Summer Fun

It has been a busy and blessed summer. Details would take forever, so here are some pictures of the fun that we've had.  I hope that you are all enjoying your summer too!

4th of July with Granny and Grandad

  Park

  Elena's friend Anais had a fun birthday party

 

Busch Gardens on a very hot day!  Jonah was easy to get pictures of since he doesn't run as fast.

On the way home from Busch Gardens.  It was late.  We had to stay for the fireworks.

Cotton candy faces at Water Country

Beach with the Jacobs' family

Aquarium

Swimming lessons for all the kids.  Elena too but she's not pictured here.

Park

On a boat and Kevin's Birthday

Last month, we enjoyed the annual pediatric residency get-together on the American Rover sailboat for the 3rd (and final) time.  This time next year, Dan will have graduated from the program and we'll be who-knows-where. We had a great time even if there was an unpredictable storm close by. It never hit us, but it did prevent our cautious captain from leaving port. Luckily, we are easy to please and happy to just be on a boat and hanging out with a great group of people.  Apparently, I didn't take any pictures of Dan's coworkers, but we do love them, honest. :)

Elena with her friend Ainsley.  Elena has a great memory and had been looking forward to the pre-sliced watermelon that she knew they would have.  I was looking forward to the barbeque and the super fudgey brownies.  I could go for one of those brownies right now...

Jonah loved checking out the other boats that passed.  He's such a fun age: just excited about everything.

Usually we don't get back until long after dark, but since we stayed connected to the pier this time, we were able to leave at dusk and the kids had a blast playing in the fountain at the park that adjoins the pier.

Always so careful, Elena tried in vain to keep her clothes dry.  She eventually gave up when I told her that I had some extra clothes in the car. 

Kevin, of course, didn't mind getting a little wet.  He's such a crazy, funny, carefree kid.

My sweet baby!  Isn't he fun?

Big Brother is 4!
The day after the boat trip was Kevin's birthday.  He wanted (just like Elena) to celebrate at Chuck E. Cheese.  So, we bought 10 or 20 bucks worth of tokens and set up our little family party in front right next to the people that paid to have their parties there.  Now I know that a lot of people don't like Chuck E Cheese and are worried about the germs, etc.  We only go there a couple times a year, but the kids always have fun and they love buying (with tickets) their own trinkets at the end.  We usually don't buy food and just go play the games.  One token per game/ride is the best deal you can find around here. :)

Kevin wanted a Lightning McQueen cake just like last year, but I talked him into having a "95" cake (which is McQueen's number).  Crisis averted. Last year, we lived with my parents and my awesome mom traced the shape of the car into the cake so that I could make it. It was pushing my artistic skills to write two numbers and get the colors right.

 

Just because it's not impressive, doesn't mean that I'm not still proud. :)

Dan grabbed the camera from me and took a picture of me with Kevin. I thought it was really sweet of him to make sure that I got to be with the birthday boy in a photo.  Kevin's holding up little finger flashlights he got from Abuelo.

More present opening fun

Jonah enjoyed all the rides.  Several times each.

Bethany and Elena playing air hockey

Me and my honey

Aw, poor Dan, as I was just about to push publish (11 pm), I hear his pager go off and he gets unexpectedly called into work.  We sure are thankful for all that he does at home and at the hospital!

Grandfather-Grandson Campout

Kevin could not have had more fun at the church "Father-Son" campout with Grandad (Dan had to work).  Kevin cannot stop talking about it.  He liked roasting marshmallows and playing with the lantern. 

The next morning, he spent hours playing in the swampy woods.  Lucky for him, Grandad isn't bothered by a little mud.  They both had a lot of fun.

 

 

Talent Show

Elena was so brave and did great!

Spring Round Up

Spring is a tricky time for me.  I work part-time from home grading Spanish tests online.  I really like it, but those 10 hours a week don't appear from thin air.  I have to choose to spend less time cleaning or sleeping or blogging.  I really like it though.  It's a good way to practice my Spanish, it's only a few months a year, and the schedule couldn't be more flexible.  I worked one way or another (teaching, tutoring, childcare) all through med school, and it's nice to contribute a little bit when I can. Here is a summary of our Spring.
Easter: dyed eggs and the kiddos at church on Easter:

Easter was Bethany's birthday:

Mother's Day:  I missed the memo that I was supposed to take a picture posing with my kids, but here's one of my breakfast made by Elena and one of us at the aquarium in May.  Dan had to work, but he got me some great gifts.  He knows me well - I love gifts. :)  I had a wonderful day. The kids were super sweet to me (except for the fact that the boys woke up 1 hour earlier than usual).  Elena made me breakfast on the couch since she was the last one up.  She's the sweetest - she even put the comics from the newspaper in front of the tray.

Once my Mother's Day talk at church was over, I was really able to relax the rest of the day.  We went to my parents for dinner and Bethany and I made my sick mom dinner while my dad entertained my kiddos.  I'm so grateful that someone invented Mother's Day.  It's nice to feel appreciated and it's nice to celebrate my own awesome mom.
Proof that Dan is home sometimes.

Park play date:  My friend Sharon and I went to a park together with her dog and my boys.  We've been friends since the 10th grade.

Beach Day:

Rosie Hiatt came to visit for a day last month and we went to the aquarium.  These are our standard "in the mouth of a shark" aquarium pictures.

Elena
Crazy Hair Day at her school.  I liked the one up top, but we ended up deciding to go even crazier.

Princess play date with some friends from church

Reading to her brother before bed

At the park with Grandad.  She stayed on this tire swing for almost the entire time we at the park and my dad was sweet enough to push her for the majority of that time.

Kevin
He sleeps in the most hilarious positions.  I also have pictures of him sprawled across the rocker and the ottoman and of him sleeping sitting up in the rocker, but this one was the most easily accessible and you can see Elena's face in the corner too.

It is so fun to see him discovering how to draw and write.  Here he has organized everyone in the family using our initials.  Dad, Mom, and Granny are at the top because we are grownups.  Elena and her Pig (favorite stuffed animal) and Kevin and his Dog (favorite stuffed animal) are in the middle because they are kids.  A "J" for Jonah is at the bottom of the fridge because he's a baby.

This is how Kevin eats a Girl Scout cookie:

Here he is eating a gummy worm in mud pudding at a church activity at the park. Look at that face!

Jonah
Proof that he has hair.  This was taken in probably April, but he still has about the same amount.

First bike ride with Daddy

He loves to play in the kitchen.  His other favorite things in the playroom are the cars and trains ("choo choo").

Kids these days think everything is a touch screen.

Jonah is kind of addicted to playing outside.  It is all he wants to do at my parents house because of this cozy coupe.  He loves it!  He and my dad spend hours outside going back and forth up the street, getting eaten by mosquitoes.  It will be a long summer

Now that Elena only has 1 more day of school and summer is beginning, I will do short posts with less pictures more often.  Thank goodness!