarious photo of the kids on Splash Mountain:

In line for Mr. Toad's wild ride:

Its a Small World with the big kids sitting in front of us:

 Us 3 on Its a Small World:

Snapped a quick photo before jumping onto Big Thunder Mountain with my main man:

Waiting for the Soundsational Parade to begin while Daddy and Bobby rode Splash Mountain for the 2nd time and Star Tours:

Tommy LOVED the parade and kept pointing at all the characters yelling out "look ma!" Way too cute...

Met up with long time pals Gareth & Courtney Atkins in Downtown Disney for dinner.  Haven't seen them since Bobby was a baby.  Their 1 year old son Gavyn is here with Tommy...

 Of course, had to snap a selfie of this special day...

Quick little photos with my parents and family after my department ceremony.

After the whirlwind of our trip, we came home to a surprise gathering with close family and friends to celebrate my graduation.  Everyone was so nice to have given up some time to be with us, which I appreciate.  I have some of the greatest friends :) Derek was so thoughtful and I am one lucky gal.

And to put a cherry on top of this special weekend, Derek got us annual passes to Disneyland!  Now the problem is I'm so tempted to have the kids be "out sick" from school a lot more often! LOL

This all has been a great adventure. I'm glad its finished, but happy I endured it all despite having some pretty difficult days.  Here's to the future!

The Finish Line!

30 days! 

I often wish I had completed college before having kids.  Why I didn't, Im not sure. Just lazy I guess. I had tried to be a business major, and fell short when my GPA hit 2.49 and I needed a 2.5 for the College of Business. At the time I was at CSUSM, after I didn't get in to Business College, CSUSM changed the undergrad requirements and I just tossed my hands up and said screw it! This degree is not for me! The Business Calc class was so damn hard too. 

Anyway. Flash forward to 2 years ago. I stay home with the kids. LUCKY ME. Ha, no really. Lucky me. Then CSUF had this degree completion program and I honestly just thought, "Instead of wasting time on the Internet reading garbage, why don't I read educational stuff and finish?" Even though it was way more demanding at times than I had wanted, I'm so happy its done.  I even think why don't I go for a Masters? I even heard some Ph. D's are free tuition because a school wants you to complete it to represent them...not saying I would do that but that was interesting to find out.

Last week, me and the kids drove up to CSUF.  I showed them the campus, and we explored together. I was able to meet a director of my program who has been there for me along the way.  It was great. Picked up graduation stuff. Brings me tears. What a journey!