Summer 1

After Elise's ballet recital, Joy School graduation, and the Girl Scout field trip, we declared it officially summer!  We took a couple of weeks to just hang around the house, sleep in, swim, attend birthday parties, and go to the beach!
  

Cutting Down the Nectarine Tree

It's okay, he had safety goggles.

Blanket Forts and Watermelon

First (or second?) Breakfast of Summer

Fruit-Stand Papaya

 
On the first of July, the kids, the dog, and I took off for Utah.  We stopped in Mesquite to enjoy our favorite pit-stop park, but the 105 degree heat made it less than refreshing!
  

On Our Way Again

We didn't have as much time as usual this trip, but we had a great time at my mom's house.  We did a lot of rhino rides, and all the kids got to take turns driving (with different levels of assistance.) 
   

One of Many Evening Walks

   
Ryan joined us a few days later via Allegiant Airlines, so we were able to go swimming at the Nephi pool, and spend July 4th up with Kelli and Kyle (sorry, no pictures.)
   

Evan's First Time on the Big Waterslide

Connor went with him.

Proud Evan

Corinne kept holding her breath and ducking under - it scared people.

During our visits to Grandma Cloe's house, we were able to pick cherries from her tree.  Corinne went crazy eating them once she figured out what they were (in addition to the cookies Grandma Cloe gave her.)

  

  

Taking Grandma Cloe to Chuck A Rama

   
On July fifth, we drove up to Salt Lake to attend Fantasy Con.  It was a bit overpriced, but totally fun and family-friendly.  
   

    

 

During the last week we were there, the kids and Ryan were able to bike down from Bridal Veil falls (Evan tried, but it was a bit too much for him, so I picked him up in the van.)  We also hung out with my family a ton, and the older three kids went with Ryan to the Ute Stampede rodeo.  It was hard to leave, but we had an awesome time!
  

  

  

   
On our way home, we took a one-day detour to hang out with our friends in Southern Utah.  The daddies went on a Brian Head mountain bike ride while the moms took the kids to explore petroglyphs and play in an honest-to-goodness creek.  You just don't get experiences like that in Los Angeles!  We spent the night at their cabin, then continued on our way home the next afternoon.
  

Stinky Bones!

  

Summer is just too short anymore!

School Year Wrap-Up

Okay, what better way to start a new school year than blogging about the end of the last one?  We'll see how quickly I can sum up this and the rest of the summer.

Connor and Elise had their last day of Eagle Academy.  There was a school party with crafts and treats, then we met again that evening with a few friends for pizza.  The kids and I are really going to miss that school.
  

One Saturday, after several months of lessons at the Rose Bowl, Evan decided to take a breath!  Once he knew how to do that, the pool was his playground.
      

Elise wrapped up her year in ballet.  There was costume day, picture day, dress rehearsal, and then the final performance.  She did an amazing job, and is looking forward to moving up to the 7-9 year old class this fall.
  

  

Dress Rehearsal

Performance Day!

Evan "graduated" from his first year of Joy School.  The kids sang their songs, got their diplomas, and had treats.  It was super cute.
  

Elise's Daisy troop did a food drive in May.  They collected non-perishables and money to give to a local food bank.  The coolest part was being able to tour the food bank later that month, and stock the shelves with the things they donated.
  

  
Rinny decided that bed was boring.  She figured out that she could easily climb out and have nighttime adventures.  I tried putting the mattress on the floor, but the little monkey still climbed out, so I ended up spending almost $200 on a fancy crib tent.  I guess the old kind were recalled, so this expensive kind is the only game in town.  It was worth it, though.  She sleeps great again.
   

We found her in bed with Evan one morning.

  

Mattress on Floor

    

On the last day of school, the kids brought home their art portfolios.  I didn't get pictures of everything, but these are the highlights:

   
Elise:
  

  

     

Still Life

Connor: