Swim Team

Yesterday, was the first day of swim practice. I have always tried to keep my distance from swim team, because I have committment issues. Six days a week ALL summer long seems like torture. Especially as Eugene already plays a sport that is 5-6 days a week 11 months out of the year. But Callie was begging to do it. So, we decided to give it a try.

I figured Hayden might as well do it too, as he'll come to all the practices and meets. That little man did NOT want anything to do with it. After lots of discussions with him and tears, he still didn't want to do it, but got signed up anyways. On the drive over to the pool yesterday, I asked if everyone was excited, and he replied, "I'm not sure, my hands are all sweaty, but at least when I get in the pool no one with notice". Once we got there, he was such a trooper, and ended up having a great time. Thank goodness, or it would have made for a very long summer.

Afterwards, we headed over to Costco for a little ice-cream treat to top off a fun night.

12 Years

Jeff and I celebrated our 12 anniversary on Saturday. It was a busy day. It started with Mormon Helping Hands in the morning until about 1 pm. We were assigned to clean-up an elementary school nearby. We got to scrub and clean the playground equipment and do a little planting. We stayed clear of the painting projects, except Bells walked straight into a freshly spray-painted box on the black top, leaving a trail of footprints. Oops :)

In the afternoon Jeff and I headed over to the shooting range to shoot his shotgun. It was my first time shooting a gun ever. It was great! Sadly, I didn't hit one clay pigeon, but I blame it on how windy it was. I could hardly keep the hair out of my face.

We tried a new Mexican resturant for dinner. Not that great, but it was nice to sit back and relax, reflect on the past 12 years, and make some goals for the next year. All in all, it was a great day.

Spring Break

During spring break, we headed to the coast to do some camping with friends. What a great time we had. My parents took us camping every year growing up, and I have such great memories. It's fun to see our kids have so much fun, I'm working on Jeff to get a pop-up trailer, because we had some serious issues trying to squeeze our family of 7 into the car with all of the camping gear. Luckily, between 3 other friend's vehicles, we were able to get all of our stuff there.

We spent the afternoons down at the beach. There was so much drift wood, the kids loved building forts and bridges with it.









One day, it drizzled/rained most of the day. The kids couldn't have cared less and were still at the beach in their swim suits, while the mommies were wraped up in the beach towels :)





We got lots of chuckles and laughs from other campers walking past, as they admired our junior biker gang.






One morning we headed to Capitola to do some fishing from the wharf. It was absolutely beautiful and so quaint. I never really did figure out what we were fishing for....








We played lots of games. Jessica is passing on her camping tradition of playing bingo, and it has now become a favorite with the kids. Bells was the first to get bingo, and couldn't quite decide which candy to choose. (she left her helmet on for 90% of the time we were camping, that way she was always ready to hop on her bike and race around the campground).










Jeff did some dutch oven cooking, which was super yummy, and lots of fun. We used dutch oven liners in the pans which are a MUST if you use your dutch oven. Liners = no clean-up.





One morning, we found an empty area and did an easter egg hunt. We hid over 80 eggs!

We had such an amazing time. Camping is a LOT of work, but the memories and fun times are totally worth all of the sand, dirt, and smokey-smelling clothes.

Easter

We had a great Easter. In the morning before church, the kids dyed eggs. My children have just discovered a love for hard-boiled eggs. I can't stand them, because they smell so horrible, but they love them. I make them peel and eat them outside so it doesn't stink up the house :)

When we got back from camping, I had a message from my mum that everyone was coming over for Easter dinner on Sunday, but they had taken care of all of the food. I just needed to do a side or two. It was so nice to come home from church, and within 30 minutes have Easter dinner walk through the door. Thanks so much Mum!

The kids all ate and played outside. It's so much fun to have cousins over.

Conversation at the dinner table turned to guns, which left just the men and boys. Uncle Derek has become quite the gun collector, and Jeff would like to follow in his footsteps. He started with a shot gun for his birthday, and I'm anticipating him wanting another one before too long.

Camping

We just got back from a wonderful camping trip to the beach for spring break. More pictures to come. For now, it's lots of laundry.

Day 14: Fun Evening

We had the missionaries over last night for dinner. It's always fun to have them over, and hear their stories and experiences. It's great for the big kids and the little kids.

After dinner, Jeff and the boys were off to mutual to go shooting at the range (which they loved, no surprise there), and I started getting the kids in the shower and bathed. Then there was a knock at the door, and we had gotten "egged". I told the kids to hurry up in the shower and bath, so we could go collect the eggs. Bells came down completely naked and all soapy, anxious to head outside to find eggs. I reassured her we wouldn't start without her, and had her go get dressed. The kids were so excited, that pajamas ended up inside-out on Callie and backwards on Bells.

Then, 10 minutes later, there was another knock at the door, and we had cookies delivered to our doorstep by friends. Wow! Did we sure feel loved last night, I love it!

Day 13: Field Trip

I am lucky to be able to go on class field trips with my children. Yesterday, Hayden's class went to a farm. They had a great time seeing all of the animals, and also learning about science too.