Camping Again

We were able to squeeze in one last camping trip before school starts and we have to say goodbye to summer.

We spent our days at the beach playing in the sand and watching the seals and dolphins jump in the water.

Callie, Hayden, and Isabella had fun "racing" the waves. Jeff and I can't believe how much Bells mimics the other two in almost everything they do. I don't think she notices the age difference at all.

On Tuesday night, we went to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for rides and dinner. During the summer, the rides, hot dogs, drinks, and cotton candy are all $.75 on Monday & Tuesday nights. The kids enjoyed the rides and cotton candy.

5.8 Run - 12.5 Bike - 6.3 Paddle

Saturday was Eppie's Great Race, which was the most enjoyable race I've done yet (apart from the heat). The logistics of dropping off my bike and kayak at two separate locations, and being at the race start before 8am was kind of hectic. I couldn't have done it without Jeff and my parents - a huge thank you for their love and support.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

During the school year, if Callie did 6 extra hours of reading over a month long time period, she would get a free ticket to Six Flags. She did it, and yesterday we finally were able to go. We left Bells with some friends, and are so glad we did. It was so nice not to have to push a stroller around and take turns holding her.

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It was fun to go on the rides and see the animal shows. Our kids aren't quite ready for some of the gut-busting rides they have, and I was totally fine with it ( I realize I'm getting old because I can't go on some of the rides I used to, without some unwanted side effects :) At one point, we were in line for a ride that I thought was way too intense for them, and I kept trying to persuade them out of it. Finally, after they saw the ride attendent clean up someone's lunch who was just on the ride, they agreed it wasn't the ride for them. It was a fun day, and made me realize how much I want to go to Disneyland :)

My Fearless Girls

We made a trip to the lake on Saturday, and had a great time. The little bit of rain was unexpected for the middle of July, but the kids loved swimming in the lake while raining. This was Isabella's first time in the boat, and she loved it. I was shocked - it's taken our other kids a little while to get used to the noise & speed, but not her. She actually cried everytime she saw the boat leave her on the beach.


Callie tried out the tube and absolutely loved it! Being pulled behind a boat at 30+ mph with the possibility of being bounced off made me amazed she wasn't nervous. She obviously doesn't have her mother's fear of water ( thank goodness).

Kayaking the American River

Jeff and I kayaked down part of the American River yesterday, in preparation for Eppie's Great Race next week. I have been a little nervous about the kayaking part of the race since finding out you go through the San Juan rapids. Most people probably wouldn't think twice about it, but since I am still overcoming my fear of dark water, it makes my heart a little nervous. I think I've probably been muttering "Suicide Bend" and "class II rapids" in my sleep as it has been in the back of my mind for a little while.

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So yesterday we kayaked the entire course, 6.3 miles, and it felt great because I did it! It's not as bad as I had imagined, and I realized that I am completely capable of handling it. It's mind over matter.....which applies to almost everything in life we face - doesn't it? If we believe we can, then we will. But if we believe we can't, then we won't.

Fun Visitors

Jeff's sister Rebecca, and niece Ming Lu were in the Bay Area, and were able to spend Monday and Tuesday with us. Rebecca's book was just published, If We Could Change The World, which I am excited to read. See here to read more about the book.

Callie & Hayden had so much fun playing with their cousin Ming Lu. We spent the afternoon swimming ( everyone minus me, with the high's being in the 80's, swimming isn't that appealing to me :)

I had to get a picture of their squished faces in their goggles - too cute.

For breakfast on Tuesday, we had waffles with coconut syrup. I am in love with this syrup. I got it off of The Sisters' Cafe recipe blog, and absolutely love it. It makes pancakes and waffles seem so much more exciting than with just regular syrup. It's super easy and fast to make.

Coconut Syrup

6 Tbsp Butter (originally was 7-8, but I thought that was too much)

3/4 cup Buttermilk

1 cup Sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon coconut extract

Heat butter, buttermilk, and sugar over medium heat. Dissolve sugar completely, and boil mixture for 1 minute. Remove from heat, and stir in baking soda and coconut extract. It will bubble up, just continue to stir and wait a few minutes for the 'fizz' to reduce before serving. (I actually like the bubbly/fizzy part, and serve it right away. I haven't had any luck storing the syrup, so use it all up or get rid of the left overs).

A Happy 4th

We had a wonderful and relaxing 4th of July weekend with family. We spent the day celebrating at Nana & Gramp's house swimming, eating, and watching fireworks. Hayden decided he didn't want to wear arm floaties anymore, and decided to take them off, and has been fine ever since. He basically taught himself how to swim.... how awesome is that!? So Bells now wears his arm floaties and scoots herself through the pool. She is fearless! She will often get out of the pool and jump in.



The kid's table. I remember eating dinner at the kid's table! When you're younger, it's awesome eating at a table just for kids, then when you get older, it's not so awesome :)



And lastly, the much anticipated firework show brought to us by Uncle Derek & family. Lots of neat fireworks, and some not so neat fireworks :) The illegal ones going off behind Nana & Gramp's house were a nice bonus :)