Really Juicy Corn

I guess Kelsey was afraid of getting a kernel in the eye?? Who knows what a 2 yr old thinks when she does something...

Don't you wish you got to eat over at our house too??

Reflections Award

Collin got to shake hands with all the Superintendents of the area...

Collin is so cool - but then we already knew that... he's already planning on his submission for next year...

Sleepover

Both Collin & Micah were so excited to have a sleepover!
Kelsey is just excited

Beach Park

After our sleep over we decided to have a fun day in the sun...

Skater Girl
Kelsey had watched one little kid struggle to see through the binoculars... she just climbed up the wall and took a look
I am so surprised Micah never got sick... I was nauseous just watching her spin

Collin found a nice place to rest

Micah and Collin taking a 5 second break

Collin never met a stranger... his new friend let him ride his 4 wheeler around the park - pretty cool - it pays to be extroverted, eh

On to the Beach

After the park we went over to the hotel to go swim... and climb the dunes on the way there and back.

Kelsey, Micah, & Collin

Kelsey is fearless!

Some "family" shots

Heading home. What a fun day!!

Summer is Here

Just last week we were saying that we actually had a winter this year - it was freezing for a couple of weeks -- in the 50's & 60's!! (I know, I know).

But this week it skipped Spring altogether and jumped right to Summer...

For the last week it's been in the upper 80's with strong east winds. Luckily today our neighbor brought out the pool.
The kids love mixing sidewalk chalk and water to make face paint (they still look like "Wicked" fans)

Collin & Nick drying off

I don't know who gave Kelsey control of the hose but I guess Danielle and I could use a little cooling off too.

I wouldn't mind a little more winter (California style) and even a spring before another heat wave though...

Crazy Collin

At the Bishop's birthday party Collin had fun learning how to flip on the trampoline

At first he was giving me a hard time of how many times I made him redo it so I could get a good picture -- then he saw the pictures and he was all, "Just one more mom!"
He got pretty good at it (and you've got to the love the hair!)

Moroni Has Not Had a Good Year...

This is the picture we took of Moroni last December when we were in Costa Rica. Since then Moroni has not had a good year...

You know how in the New Era they always tell stories about how this or that was miraculously spared when all around it was destroyed?? Not so much Costa Rica's Moroni. In April it was struck by lightening (you can still see its arm is a little dark) Then on Thursday there was a 6.2 earthquake and he lost his trumpet.

Still there is a good that no one in the temple was hurt and nothing was damaged inside the building...

Too bad the same couldn't be said about the mountains near my parents (who are fine, thanks for asking) Up in the mountains to the Volcano Poas and the Peace Gardens and waterfalls that we love to go to when we visit there was total destruction. The entire landscape has changed and those who were unfortunate enough to be on the road to or from, many were covered in the landslides, open craters and destroyed bridges. The original death count was only 2.. until they saw the damage in the mountain... now they don't know how many lives have been lost.

If you've never visited Costa Rica you may think it's a third-world but it really isn't. Still, I don't know how long it will be before they can rebuild roads and bridges to reconnect that part of the country. Right now those that are stuck there are being airlifted out.

My heart and prayers go out to all those who have experienced loss at this time.

Reflections

I just got a call from Kirsten that Collin has won the next level for the Reflections art competition. He is now moving on to the State level.

He created puppets of dinosaurs and backgrounds then 'wrote' the entire thing himself (actually he ad-libbed the entire thing as we were filming) then performed it for us for family night. Chad recorded it with the camera so it's not the best recording since it was night and low light but it's still pretty impressive for a 6 yr old. If you want to see it look back to Nov 5th blog post. I think that is the original but we had to cut out the ice age animals because it was too long.

Anyway... if you are in town and would like to come to the reception and award ceremony (for the county winners) it will be at the Ventura County Schools office on Adolfo on Jan 20th at 6pm (awards at 6:30) Collin is the only one from his school moving on to the next level so it's a pretty big deal. It would be really cool to have a bunch of his friends there...

I'm really proud of how smart and talented he is (I'm his mom - it's my job to be impressed with him :)

Happy New Year!

Normally we crash long before New Years (ironic since every other night we are up well past midnight) but we made a special effort this year...

Luckily the kids can't tell time. I was going to celebrate with Costa Rica but we ended up more around 10:35 - whatever - Happy New Year!