Busy, Busy

It can not possibly be Friday tomorrow!  The week has flown by.  Probably because we've been super busy.
Between having friends from out of the country over to BBQ, spending the morning playing at the park, going to story time at the library, splashing in the backyard pool with baby Addison, filling up our back yard pool, and swimming lessons every morning...we've also managed to squeeze in:

Morning preschool play time at Oaks Park.

And berry picking, of course!

We tried out a new berry patch today.  Well, new to us anyway!
Really we were after blueberries but their blueberries seem young and were not very ripe.  Big disappointment since they are 30 minutes from our house!  Maybe nothing can live up to our usual spot!  The one thing the new patch had was LOTS of other berries.  They have beautiful, ridiculous amounts of raspberries!  And we found some awesome Marion berries.  Of which Levi is showing you evidence of!
We may have to try our favorite spot next week since Levi and I are headed out to the coast with Grandpa and Grandma G while Gabe goes out to Central Oregon for guys weekend.
I've also been busy this week trying all sorts of new zucchini recipes.  We came back from vacation to an abundance of very big zucchini in our garden!  I'll have to share the recipes I've tried when we get back!
Enjoy the bounty of summer.

"The Happiest Place on Earth"

(Warning:  The following post is an over load of pictures and video.  Beware the videos are of rides and may even make the viewer dizzy!)

Guess I have to start the post about our Disney adventure with this:

Cars Land really was the whole reason we went.  And it didn't disappoint the little guy.
Levi was thrilled to see Radiator Springs, especially this guy:

He also got to meet Mater, Red and DJ!
We got into Disney's California Adventure right when they opened on the very first day we were there because we heard that the lines for the Radiator Springs racers ride is crazy.  Gabe snagged us fast passes right away and we were even able to get fast passes to ride it again later in the evening.

Here's Levi and Dad riding Mater's Junkyard Jamboree!

Levi's favorite ride at California Adventure wasn't in Radiator Springs.  (Big surprise...I know!)  Turns out he loved this Goofy's Fly School roller coaster.  He rode it three times!

Levi's least favorite ride was the Grizzly River Run.  Because you get wet...and he really didn't like his clothes being wet!


Of course we had to grab a curbside seat for the Pixar Play Parade too!

We had an awesome day!

We decided there's more to do in Disneyland, so we spent the next two days there!

Levi did all the "big rides" (Matterhorn, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean)!  He was really excited and brave.
Mommy's favorite ride is definitely Space Mountain.  Here's the picture from the first (of three times) Levi went on it.

It looks like he's going to die!  We all laughed so hard at this picture.  But we did ride it two more times!  Brave kid...right?

Levi's favorite ride was Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters.

And Gabe loved the new Star Tours 3-D movie like ride.

Of course we had to do all the traditional rides as well.

And catch the parade!

Can't forget Splash Mountain.  (The video is the whole ride...so if you don't want to listen to the annoying music and just want to see Levi's reaction go to about the 5 minute mark.)


And Mickey's Toontown could not be missed.

Levi loved this little roller coaster in Toontown!  Again...he had to ride it three times!

It doesn't really look like he loves it...

And we had to squeeze in a meeting with Mickey Mouse.

Our last day was July 4th and we really wanted to stay for the fireworks in Disneyland.  But three days of 12 hours spent in the park was enough.  So, we decided to watch the Disney fireworks from the comfort of our camping chairs in our RV park.

The view of them was just as good (no music though of course) and the company was perfect.  Plus we didn't have to fight the crowds out of the park after the show.  (Even better!)

It was a busy and amazingly fun trip!
We were all very happy...most of the time.
Although I was not so happy about the 10 loads of laundry I did on Sunday!
It's good to be home.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

I'm going to have to share about our summer vacation in two parts.  There's just too much to try and fit it all into one post.  And way too many pictures!

The first part of our trip was spent camping in Sequoia and Kings Canyon with friends.
It was great to have the Wilkinson family drive up from LA to meet us!

The boys loved the dusty and dirty campground.  They also went on lots of "bear hunts"!  (That's what the flashlights are for...)

We did a lot of hiking.  We estimated Levi hiked over three miles in one day.  That's a lot for our little guy!  He's turning into a great hiker.
Saw the world's largest tree (by volume).  As well as the third largest.

We saw lots of amazing and breathtaking views!

Gabe and Levi on top of Beetle Rock

Gabe hiked to the top of Moro Rock while Levi and I waited in the shade at the bottom.  We didn't think the 1/4 mile staircase (with a 300 foot elevation gain) up would be safe or doable for Levi this time.

View from Moro Rock

But like I said, amazing views!
Look what we saw on our hike around Crescent Meadow.  Pretty cute little thing from a distance!

We also had a lot of fun splashing around at the bottom of Grizzly Falls.  It was over 100 degrees and the cold water sure felt good!

And taking the quick walk to Roaring River Falls.
It's a beauty!

Here's the one photo I was able to get with everyone in it!

West and Wilkinson Families at Roaring River Falls

We had a great time and I really wish these guys lived closer so that we could do weekend camping trips on a regular basis!

And I have to leave you with one more picture of the amazing view of Kings Canyon.

We've now been to 11 of 58 National Parks.  We're thinking our next road trip will be Utah!

Is it REALLY summer time?

All the rain we've had this week is making me really doubt.
So what do we do when it's too wet to play outside during summer vacation?
We make indoor forts.

They are great for reading and drinking coffee in!

Speaking of reading.  When it's too wet to play outside we also make another trip to the library.  Levi decided to get signed up for the summer reading program at the library and is excited about the prizes!

When it's raining during summer vacation it's also a good idea to go bowling with friends.

We've also baked some yummy corn apricot orange muffins!

If all that fails, and it's still raining, which it is...we just decide to be thankful we're leaving to go to Southern California in the morning.  (Although the forecast for the weekend is looking awesome!  Guess that means we'll come home to a happy garden and long grass in our lawn!)

Summer Vacation-week #1

Levi and I started summer vacation off with a little bit of everything.

Monday we ran errands (groceries!) and picked up a few extra things.  Like this little Red Barron kite.  It wasn't very windy on Monday but Levi couldn't wait to try it out.  So, we gave it a try.  And then quickly decided it might have to wait for a beach trip!

Tuesday we met friends at the zoo!
Levi and Weston really wanted to spy on the elephants.  But couldn't quite figure out how...

Wednesday we went to the library to get some new reading material.
We also did some yoga before nap time.
Here's Levi showing me the yoga moves he's learned in school.  (His yoga lasted about 5 minutes!)

Thursday Levi picked out our adventure for the morning.
It was no surprise he picked the Children's Museum.  We've only been there once.  He was about 14 months old and every time we go to the zoo now he says he really wants to go back.  Since it was drizzly on Thursday, it was a great time.

I know Levi doesn't look thrilled in this picture!  But I swear he had a good time.  The face paint and pottery were probably his favorite!  We were there for a few hours and I guess we weren't the only ones who thought it would be a great place to play.  BUSY!  So, we decided we better go home and have some lunch.  I think this grouchy face is because we both needed some lunch and a nap.  Plus, he really didn't want to pose for a picture.

Yesterday we met Tricia, Travis and Elijah at the duck pond.  While Levi and I waited for them to arrive, he did the whole loop around the "lake" on his bike.  He still has trouble remembering not to pedal backwards/break.  And he hasn't mastered starting on his own.  But he has great balance!

We also played, ate lunch, saw baby ducks

and got to see this sweet little guy!

Levi has also had his first (short) round of swimming lessons.  His teacher said he's doing great!  He's a good listener.  He can back float with very little support.  He can blow bubbles.  She said he just needs to be able to comfortably put his whole face in the water to move to the next level!  Hopefully 2 more weeks of lessons when we get back from vacation will be what he needs to get there.  It's awesome to see how confident and proud he is when he tries something new in the pool!  (I'll take pictures and video when he has his longer lessons next month!)

This weekend we've got a list of things to do both inside and out.
I'm hosting my friend Jen's baby shower (identical twin boys expected in August) here on Sunday afternoon and there are always so many things to get cleaned and ready.  Especially when the house has been neglected for 9 months!  It's a good thing we had lots of time to play this week because now we've got work to do...and then I scramble to get everything ready for our vacation.
California, here we come (soon).

Happy Summer!

Father's Day Miracle

Today, Gabe was ready to start the engine to this bad boy he's been working on FOREVER!
He was nervous...but here's the result!



It really wasn't a miracle.  We knew he could do it!
Hopefully lots of time in the garage to work was what Gabe really wanted for Father's Day weekend!
(Along with his special baked french toast breakfast, stove top griddle, beer, and dinner at his favorite joint in town.)
I know we're proud of him.  We are so blessed to have such a smart and talented man in our lives.
Even if this kid doesn't always show his enthusiasm!

The car still needs some work...and not having the exhaust on yet means Levi didn't enjoy the smells!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Summer is here!

And we're ready!
Here is the list Levi and I made of things we want to do this summer:

We're excited to get started on our summer fun soon!

Just Levi and Mom

Gabe left for Denver on Saturday morning.  He'll be back on Tuesday.
So, Levi and Mommy got to do whatever we wanted to this weekend.
Saturday morning started with what Mommy needed to do.  We hit up Joann's quick to look at a few things. Didn't find much inspiration but Levi got to pick out a craft.  It's his new game called: Hippo Smash
(Obviously, his title.)

Since it was warm and sunny, we pretty much spent the day playing in the backyard.  Plus, Levi wasn't feeling too great.  He had a little vomit episode before Gabe took off.  Never really figured out what was going on because he seemed totally fine.

Today we went to the strawberry patch.  We picked for an hour and a half.  I think Levi picks like his Mom.  "Look, there's one more really big red one we have to pick."

Here's Levi pretending to eat one of the big berries he found.

We spent most of the day making things with our bountiful harvest.
Strawberry frozen yogurt:

Strawberry freezer jam (while talking to Daddy on Skype):

And Levi's all ready for his first swimming lessons next week.  We picked up a pair of goggles (which he's asked for at least a dozen times!) at Freddie's today.  He had to try them out in the bath tub tonight.

I'm in the home stretch!  Only 4 more days till summer.  We might have to celebrate my first day of summer on Friday with more strawberry picking!

Weekend Warriors

We got some projects done around here this weekend!

We have a freshly painted wall in our living room:

I tolerated the red wall for almost 4 years.  I'm so happy to see it gone.  I love my new brown wall!
Gabe finally found a way to finish the bamboo flooring in the dining room.  It's not perfect but at least there's no longer a gap between bamboo and oak...
Levi enjoyed our first ripe strawberry.  The only one that hasn't been eaten off our plants by birds.

So we had to get a net around the berries to keep the critters away.  Or we were going to have one very unhappy little boy at our house.
I mowed the jungle that was our yard 3 times!
Weeds were pulled.
We got the deck and outside table cleaned off just in time to enjoy meals out there in the sunshine.

It was a busy (and productive) weekend.  But I want another day so we can have some fun!
Guess I'll have to wait 9 more...Levi and I have been working on our summer to-do list.

Fortunately, we were able to squeeze in a visit with this wonderful little guy!

Elijah (about 2 & 1/2 weeks old) is sweet and sleepy!