4th of Joo-ly and a visit to santa Cruz

We had a fun 4th of July with my grandparents and it was a nice treat to spend the evening with them. Eric's friends came by for the fireworks and the kids spent more time showing off for them then watching the show!

Ok and this is really really random but did you know you can cook a 3 course meal in a Crockpot? Well you can!



We had pork chops, baked potatoes and corn on the cob. Easy peasy!




I miss Santa Cruz right now. The heat is making me sick here and I will take that beach breeze for anything right now.

Let me just say that going to the beach and Boardwalk is sooo much more fun and easier now that we have kids who can walk by themselves, don't need diaper changes, bottles or toys to make them happy.

Just grab the kids and jet out.

This is the life.







The kids not sure what to do with themselves!



Damian and I hit the big peeps rides together





Max, Mila and Damian loved this ride. Brandon sat out on this one after the spinning ride we convinced him to go on.












Iphone crazed as well ;)


















It was so nice to get away before school starts back up.

The next few weeks will be filled with last minute doc appointments, school supply shopping, clothes and shoes shopping STILL and finishing up our home projects and nailing our new routine and schedule.

Oh and lots and lots of swimming!!!

.............
xo

beaches and birthdays

Our little vacation ended way too early. I think we'll be going back sooner than we planned:)

It was so much more relaxing and fun now that the kids are older. No toting diaper bags, bottles, diapers and a mess of little toys to occupy them. No strollers either!!

They had so much fun and my kids LOVE the water. While hunting for "Patrick", Max found that the bigger the anemone was, the higher the water squirted!

I didn't wanna stay cooped up in the house the whole time but when we did we played card games which was alot of fun until the littler kids insisted on playing and our patience was tested. It's so nice not having video games and computer games which forced them to play with their toys or read their books.

We planned on taking some walks along the trails after Troy looked up the ones that would have a lot of exploring. But we never got around to it. Not enough time! Next time for sure. The kids love that kind of stuff. So does their Dad. Me? I'll just look at the pictures they take.











Mila was always in front of the camera. New for her but I love it. That's why I look confused in the background.



goofing around was a must





my cutie



my other cutie









Damian clearly upset we weren't at the beach HE wanted to go to



He soon got over that after he started finding little creatures in the water





We found Patrick!







Max upset because I told them no heads through the holes! The wharf freaks me out, can you tell?



Eric and his prized possession.



My flea market find that kept them quiet for hours.

Troy and I took off for a couple of hours while Eric watched the kids and we strolled the flea market, drove to get prescriptions, who doesn't do that on vacation, and shopped for awhile. Couldn't talk him into the fabric and scrapbook stores. Had to go alone on that one.
........

The day after we got home it was Max's birthday and we celebrated with Nana, Papa and Matt as usual.

Brandon's soccer was canceled that Saturday and moved to another park so he was a little bummed but this Saturday will be a blast!






............
xo