Monday, July 28, 2008

Karli's Visit


One of my best friends came to visit me this week and it was so great to see her and her baby Kade! The first night of her arrival we headed off to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk so that we could see the Porter's who were in town also!
Geesh! It's hard to juggle so many friends! ;)
I love the boardwalk for it's fried food and cotton candy and interesting assortment of people! It was 75 cents family night so it was pretty crowded but we were die-hards and closed the place down! It was much less crowded at 11 pm!! (Owen was home with Aunt Kim, but Kade just slept in his stroller!) This was Karli's camera, mine was dead, and I got no pictures of the Porters!! Lame! Good thing I got some over the weekend at BBR! 

Here's Karli in front of the tug boats kissing Kade. This is where she got her first kiss when she was 2 and the aggressive boy was 3! She even has a picture to document it, so we had to take another to memorialize...Hopefully this will be Kade's first and only kiss for a long time!!
Alex took Kade for a ride! So cute!

The next day we had the Smyth's over to see Karli and hang out. We swam all day and Alison brought a delicious dinner of lasagna, bread, salad, and lemon bars. It was perfect!

Sara and Hannah!
Alison has twin boys who are so entertaining...they are like a show you could watch all day! They find mischief wherever they go and have this great comraderie! They can make anything into a "weapon" and were able to find every gun, sword, and stick in the whole house. Similar to Jake tracking animals back in his day! It's like they have a sixth sense for it!
Here's cute Kade!

Rob joined us on Thursday night but Thursday and Friday they had wedding stuff in Napa for cute Lisa and Ben. Saturday we were supposed to go out on the boat, but John and Karli woke up sick! Alex had thrown up once the night before and Hannah woke up really sick also! No one threw up again but everyone was lethargic with tummy/body aches. We warned the Smyths but it was worth it for them to come and get some more time with Karli and Rob--they ventured the storm!! We swam again and laid around on lounge chairs and took little naps and talked a lot and...those of us that could...ate lots of fruit and cookies and pizza!

Grandpa Blatter brought over a big inflatable castle for the pool which entertained them for hours!
I could tell Hannah was really sick when she stayed put on her lounge chair rather than bounce on the castle.
Even Rob got in on the action...
He was the grumpy ol' troll under the bridge and would attack through the hole in the middle! The kids loved it!! "Come back Wobert!"
We had one casuality when Jack (or was it Ryder?) hit the step with his head after diving off the castle! 
Alex was in heaven!

Kade's first time on the trampoline...he was giggling hysterically!

Cameron and Natalie who go way back with Rob, came over in the evening and brought us loot from North Face where he works. Al and I got some great running shoes! Mine have this little button on the back where you twist the laces tighter--no tying! They are sooo cool! John got flip-flops and the kids got hiking socks, etc. 
Thanks Cameron!
Sunday we all went to church (where Karli and I were asked if we were sisters a couple of times) and then over to the Blatters for dinner, then it was off to take Rob and Karli to the airport...so sad to say goodbye!
Blatter's house...

Airport...
Soul sistas!

I love you babe! You are the bestest friend a girl could ask for! Please come again soon!
xoxo

Monday, July 21, 2008

Back to Black Rock Ranch

We were invited back up to the ranch to spend the weekend with our friends the Porters visiting from Washington. The Edgrens, Porters, Callaways, and us (we missed the Barlows who had an ugly flu bug at their house!) all camped out in the beautiful, empty house. I do mean empty--not even a sofa in the whole place! We brought camping chairs and blow up mattresses and literally camped for the weekend. It was an amazing adventure!
We rode motorcycles...
and quads...

We jetskied...
and tubed...



We rode the mule (a 4-wheel drive golf cart)...

And just hung out at the beach with old friends...

And then there was Owen who enjoyed finding hiding spots in the big, empty house...



Good times!!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Grooming Day!

Wow! Drastic!
Today was the day. All the kids were getting a little shagalicious, which I actually love, but not when we swim every day and you have to try to get the snarls out while your children are screaming at you and crying that you must not love them or you would never put them through such torture. I know some of you can relate.
It was time...but it didn't make it any easier for mom.

Here are the 1,2,3's...
Hannah the Beautiful
1.
2.
3.
(adorable bob!)

Jake the Handsome and Great
1.
2.
3.
(a little short on the sides but it grows fast. She left the top a little longer and texturized for spikes/faux hawk/or whatever I'm feelin' that day!) 

Alex the Shagalicious Cutie Patootie!
(I only had Britt trim his because I love it too much!)
1.
2.

3.

They look so preppy now! Not quite the rugrat, bedhead, snarly look that they've been sporting lately.

Thank you to Britt, our hairstylist, for keeping me calm the whole way through!