Beach Vacation

We have learned from experience that travelling with kids is a "trip" and travelling without kids is a "vacation." Usually, a "trip" is memorable, but often requires a "vacation" afterwards to recover fully from the exhaustion of caring for off-schedule, sleep-deprived, junk-food-fed kids. I am pleased to report, that we achieved the best of both worlds when we took Hank and Max with us on a vacation to California--we made memories together that I'll cherish for a lifetime and actually felt like the travel with just two was a total breeze!

The way our arrangements worked out, Aaron and Hank got a head start, leaving two days ahead of Max and I. I made sure Max didn't feel cheated by filling our two days at home with a trip to the farm and the trampoline place and a sleepover with me in my bed. When it was time for Max and I to join Aaron and Hank, Max was super excited. It just made me smile to get to see Max's excitement with the whole experience--from parking in the long term lot and riding the shuttle to the airport, to watching the airplanes take-off and land on the run way, to picking out snacks for the plane ride, to finally watching out the window as we took flight. I just soaked up the one-on-one time with Max and couldn't get enough of his enthusiasm.

We could get used to the high life vacationing at the Ritz Carlton with views like these:

Since I got to have Max all to myself before our vacation, I took Hank on a special one on one date while Aaron took Max on a dinner cruise. Max ate enough steak to make himself sick (but still had a great time!), while Hank and I visited Aunt Amy and cousin Jasper as a festival. Hank's favorite part was getting to throw his own cup on the pottery wheel. 

Hank was a great date!

With all the swimming we've done this summer, Hank and Max are pretty comfortable paddling around a pool, but this was their first chance to play in the ocean....and they LOVED it! So fun. Hank was pretty fearless about playing in the little waves crashing on the shore and riding his boogie board in the surf while Max was more interested in digging holes in the sand and racing the waves on the beach.

I feel a little guilty about leaving our little guys at home with Nana and Papa Grover, but I know they'll get their turn to make some special memories with Mom and Dad on a vacation, too. In the meantime, I just treasure my special time with Hank and Max.

Hank Aaron Jr.

I know I already posted once about our summer T-ball, but I left our this picture of Hank that was too cute not to add. Hank had a rough season last year and just couldn't seem to get the hang of connecting with the ball, so we almost didn't sign Hank up this year. I'm so glad we stuck with it--all our batting practice in the basement this winter really paid off! Hank did so well this season; he's a slugger!

the Zoo

The zoo is fascinating. I read books to the boys about bears and tigers and we put together puzzles with giraffes and elephants, but it really is incredible that in one round trip through the zoo grounds you can observe animals gathered from all over the world in real life. Heavenly Father must have a vivid imagination to create black and white striped zebras and two-fanged walruses and long-trunked elephants and horn-nosed rhinos and on and on.

Trooper

Boo: visits to the eye doctor where we spend three hours in the waiting room!
Yay: getting to play with and cuddle this cutie pie.

Neighborhood Bash

Our neighborhood celebrated summer with a potluck hot dog dinner and a "drive-in" movie complete with cardboard box decorated "cars" for the kids. I'm so grateful that my kids have the opportunity to grow up in such a great neighborhood environment.

Best Friends

We are so fortunate to have such great friends living right next door to us...could we be any luckier to have next-door neighbors with triplet 8 year olds and twin 5 year olds? Hank and Max are endlessly entertained playing with their friends, and Ben and Joey get mothered and smothered by the neighbor girls.  Mostly, the gang spends the afternoon digging in the sandbox, riding bikes up and down the street, or playing board games. The other day, we decided to start a business venture and sold lemonade on the street corner. Man, the lemonade business is pretty cut-throat...would you believe there were two other groups selling lemonade on opposing street corners? Despite the stiff competition, these kids were excellent salesmen, flagging down cars and shaking their signs, and earned $20 (combined).

We also had a great time visiting Pioneer Park downtown with our neighbor friends. We played at the playground and splashed in the splash pad, then took a break for a picnic lunch. Afterwards we played an organized game of two-hand-touch football, and then waded through the creek. Such a fun afternoon with great friends!

Pioneer Day

A quote was shared in sacrament meeting, to the effect that the pioneers did not make such profound sacrifices so that we could drive fancy cars and enjoy shopping at strip malls, and that it is our responsibility to build upon their legacy. I do drive a comfortable car and I frequently shop at a strip mall, but I hope my pioneer ancestors would feel pleased with the way that I am carrying their legacy--building a personal testimony upon Christ, building a gospel-centered home, and building family traditions to celebrate and acknowledge our rich blessings. Our favorite pioneer tradition is a family firework display. Ben and Joey were thrilled with their Pop-Its, throwing them and marching all over the tiny firecrackers. Hank and Max really liked the snakes, smoke bombs, and ground flowers.